OSP News

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Updates for Food Assistance, Phone Assistance and Recent MI Bridge Updates

Posted: 08/13/2020

 

Phone Assistance Guidance Update

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) knows that many MI Bridges Navigation Partners will continue to work remotely for a period of time. Due to the Governor’s State of Emergency being extended, they are extending the guidance for providing assistance to clients over the phone to September 4th. MDHHS understands that many of their MI Bridges Navigation Partners have moved away from providing in-person assistance with MI Bridges and are wondering how they can provide assistance to clients over the phone. In an effort to better support the MI Bridges Community Partners who still are providing services via the phone, click here to read the following guidance on how to provide this assistance with MI Bridges account creation and online applications for benefits. This is a temporary measure that is only in place until September 4th and is subject to change. MDHHS will provide updates as processes/policies are changed.

Additional Food Assistance for 350,000 Michigan Families in Response to COVID-19 Emergency Extended Through August
Approximately 350,000 Michigan families will continue to have access to additional food assistance benefits during the month of August as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services  announced Friday. Michigan previously approved the additional food assistance for March through July – and now that is being extended for the month of August with approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. 

Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card by August 30, with payments beginning for some households on August 20. Additional benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance that is provided earlier in the month. Click here to read the full press release.

Recent MI Bridges Updates

There were some updates made to the MI Bridges portal this past Saturday. Here are some highlights of the changes and you can find more information by clicking here.

  1. Clients will be able to upload documents regardless if they ID proofed as long as they submit an application or have an active case.
  2. Referral partners now will receive notification one time per day when a referral(s) is assigned for awareness.
  3. The MI Bridges Help Desk will be, temporarily, assisting with offline ID proofing for clients. If a client has been unsuccessful in completing the process online and cannot go to the local office, they can call the help desk. However, the help desk can only assist if they failed with online process and if the client either had or has a case with MDHHS. If a client has never had a case with MDHHS, they will still need to go to the local office for assistance. As a reminder, community partners who are having trouble with completing the online ID proofing process will need to email MDHHSCommunityPartners@michigan.gov.

 

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