Any month in which a recipient has been exempted from the PATH program under section 57f(3) or (4)(b) is not counted toward the cumulative total of 60 months in a lifetime for family independence program assistance. Any month in which a recipient has been exempted from the PATH program under section 57f(4)(e) or (f) may, in the department's discretion, be excluded from the count toward the cumulative total of 60 months in a lifetime for family independence program assistance.