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BEM 210 3 of 20 FIP GROUP COMPOSITION BPB 2026-002 1-1-2026

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

• Emancipated by court order. • On active duty with the armed forces of the United States. Joint Physical Custody Joint physical custody occurs when parents or other caretakers alternate taking responsibility for the child’s day-to-day care and supervision in separate homes. It may be included in a court order or may be an informal arrangement between parents or other care- takers. Living Together Living together means sharing a home where family members usu- ally sleep except for temporary absences. Primary Caretaker The primary caretaker is the caretaker who is primarily responsible for the child’s day-to-day care and supervision in the home where the child sleeps more than half of the days in a month, when aver- aged over a twelve-month period. The twelve-month period begins at the time the determination is being made. Absent Caretaker Once a caretaker is determined to be the primary caretaker, the child’s other caretakers are considered absent caretakers. Temporary Absence A temporarily absent person is considered to be living in the home when all of the following are true: • Individual’s location is known. • There is a definite plan to return. • The individual lived with the FIP EDG before the absence (newborns are considered to have lived with the FIP EDG). • The absence has lasted or is expected to last 30 days or less. Exception: An individual is still considered to be living in the home, even after 30 days if the absence reason is any of the following:

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Official source

BEM 210 3 of 20 FIP GROUP COMPOSITION BPB 2026-002 1-1-2026

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

• Emancipated by court order. • On active duty with the armed forces of the United States. Joint Physical Custody Joint physical custody occurs when parents or other caretakers alternate taking responsibility for the child’s day-to-day care and supervision in separate homes. It may be included in a court order or may be an informal arrangement between parents or other care- takers. Living Together Living together means sharing a home where family members usu- ally sleep except for temporary absences. Primary Caretaker The primary caretaker is the caretaker who is primarily responsible for the child’s day-to-day care and supervision in the home where the child sleeps more than half of the days in a month, when aver- aged over a twelve-month period. The twelve-month period begins at the time the determination is being made. Absent Caretaker Once a caretaker is determined to be the primary caretaker, the child’s other caretakers are considered absent caretakers. Temporary Absence A temporarily absent person is considered to be living in the home when all of the following are true: • Individual’s location is known. • There is a definite plan to return. • The individual lived with the FIP EDG before the absence (newborns are considered to have lived with the FIP EDG). • The absence has lasted or is expected to last 30 days or less. Exception: An individual is still considered to be living in the home, even after 30 days if the absence reason is any of the following: