Michigan State Emergency Relief (SER)

What is the Michigan State Emergency Relief Program?

The Michigan State Emergency Relief (SER) Program helps low-income families when they face emergencies. It can help pay for things like energy and heating bills, relocation assistance, funeral costs, home repairs, and other urgent needs. The program gives financial support and works with local nonprofit groups to help families in times of crisis.

The SER program is meant to help low-income families during serious hardship or emergencies that could harm their health or safety. It is not meant for long-term or ongoing money problems.

Am I eligible for Michigan State Emergency Relief?

To get help from SER, you must meet certain rules. These include:

• You have low income and $15,000 or less in savings.
• The emergency is not likely to happen again (for example, to get help with rent or house payments, you need to show you can pay for housing in the future).
• You have already paid some of your rent, heating, electric, or utility bills.

The amount you get depends on how many people live with you, your income, savings, assets, the kind of help you need, and other factors.

Note: Things like your home, vehicle, and household items do not count as assets and burial service applicants are not affected by the asset limit.

How do I apply for the Michigan State Emergency Relief Program?

There are a few ways to apply for Michigan’s State Emergency Relief Program—online or by mail.

To apply online, use MI Bridges, Michigan’s online benefits portal.

Apply through MI Bridges

• Go to the MI Bridges website and click “Apply for Benefits”.
• You can sign in, create a new account, or apply as a guest.
• Then, complete and submit your application online.

Note: If you apply as a guest, you won’t be able to check your application status, save your application to finish later, or manage your benefits (like reporting changes or renewing).

To apply by mail, you need a paper application. You can print and download the application below:

• State Emergency Relief Application (English)
• State Emergency Relief Application (Spanish)

Fill out your application and then mail it to your county’s Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) office. Find your county office address.

How do I get help applying for the State Emergency Relief Program?

If you need help with your SER application or have questions about the program, you can visit or call your county MDHHS office. They can answer your questions, help you fill out the application, and provide support if you have trouble reading, writing, hearing, or need an interpreter.

You can also read the MDHHS information booklet, which has details about the different programs and services available to you.