Policy links school attendance, welfare

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A new policy taking effect Monday means Michigan parents whose children don't attend school could lose welfare cash benefits.

The Michigan Department of Human Services will require children ages 6-15 to attend school full time to keep their family eligible for cash benefits, a DHS spokesman confirmed to 24 Hour News 8.

The FIP truancy policy, courtesy DHS (pdf)

Truancy is determined by district rules, Dave Akerly of DHS told 24 Hour News 8.

The policy change was prompted by Gov. Rick Snyder, who called earlier this year for a crackdown on truancy at schools. The change takes effect on Oct. 1 -- two days before Michigan's fall Count Day, when attendance is used to determine most of a school district's per-pupil funding from the state.

The policy is expected to affect most of the state's thousands of cash-assistance recipients.

"It's only for new applicants, and current clients with FIP cash assistance when they come up for their annual re-determination," Akerly told 24 Hour News 8 in an email.

DHS client newsletter on truancy policy, courtesy DHS (pdf)