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Issue Alert - 10-01-03
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| Date: | Jan 05, 2010 | |
| Program Area: |
Family Independence Program (FIP) and Child Development and Care (CDC) |
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| Issue Summary: |
The Department of Human Services (DHS) now requires a mid-certification contact with (a) all CDC recipients and (b) FIP recipients with earnings |
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| Persons Affected: |
FIP recipients who have earnings, and all CDC recipients |
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| For More Information: |
Center for Civil Justice 320 S. Washington, 2nd Floor Saginaw, MI 48607 (989) 755-3120, (800)724-7441 Fax: (989) 755-3558 E-mail: info@ccj-mi.org
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| Background | ||
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Ordinarily, individuals who qualify for Child Development and Care
(CDC) child care subsidies or for Family Independence Program (FIP) cash
assistance are certified to receive benefits for 12 months before their
eligibility is redetermined. Under federal regulations, DHS must verify hours of employment at
least once every six months for purposes of determining whether FIP recipients
are meeting their work-related activity requirements. As a result of problems with payment accuracy
and fraud, DHS is increasing its efforts to verify eligibility and need for CDC
benefits. |
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| What's Happening? | ||
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DHS has revised its policy to require that FIP recipients
with earnings and all CDC recipients complete and return a “Mid Certification
Contact” with verification of employment hours and income, and hours of other
CDC need (such as hours in approved education or training) by the end of the 6th
month of their 12-month certification period.
BAM 210 p. 6 http://www.mfia.state.mi.us/olmweb/ex/bam/210.pdf,
BPB 2010-001 p. 3-4 http://www.mfia.state.mi.us/olmweb/ex/BP-2010-001.pdf. (Note that the policy in BAM 210 says that
only proof of income is required, which is contrary to the description of
policy in BPB 2010-001, although the Bulletin (BPB)). BPB 2010-011 also indicates that DHS must
check on the number of hours approved by the Michigan Works Agency, by accessing
the MWA’s MIS system. |
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| What Should Advocates Do? | ||
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Help clients understand and comply with these new requirements. |
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| What Should Clients Do? | ||
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1. Return mid-certification forms by the deadline. Keep a copy.
To avoid problems caused by lost paperwork at DHS, if possible, drop the
form at the DHS office and sign it into the log book, or get a proof of mailing
from the Post Office if you mail it in. 2. Return requested verifications with the mid-certification form. Paystubs or a statement from you employer are
most important. If you have CDC for
education or training that is not being approved and monitored by the Michigan
Works Agency (Jet or Work First), submit verification of your hours, such as a
class schedule. |
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| Finding Help | ||
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Most legal aid and legal services offices handle these types of cases, and they do not charge a fee.
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