Q: What is the definition of family in michigan?
If I live with my girlfriend and her kids do I count as part of the family? For section 8 housing HUD calculations...I take care of her kids while she works but my landlord says I have to do community service if I am not working (which I can't as I take care of homeschooled children all day). According to the law I looked up, if I am a member of a family receiving foodstamps (which she does) then I am exempt from this community service requirement.
So, do I count as a member of the family given we live together and share bills and food?
A:
What defines a family varies. A common definition - the one I suspect may apply in your case - is that "family" has blood or legal ties to each other. You have neither.
The reason being is that the state sees your situation as having it both ways: by virtue of you living together, you're sharing in the cash assistance premised on your girlfriend's income. And because you're not married, the state can't look into your income to see if your girlfriend qualifies for continued aid. A lot of people don't marry for just that reason, and the state knows that.
Michigan does not have common law marriage, meaning that you do not become family by simply living together and sharing expenses. So until you legally marry, you will likely not be considered family.
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