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BEM 225 9 of 46 CITIZENSHIP/NON-CITIZEN STATUS BPB 2026-017 7-1-2026

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

Spouse includes the unremarried surviving spouse of a deceased qualified military non-citizen. The marriage must fulfill one of the following: • The spouse was married to the veteran for one year or more. • A child was born to the spouse and veteran during or before the marriage. • The spouse was married to the veteran within the 15-year period following the end of the period of service in which an injury or disease causing the death of the veteran was incurred or aggravated. • Holder of one of the following immigration statuses: • Lawful permanent resident with class code RE, AS, SI or SQ on the I-551 (former refugee or asylee). Note: For SNAP, clients who enter the U.S. with one of the following categories are eligible for the first seven years. If they adjust to another category which requires them to meet the five-year requirement, they are still eligible for the first seven years. • Lawful Permanent Resident with a class code on the I-551 other than RE, AM or AS is disqualified for the first five years in the U.S. Exception: A non-citizen admitted into the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996, with one of these statuses is eligible immediately: • Non-citizen is a qualified military non-citizen or the spouse or dependent child of a qualified military non-citizen. • Permanent resident has at least 40 Social Security Credits. • Lawfully residing in U.S. on 8/22/96 and age 65 or older on 8/22/96; or a Hmong or Highland Laotian tribe member that rendered assistance to U.S. personnel by taking part in a military or rescue operation during Vietnam era (August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975) lawfully residing in U.S., their spouse, unmarried dependent child under age 18 now, or unremarried surviving spouse. • Lawfully residing in the U.S. and blind or disabled now.