Michigan Family Independence Agency (FIA) director Marianne Udow announced today that the June 2004 Family Independence Program (FIP) caseload was 78,026, a decrease of 0.3 percent from the May total of 78,261.

FIP provides cash assistance to families with children and pregnant women to help them pay for living expenses such as rent, heat, utilities, clothing, food and personal care items.

The June numbers remain among the lowest monthly totals in 33 years. They are on a par with the cases in July of 1970 when the total was 78,608.

The caseload is 66 percent lower than the most recent record high of 226,863 in March 1994.

"The decline in cash assistance cases this month demonstrates the determination of low-income individuals in Michigan to become self-sufficient," Udow said. "While FIP cases have declined, we have recently seen increases in Medicaid, Food Assistance and Child Day Care benefits. I applaud the accomplishments made by our clients and am happy we are able to help so many people get back on the path to self-sufficiency."

In June, 67,286 families received day care benefits for 127,967 children. Food Assistance Program cases totaled 428,419 households, representing 972,588 individuals.