As governor, my priority is putting money back in the pockets of hardworking Michiganders. That’s why I want to make sure you have all the information to get the support you need. Whether you are looking for help reducing your energy costs, securing access to student debt relief, or finding the right health insurance for you, I want you to know that we have your back.
If the resources you’re looking for aren’t in this email, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at Michigan.gov/Whitmer or at (517) 335-7858. I will continue working to lower costs for families and put Michiganders first.
Sincerely,
If you own a home or a multifamily property, you may qualify for funding for housing repairs and upgrades through Michigan Housing Opportunities Promoting Energy-Efficiency (MI-HOPE). Whether you need your roof repaired, your furnace replaced, or your air filtration checked out, this program will guide you towards the help you need.
For more information about the program or to speak directly to state and local partners, join the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for an informational webinar on October 26 from 5pm-6pm EST. You can register here for the webinar.
For those interested, here are some additional links to informational sheets.
The application for student loan debt relief is now live. This federal program could provide up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for those who make less than $120,000 individually or $250,000 as a married couple. With this program, nearly 700,000 more Michiganders will can receive important loan relief. Student debt is a real burden on working families, and I will continue to work with anyone to help reduce these costs for Michiganders.
The form only takes about five minutes to complete. You only need to know your social security number, and do not need to input any other student loan information. It’s easy to use and apply.
Additionally, Attorney General Dana Nessel wants to remind Michiganders to look out for scammers targeting those who are applying for student loan forgiveness. AG Nessel encourages residents to follow these tips to avoid these scams:
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For more information about student loan debt relief, visit the Federal Student Aid website and/or contact your loan servicer. Do not provide your personal or financial information in response to unsolicited emails, phone calls, or texts either purportedly from the federal government or a company claiming to be able to assist you with obtaining the announced relief.
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Don’t agree to pay anyone for assistance in obtaining this relief.
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Don’t be rushed. To get you to act fast, scammers say you could miss qualifying for repayment plans, loan consolidation, or loan forgiveness programs if you don’t sign up right away. Take your time and check it out.
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Don’t give away your FSA ID. Some scammers claim they need your FSA ID to help you, but don’t share your FSA ID with anyone. Dishonest people could use that information to get into your account and steal your identity.
Those who wish to make a report about potential scams, can do so with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team by filing a complaint online or by calling 877-765-8388.
Health insurance can be a very difficult and confusing process. Finding a plan that works best for you can be hard enough without having to deal with scams. The Michigan Medicare and Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is a free and confidential public service that offers a statewide network of more than 700 trained and certified Medicare counselors. MMAP can help with the following:
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Identify resources for prescription drug assistance
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Explain Medicare health plan options
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Understand doctor bills, hospital bills and Medicare Summary Notices
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Understand Medicare/Medicaid eligibility, enrollment, coverage, claims and appeals
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Enroll in Medicare Savings Programs
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Review your Medicare supplemental (“Medigap”) insurance needs, compare policies and pursue claims and refunds
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Explore long term care financing options, including long term care insurance
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Identify and report Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse
For more information, visit the MMAP website or call 1-800-803-7174 to speak to a counselor.
It is so important that we recruit the best teachers for Michigan classrooms. Being a teacher is a tough yet rewarding job, and we need to make sure Michigan has a deep bench of talented educators who can help our kids reach their potential. The MI Future Educator Stipend is a $9,600 stipend per semester to support Michigan’s hardworking student teachers as they continue their journey to being in the classroom full-time. To be eligible, the student must:
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Be participating full-time (or its equivalency if participating through an Alternative Certification Program) in required student teacher coursework.
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Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
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Be in an unpaid student teaching position.
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Not have received the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend before, unless your program specifically requires more than one semester of student teaching.
This is a brand-new program, so the application is still under development. Sign up to be the first to hear when the application becomes available and visit the MI Student Aid Website for more information about this program and others.
As winter approaches, it’s time to make plans for the cold Michigan weather. I want to make sure you are aware of the Weatherization Assistance Program, which reduces household energy costs by an average of $283 per year. Getting your home weatherized will reduce energy costs, allowing you to spend more money on food, clothing, or other critical household needs.
Anyone interested in applying for the Weatherization Assistance Program can contact their local provider. Eligibility is based on household income and if the home’s current condition is weatherization ready. Income eligibility is up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $36,620 for a household of two or $55,500 for a household of four.
More information about home energy savings can be found by visiting the websites below that cover:
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