Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Payments

Sign up for EFT to allow the state to deposit funds directly into your bank account. Reasons you may want to use EFT include:

• EFT payments are safer than checks. No need not worry about your state payments being lost or stolen when receiving an EFT.
• Problems with EFT payments can be resolved in as little as twenty-four (24) hours, compared to an average of two weeks for paper checks.
• EFT payments are easier than checks. Once you sign up for EFT, you don't have to go to your bank to use or access funds.

To sign up for EFT, please login to your SIGMA account and enter your banking information. AGAO cannot make changes to your SIGMA account.  If you need assistance, please call the SIGMA Help Desk at 517-284-0540 or email SIGMA-vendor@michigan.gov.

SIGMA

To request a verification letter, please submit a written request to:

MDHHS-AGAO-PAYMENT-VERIFICATION@michigan.gov or by fax at 517-241-7042 or 517-335-4019.

Your request letter should include the following:

• Parents’ name and home address
• Children’s names and date of births
• Handwritten signature from one or both parents

If you would like AGAO to send the completed verification letter to a third party, you can also include their information (i.e., fax number or email address) and the completed verification can be sent directly to the third party.

Legal guardians with a court-ordered guardianship of an adoptive child due to the death of the adoptive parent(s) may be eligible to receive the child’s adoption assistance payments. The legal guardian(s) will need to email MDHHS-CSA-AGAO-Ongoing-General@michigan.gov.

The legal guardian(s) must submit the following items by email, fax, or mail:

• MDHHS-6155 Application to Continue Adoption Assistance After Death of Adoptive Parent(s) MDHHS-6155
• Death certificate of original payee
• Driver’s license/state ID
• Copy of SSN
• Signed guardianship court order

Guardian must register in SIGMA (State of Michigan’s payment system) and provide their SIGMA vendor code to AGAO. Click here to access the SIGMA website.

Adoption assistance agreements end when you child turns 18. Approximately two months before your child’s 18th birthday, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining options for an extension of your child’s adoption assistance.

Extension applications must be received by AGAO no later than the last day of the next month following your child’s 18^th birthday. These can be mailed or faxed to AGAO or emailed directly to your assigned analyst.

There are two types of extensions, state funded extensions and title IVE extensions.

Title IV-E Adoption Assistance Extension

Children may be eligible for a title IV-E adoption assistance extension if the child has a specific physical, mental or emotional condition or disability that causes an obstacle to the child’s independence, and they are not eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for their own disability.

Title IV-E extensions extend adoption assistance through the month of child’s 19^th birthday.

Children who are eligible for a title IV-E extension are eligible for Medicaid for the duration of the extension.

NOTE: You will only receive a title IV-E application if your child’s original adoption assistance case is title IV-E funded.

State Funded Adoption Assistance Extension

Children may be eligible for a state funded adoption assistance extension if the child is age 18 and has not completed high school or a GED program, is regularly attending school full time, and is not eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for their own disability.

State funded extensions extend adoption assistance through the month of the child’s graduation date or the month of the child’s 19^th birthday, whichever occurs first.

Children who are eligible for a State funded extension are eligible for Medicaid for the duration of the extension.

NOTE: If a child will not graduate by the date reported on the application documents, adoptive parent(s)/legal guardian(s) are required to submit new documentation. This documentation is due 30-calendar days prior to the graduation date that was originally reported or as soon as it is known that the child will not graduate by the previously reported date.

State Funded Medical Subsidy

Children may be eligible for a state funded medical subsidy extension if the child is age 18 and has not completed high school or a GED program, is regularly attending school full time, and is not eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

State funded extensions extend medical subsidy through the month of the child’s graduation date or the month of the child’s 19^th birthday, whichever occurs first.

If a child will not graduate by the date reported on the application documents, adoptive parent(s)/legal guardian(s) are required to submit new documentation. This documentation is due 30-calendar days prior to the graduation date that was originally reported or as soon as it is known that the child will not graduate by the previously reported date.

NOTE: If you are applying for a title IV-E adoption assistance extension, your child MUST meet state funded extension eligibility requirements in order to qualify for a medical subsidy extension.

Extension Application Timeline

Once an extension application is received, your assigned analyst will review and if your child meets the criteria, an extension agreement will be sent to you for completion. This agreement must be returned to AGAO within 90 days. Your extension payments will not be opened until after a completed agreement is received by AGAO.

In order to be eligible for a young adult extension, the child must have been adopted or placed in a juvenile guardianship between the ages of 16-17 years old.

Approximately two months before your child’s 18th birthday, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining options for an extension of your child’s adoption or guardianship assistance, if they are eligible.

Extension applications must be received by AGAO no later than the last day of the next month following the child’s 18^th birthday. These can be mailed or faxed to AGAO or emailed directly to your ongoing analyst.

Extension Eligibility

Children may be eligible for a Young Adult Extension if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Must be attending school (full time for high school; at least part time for college or vocational school) OR
• Must work at least 80 hours a month OR
• A doctor has deemed them incapacitated and cannot work or attend school

Young Adult Extensions can extend assistance to the age of 21 at maximum as long as eligibility requirements continue to be met.

Quarterly reviews are required every 90 days. Quarterly reviews are mailed about 30 days prior to the due date. They can be returned via mail, email, or fax.

Quarterly Young Adult Extension Review Form: DHS-881-YA

Young Adult Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Verification of Eligibility: MDHHS-6006

Medical Subsidy Extension

Medical subsidy can only be extended for Adoption Assistance cases. Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) cases are not eligible for extension of their medical subsidy after the age of 18 years old.

The ongoing daily guardianship assistance rate may not exceed the maximum daily guardianship assistance rate determined prior to the appointment of the guardian(s). The AGAO determines a maximum rate for the child’s guardianship assistance payment. The rate is determined based on the foster care rate the child received prior to application for guard­ianship assistance, without regard to the income of the prospective guardian(s).

Guardian(s) who agreed to an ongoing assistance rate that is less than the maximum daily rate per their assistance agreement may request a renegotiation of the guardianship assistance rate when extraordinary circumstances occur that will impact the child's needs or family circumstances over an extended period of time.

Guardianship assistance rate policy can be found here: GDM 720 JUVENILE GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE RATE DETERMINATION