Bill > HB5145

This bill amends Michigan's Social Welfare Act to establish strict documentation requirements for individuals applying for public assistance programs. The bill eliminates self-attestation and mandates that applicants provide verifiable documentation proving their identity, income, and Michigan residency during initial applications and annual eligibility determinations. For identity verification, acceptable documents include driver's licenses, enhanced identification cards, birth certificates, and Social Security cards. Income documentation can be established through pay stubs, tax returns, benefits statements from government agencies, or written verification from employers. Michigan residency can be proven using lease agreements, utility bills, vehicle registrations, or documents from educational or medical institutions. If an applicant's eligibility cannot be immediately verified through submitted documents, the department must attempt to confirm eligibility through cross-referencing with other state or federal agencies before denying assistance. Additionally, the bill requires the department to update its online application portal (MI Bridges) to mandate document uploads as part of the eligibility verification process. The overall intent appears to be increasing documentation standards and reducing potential fraud in public assistance programs while ensuring a comprehensive verification process.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5145