Michigan FIP Time Limits for Relative Caregivers

The Headline Rule — and the Exception That Matters

Michigan extended the adult FIP lifetime limit from 48 months to 60 months in April 2025. That change made news, and some grandparents raising grandchildren saw it and worried their child's cash grant would run out in five years.

It won't. The 60-month limit applies to adults who receive FIP in their own name — parents applying for personal cash assistance while meeting work participation requirements through the PATH program. When a relative caregiver applies for a child-only grant as an "Ineligible Grantee" under BEM 210, the adult isn't receiving benefits. The child is. And child-only cases are exempt from both the 60-month federal limit and the state lifetime cap.

The child may qualify while under age 18, or at age 18 if enrolled full-time in high school or an equivalent vocational program.

No Work Requirements Either

Regular FIP recipients must participate in PATH — Michigan's mandatory employment and training program. That means job searches, work verification, activity logs, and sanctions for non-compliance. The PATH requirements are a significant burden for adults already stretched thin.

None of that applies to child-only cases. Because the caregiver is classified as an ineligible grantee, there's no adult benefit recipient on the case. No PATH assignment, no job search logs, no mandatory work hours, no sanctions. The caregiver's employment status — working, retired, or otherwise — has no bearing on the child's grant.

This is particularly important for retired grandparents. A 68-year-old grandmother on Social Security is not expected to enter a job training program to maintain her grandchild's cash assistance.

The April 2025 Change in Context

Before April 2025, Michigan's state cap was 48 months — shorter than the federal 60-month limit. The legislative change brought Michigan in line with federal law, and it allowed some families to reapply for up to 12 additional months if their cases had been closed under the old 48-month rule.

That extension matters for parents who receive FIP personally, but it doesn't change anything for relative caregivers on child-only cases. Those cases were never subject to the time limit in the first place. If you received a notice about the time limit change and you're on a child-only case, the notice was sent broadly and doesn't affect your specific situation.

If you're uncertain whether your case is classified as child-only, check your MI Bridges account or call your local MDHHS office. The case type determines which rules apply.

What Can End a Child-Only Grant

The grant ends when:

• The child turns 18 (or 19 if still in high school full-time)
• The child no longer lives with the relative caregiver
• The child moves out of Michigan
• The child's own income exceeds the payment standard — rare, but possible if a teenager has significant earnings or a large child support order

A child-only grant does not end because the caregiver gets a raise, inherits money, or starts collecting a pension. The caregiver's financial situation is irrelevant to child-only eligibility.

The grant also survives changes in legal arrangement. Whether you're caring for the child informally, under a power of attorney, or with a full probate guardianship, the child-only FIP rules remain the same.

If Your Case Was Wrongly Closed

If you received a closure notice citing the adult lifetime limit on a child-only case, you can request an administrative hearing using form DHS-18. The request deadline is 90 days from the notice date; filing within 12 calendar days preserves the right to aid continuing while the appeal is pending.

The MSU Kinship Care Resource Center (1-800-535-1218) can help you understand whether the closure was correct and connect you with free legal assistance if you need to appeal.

The Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Michigan guide covers FIP time limits alongside every other Michigan benefit, with a hearing request tracker and deadline calendar for appeals.

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