LANSING (WTVB) - A statewide crackdown on truancy begins with the new month.  Any families with children who have ten or more unexcused absences could be at risk of losing their cash benefits. The old policy only applied to 16 and 17-year-olds and did not affect a family’s benefits. The new policy includes children between 6 and 15 years old and could lead to a cutoff of benefits.  Any family that is cutoff will have to prove their children have attended for 21-days in a row before benefits are restored.  If 16 and 17-year-olds skip, it will only affect their benefits. The crackdown is designed to counter what has been steadily increasing truancy rates in the state’s schools.