Time is running out for eligible individuals who graduated in 2014 with a high school diploma or equivalent to claim their Tuition Incentive Program benefits, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury. The grant program—known as TIP for short—encourages eligible Medicaid recipients to complete high school by providing college tuition assistance. Eligible TIP students have four years to begin their TIP benefits or permanently forfeit eligibility. For the class of 2014, this means TIP students must be in TIP by the upcoming fall 2018 semester or risk becoming ineligible to receive available grant dollars that help cover college expenses.

High school students between 12 and 20 years old who have or have had Medicaid coverage for 24 months within a 36-consecutive month period were identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services as having met the program’s eligibility requirement. The state Treasury Department notified eligible students about TIP and how to enroll during their senior year of high school. Beginning with the 2018-19 academic year, all TIP students must complete and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid—FAFSA for short—to receive TIP benefits. To learn more about TIP or claim TIP benefits, go to www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid or contact MI Student Aid at mistudentaid@michigan.gov, 1-888-447-2687 or follow @mistudentaid on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat.