Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.
Information on the Family Independence Program, State Disability Assistance, SSI, Refugee, and other cash assistance.
If you cannot afford child care, payment assistance is available.
Children's Special Health Care Services information and FAQ's.
Information on assistance with home repairs, heat and utility bills, relocation, home ownership, burials, home energy, and eligibility requirements.
Information on the Food Assistance Program, eligibility requirements, and other food resources.
Information about the health care programs available through Medicaid and how to qualify.
Our migrant program works with a number of organizations to provide services for Michigan’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
A federal program which helps persons admitted into the U.S. as refugees to become self-sufficient after their arrival.
Universal caseload, or task-based processing, is a different way of handling public assistance cases.
Information on the Children's Protective Services Program, child abuse reporting procedures, and help for parents in caring for their children.
Information on adoption programs, adoption resources, locating birth parents and obtaining information from adoption records.
Information on Adult Protective Services, Independent Living Services, Adult Community Placement Services, and HIV/AIDS Support Services.
Information on child support services for participants and partners.
Programs for healthy children & families, including immunization, lead poisoning prevention, prenatal smoking cessation, and many others.
Information on the Children's Foster Care program and becoming a Foster Parent.
Information about the Michigan law that requires certain information be made available to a woman who is seeking an abortion at least 24 hours prior to the abortion procedure.
Information on treatment and services for juvenile offenders, success stories, and more.
Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources
MDHHS and partners support a continuum of prevention services. The continuum is inclusive of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention activities. Visit this page to learn more.
Information about injury and violence prevention programs in Michigan
Information on Safe Sleep for your baby, how to protect your baby's life.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Division of Environmental Health (DEH) uses the best available science to reduce, eliminate, or prevent harm from environmental, chemical, and physical hazards.
Resources and information to assist in assuring firearm safety for families in the state of Michigan.
The Division of Victim Services (DVS) provides a voice advocating for and responding to all victims of crime in Michigan. Learn more about DVS-funded programs and services, including Michigan’s 24/7, free, confidential, and anonymous domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines.
Medical Resources for Child Protection
Serves as liaison and provides funding to Michigan’s 45 local health departments.
Adult Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services
Multicultural Health
Prevention of diseases & conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many others.
Information on communicable & chronic diseases.
Home to an array of public health programs, initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, infants, families and communities.
Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
Boards and Commissions
Bridge Card Participation Information on Electronic Benefits for clients and businesses, lists of participating retailers and ATMs, and QUEST.
Provider Payments Information on the direct deposit of State of Michigan payments into a provider's bank account.
Information on How to Bid, Requests for Proposals, forms and publications, contractor rates, and manuals.
Information & resources for Community and Faith-Based partners
Information on DHS Applications and Forms grouped by category.
State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP)
Health Care Providers
Licensing information for Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged, Child Day Care Facilities, Child Caring Institutions, Children's Foster Care Homes, Child Placing Agencies, Juvenile Court Operated Facilities and Children's or Adult Foster Care Camps.
Michigan Statewide Systems of Care
Information on the grant awarded for the State Innovation Model Proposal
Protect MiFamily -Title IV-E Waiver
Offers resources for agencies who operate the Weatherization Assistance Program in the state of Michigan
Information on resources in your community and volunteer recruitment and training, and services provided at local DHS offices.
Information is collected to monitor the general health and well-being of Michigan citizens.
Equal Opportunity, Legal Base, Laws and Reporting Welfare Fraud information.
A variety of reports & statistics for programs and services.
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The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide benefits to persons with a disability:
The major difference is that SSI determination is based on age/disability and limited income and resources, whereas SSDI determination is based on disability and work history. It is possible to have both benefits if you have both limited income and a work history.
| Factor | SSI | SSDI |
| Eligibility Based On | Age (65+) OR blindness (any age) OR disability (any age) AND limited/no income and resources | Disability AND sufficient work history through own/family employment |
| When Benefits Begin | 1st full month after the date the claim was filed or, if later, the date found eligible | 6th full month of disability; 6-month period begins with the first full month after the date SSA decides the disability began |
| Health Insurance | Automatically qualifies for Medicaid upon receipt (in most states) | Automatically qualifies for Medicare after a 24-month waiting period from time benefits begin (no waiting period for persons with Lou Gehrig’s disease/ALS) |
The Social Security Act prescribes rules for deciding if an individual is eligible for benefits. Find details about how children and adults can qualify for benefits.
The Social Security Administration defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
A child under age 18 would be considered a person with a disability if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that causes marked and severe functional limitations, and that can be expected to cause death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
There are several ways you can apply for SSI and SSDI benefits at the same time.
You can apply online. Click ‘apply for disability’
If you are not able to complete the application in one setting, it is very important that you save what you have completed in the application process, so you can go back and complete the rest of the application at a later date.
You can also apply by calling the Social Security office. The representative will make an appointment with you to complete your application over the telephone.
800-772-1213
*You can also schedule an in person interview to receive help applying for disability benefits
People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the toll-free “TTY” number at: 800-325-0778
If you are homeless or at risk for homelessness, please seek assistance through the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) program. SOAR is designed to increase access to SSI/ SSDI for eligible adults and children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder.
The Social Security Administration created a checklist to help you get ready for your appointment or when filing online. Make sure that you have the following:
Right to appeal:
Contact the Office of Hearing Operations if denied for Social Security benefits.
CALL: 1-800-772-1213
TTY: 1-800-325-0778
An estimated 70% of applicants are denied the first time they apply for Social Security Disability benefits. Please do not get discouraged if you are denied benefits. It is important and helpful to seek out an attorney that specializes in disability benefits that can help you in the appeal process.
The State of Michigan’s Disability Resources Website provides a list of state programs and services for individuals who have a disability.
These programs include:
The State Vocational Rehabilitation agency serving persons who are blind or visually impaired.
CALL: 800-292-4200 or 517-241-1100
TTY: 888-864-1212 or 517-241-1092
BSBP provides the following services:
The state office that provides technical support, information and referral services, accommodations, and interpreter information and services mostly on a statewide advocacy level.
Works on public policy, advocacy, employment, and supports individuals with developmental disabilities. It also provides grants to students and supports the Self-Advocates of Michigan.
Located in Flint, the school provides academics and social excellence in American Sign Language (ASL) and English for students from infancy to graduation. The school provides bilingual classroom instruction, reading interventions, ASL interventions, auditory therapy, audiological services, speech and language services, medical services, counseling services, transition coordination services, ASL classes for families, and sports and other extracurricular activities. There is no charge to parents.
DB101 helps people with disabilities understand the connection between work and benefits.
For more information, including benefits planning estimator tools, visit the DB101 website.
A person with a disability may be eligible for MRS if the disability causes problems in preparing for, finding, or keeping a job.
For more information about MRS or a listing of MRS office call toll free: 800-605-6722 or TTY: 888-605-6722
The Arc of Michigan works with its local chapters to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides advocacy, education, training and information to families and professionals.
Disability Network regional offices are local Centers for Independent Living that provide a variety of services for individuals with disabilities. These services include information and referral, independent living skills, employment and job readiness, peer support, home help and health services, community transition services, pre-employment transitional services (youth training), benefit planning counseling, community enrichment, housing assistance, healthy living and wellness training, mobility training and safety services, and a loan closet.
For more information, visit the Disability Network website
To find your local office: CILs - Disability Network / Michigan
An independent, private, nonprofit, nonpartisan protection and advocacy organization authorized by Federal and State law to advocate and protect the legal rights of people with disabilities in Michigan.
Find more information about Disability Rights Michigan
Or call: 517-487-1755
800-288-5923 (voice)
Toll-free: 888-330-5595
The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). MI-DDI is part of a network of 67 UCEDDs in the U.S. and its territories. The Institute's mission is to contribute to the development of inclusive communities and quality of life for people with disabilities and their families through a culturally-sensitive, statewide program of training and education, community support and services, research, and sharing of information.
For more information, visit the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute.
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute Leonard N. Simons Bldg
4809 Woodward Avenue, Suite 268
Detroit, MI 48202
MI-DDI Email: middi@wayne.edu
Voice/TTY: 313-577-2654
Toll-free: 888-978-4334
Fax: (313) 577-3770