The proposed bill amends the Social Welfare Act of 1939 by adding Section 10h, which prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from accepting self-attestation as proof of identity, income, and Michigan residency for individuals applying for public assistance. Instead, applicants will be required to provide verifiable documentation to establish their eligibility. This documentation includes specific forms of identification, such as a Michigan driver’s license or birth certificate for identity verification, pay stubs or tax returns for income verification, and lease agreements or utility bills for residency verification.

Additionally, if the department is unable to verify an applicant's eligibility using the provided documentation, it is mandated to utilize collateral contacts, data matches with other agencies, or other available evidence before denying assistance. The bill also requires updates to the MI Bridges online application portal to facilitate the uploading of the necessary verifiable documentation prior to determining eligibility for public assistance.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 400.1, 400.119