Family Independence Program (Michigan Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
The Family Independence Program (FIP) is Michigan's monthly cash for families with children and pregnant women: $363 a month for one person, $478 for two, $583 for three, $707 for four. Older articles quoting $556 are out of date. Apply at MI Bridges; cash rides the same Bridge Card as food assistance.
Two rules recently moved in families' favor. The lifetime limit ROSE from 48 to 60 months in April 2025, matching the federal clock. And families cut off at the old 48-month line can reapply for up to 12 more months. If that was you, the door reopened.
Michigan's asset limit is unusually forgiving: $15,000 in countable assets, with vehicles and personal belongings not counted at all. Decisions come within 45 days.
The work side starts gently: PATH, the work program, opens with a 21-day assessment period to identify barriers like child care or transportation before work participation begins. Citizens and qualifying immigrants who live in Michigan qualify, if not drawing cash aid from another state.
If FIP's limits rule you out, two doors remain: State Disability Assistance covers disabled adults, their caretakers, and people 65 and older, and the same MI Bridges application reaches food assistance at much higher incomes, with the kids covered through Medicaid.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Families with children who are Michigan residents and meet an income and asset test
- Adult recipients face a 60-month lifetime limit and take part in the PATH employment program, which starts with a 21-day assessment
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at michigan.gov/mibridges, by paper, or at your local MDHHS office.
- 2
Bring proof: ID, income, the children at home or pregnancy, and assets under $15,000 (cars do not count).
- 3
Cut off at 48 months under the old rule? Reapply; up to 12 additional months are available under the 60-month limit.
- 4
Start PATH with its 21-day assessment; name your barriers (child care, transportation) so they get addressed first.
- 5
Expect a decision within 45 days, with cash on the Bridge Card.
- 6
Disabled, caring for someone disabled, or 65+? Ask about State Disability Assistance if FIP does not fit.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much is FIP in Michigan?
$363 a month for one person, $478 for two, $583 for three, $707 for four, $822 for five, effective December 2024. The ~$556 figure still circulating is outdated.
How long can I get FIP?
60 months in a lifetime; Michigan raised the limit from 48 in April 2025. Families closed at the old 48-month line can reapply for up to 12 more months.
What is the asset limit?
$15,000 in countable assets like bank accounts and investments. Vehicles and personal belongings do not count.
What is PATH?
Michigan's FIP work program. It begins with a 21-day assessment identifying employment barriers before work participation starts, so raise child care and transportation needs early.
Who qualifies for FIP?
Pregnant women and low-income families with a child under 18 (or 18 and in high school), living in Michigan as citizens or qualifying immigrants, not drawing cash aid from another state.
What if I don't qualify?
State Disability Assistance covers disabled adults, caretakers of disabled people, and those 65+. Food assistance reaches much higher incomes on the same MI Bridges application.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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