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BEM 210 12 of 20 FIP GROUP COMPOSITION BPB 2026-002 1-1-2026

BRIDGES ELIGIBILITY MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Note: Notify the Cash Policy unit of all changes that may impact eligibility results. Email the following to Policy-FIP- SDA@michigan.gov: case name, case number, and details of the change. Example 5: Kenton and his son Zack are receiving FIP. Kenton marries Kristin in February of 2020 and reports that Kristin is in the home. The group qualified and chose to use the marriage exemption. Kristin is not in the FIP group. The Cash Policy unit has completed the override, only Kenton and Zack are included in the FIP group. May 2020, Kenton reports the only income for the household is $5,000 per month of earned income. ($5,000 earned income - $200 earned income disregard - $960 additional 20% of the remaining earnings = $3,840) The budgetable income (after the qualifying income deductions) is $3840 per month. Twice the payment standard for the FIP group is $1,166 per month. Kenton and Kristin no longer qualify for the exemption. Kristin is now a mandatory group member. Kristin's assets and income will now count in the FIP budget. Determining Primary Caretaker The primary caretaker is the person who is primarily responsible for the child’s day-to-day care and supervision in the home where the child sleeps more than half the days in a month, when averaged over a twelve-month period. The twelve-month period begins at the time the determination is being made. When a child spends time in the home of multiple caretakers who do not live together (such as joint physical custody or parent/grandparent), Bridges determines the primary caretaker based on the number of days per month a child sleeps in the home. Accept the client’s statement regarding number of days the child sleeps in the caretaker’s home unless questionable or disputed by another caretaker. Child’s Normal Sleep Time When a caretaker works during a child’s normal sleep hours, include the nights the child sleeps away from home when due