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BEM 229 1 of 7 PATH PROGRAM REFERRALS & THE APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY PERIOD BPB 2025-008 4-1-2025

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

DEPARTMENT PHILOSOPHY Clients must be made aware that public assistance is limited to 60 months to meet their family’s needs and they must take personal responsibility to achieve self-sufficiency. This message, along with information on ways to achieve independence, direct support ser- vices, non-compliance penalties, and good cause reasons, is initially shared by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) when the client applies for cash assistance. The Partnership. Accountability Training. Hope. (PATH) program requirements, education and training opportunities, and assessments will be covered by PATH when a mandatory PATH participant is referred at application. DEPARTMENT POLICY

PATH Application Eligibility Period Completion of the 10-day PATH application eligibility period (AEP) part of orientation which is an eligibility requirement for approval of the FIP application. PATH participants must complete all of the fol- lowing in order for their FIP application to be approved: • Begin the AEP by the last date to attend as indicated on the DHS-4785, PATH Appointment Notice. • Complete PATH AEP requirements. • Continue to participate in PATH after completion of the 10-day AEP. Deny the FIP application if an applicant does not complete all of the above three components of the AEP. Jobs and Self-Sufficiency Survey At application, the registration support staff must provide clients with a DHS-619, Jobs and Self-Sufficiency Survey. For applications received from MI Bridges, the questions from the DHS-619 have been incorporated into the screens. Specialists must do all of the following: • Review the survey or the PDF copy of the application from MI Bridges, and other information in the case record and Bridges