Michigan Benefits Access: Connecting Families to Benefits

1. Michigan Benefits Access: Connecting Families to Benefits CMF/MNA Conference October 9, 2012

2. Michigan Benefits Access

3. Need and Opportunity • Michigan hit hard by economic downturn beginning 2009 • Unprecedented numbers of households qualify for public supports • State of Michigan & nonprofits struggle to meet the needs of low income families • Hundreds of millions of dollars in public benefits go unclaimed each year

4. Reasons for not applying: Lack of knowledge, distrust of government, welfare stigma, many steps, time missed from work, employed and not eligible, lack of transportation, or previously denied. FAFSA MedicalBenefits Help with Federal Taxes Food Stamps

5. Interested parties came together in partnership • Multiple funders and stakeholders including Ford Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Open Society Foundations, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, C.S. Mott Foundation, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, McGregor Fund, and Michigan Community Service Commission • Department of Human Services • Michigan Association of United Ways • Michigan Primary Care Association • Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency • Community colleges • United Way for Southeastern Michigan

6. A Stepped Approach to Financial Independence

7. What is MI Bridges? • 24-hour secure internet portal to DHS benefit applications – www.michigan.gov/mibridges • Directly linked to MDHS internal Bridges system for application processing • Developed and maintained by the Michigan Department of Human Services • Allows households to create an account to apply for benefits, check case status, and recertify, all on-line

8. Recipients Can View Program Status

9. Recipients Can View Correspondence Electronically

10. SEM Pilot project with traditional community partners • 16 Partners • Capacity Building Grants - $15,000- $20,000 • Support provided by UWSEM: • training, technical assistance, data collection, and monthly partner meetings • TA provided to UWSEM by Seedco; evaluation provided by Public Policy Associates • Year 1 – focus on outreach and technical assistance • Year 2 - focus on sustainability and integration of MBA into work and programs of community partners.

11. Data collection

12. How does it work on the ground? • Community partners are trained to assist in navigating MI Bridges • Outreach to clients and community occurs • Each client is asked, at a point of integration, whether they receive benefits; if they do, they are asked if they have a MI Bridges user name and password • Screening for benefit eligibility might occur • Application is completed or appointment is made for another convenient day/time or referral is made to another MBA agency

13. Results • Improved quality of life • Community impact • Capacity • Trusted partners • Innovation • Collaboration

14. How can you be a part of benefits access? • Invest locally to bring MBA to your community. • Put up promotional materials about MI Bridges • Provide a convenient location and access to a computer for community residents to use MI Bridges • Become a community partner • Participate in MI Bridges navigation training • “Man” your computer access location with staff or volunteers who clients can call on when they need help • Use your training on MI Bridges to directly assist customers applying on-line

15. For more information about benefits access and MI Bridges Contact Sue Heath at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. susan.heath@liveunitedsem.org 313 226 9209