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BEM 229 6 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

when a client loses a deferral to schedule an appointment for each mandatory PATH participant. The DHS-4785 will be generated overnight and can be viewed the next day in Correspondence History. In generating a PATH referral and the DHS-4785, Bridges will allow 6 days for the PATH referral to be processed through Central Print before requiring the client to attend PATH. The one-stop service centers have been advised not to serve clients who appear for AEP or PATH without a system-generated referral as client may not be eligible for PATH services. Bridges will include the date, time and location to appear for their PATH assignment on the automated DHS-4785. When assigned, clients must engage in and comply with all PATH assignments while the FIP application is pending. PATH engage- ment is a condition of FIP eligibility. Failure by a client to participate fully in assigned activities while the FIP application is pending will result in denial of FIP benefits. Bridges automatically denies FIP benefits for noncompliance while the application is pending. Bridges will not penalize Food Assistance when a client fails to attend PATH as a condition of eligibility when the noncompliant individual is not active FIP on the date of the noncompliance. Clients must be active FIP and FAP on the date of FIP noncompliance to apply a FIP penalty to the FAP case. Bridges will generate an alert when active FIP recipients, including clients losing deferral or member adds do not attend PATH. See BEM 233A for further policy related to noncompliance with employ- ment-related activities. Note: Do not manually deny FIP or manually enter a noncompliance for failing to attend PATH. Wait for the Bridges interfaces to create the record. Task and reminders are sent to workers when Bridges takes action or receives an attendance through the interface process. Extending the Last Date to Attend Orientation Either MDHHS or the one-stop service center may extend the last day the client has to attend AEP/orientation when necessary. Extend this date directly on OSMIS before the 15th day passes. To extend the last date to attend PATH: • Use applicant search to locate a client. • Choose the welfare registration screen.