The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) is a crucial program that low-income Minnesotans rely on to get assistance with basic needs. Many people rely on this program while going through a Social Security disability claim, which can end up taking several years. Families who apply for cash assistance are usually referred to the Diversionary Work Program (DWP) prior to being eligible for MFIP. The DWP is a fourth-month work program that helps Minnesota parents find jobs, hoping that the jobs they find will result in no need for the MFIP program, but many of these people are disabled and unable to work and do end up receiving MFIP benefits.
If it is determined that an individual would not be required to participate in the DWP because of an inability to work, then the individual would be screened for eligibility for MFIP. There are income and asset rules related to eligibility for MFIP and most parents with minor children are allowed cash assistance for a total of 60 months. If eligible, a person on MFIP receives both cash and food assistance. To learn more about this program click here.
Housing Assistance
When the inability to work occurs, many people run the risk of losing their housing, but Minnesota offers two different programs, Housing Support and Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance. Housing Support is a state-funded income supplement that pays up to $891 per month for housing and food costs. The MSA program helps people with disabilities that pay more than 40 percent of their income toward housing costs so they have a choice about where they live.
HealthCare
Adults with low incomes, who meet eligibility rules, could qualify for one of the healthcare programs administered through the state’s Department of Human Services. These programs include Medical Assistance (MA), MinnesotaCare and the Minnesota Family Planning program.
Applying for one or multiple programs can seem like an overwhelming task, but a good place to start is Minnesota Department of Human Services’ website which can be found here.
