Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP (formerly Food Support)
The following families are eligible for SNAP with no income or asset test:

• Families in which at least 1 child in the household is eligible to receive Basic Sliding Fee Child Care and/or the Transition Year Child Care. The family must apply and be eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program but can still be on the waiting list.
• Families participating in the Diversionary Work Program (DWP).
• Families composed entirely of people who receive General Assistance (GA), Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Minnesota.

1. Medical Assistance
2. MinnesotaCare
3. SNAP
4. Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
5. Energy Assistance
6. Free or Reduced Priced School Meal
7. Head Start

If you are receiving care or services from the Center for Victims of Torture, you are eligible for MA regardless of your immigration status, assets or income.

The traditional income limit of 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidlines and asset limits of $3,000 for the elderly/disabled persons and $2,000 for other persons will still apply in the following situations:

• A household member has an intentional program violation.
• A household member receiving SNAP fails to comply with six-month or monthly reporting requirements.
• The Primary Wage Earner (PWE) fails to comply with work requirements.
• A household member receiving SNAP is convicted of a drug related felony.

School Meal Program:
The School Meal Program does not look at assets.

Child Care Assistance Programs:
Child Care Assistance Programs do not look at assets.

Earned Income Tax Credit/Working Family Credit (EITC/WFC):
For Tax Year 2010, if you have more than $3,100 in investment income, you cannot get the EITC or WFC. Other assets such as money in a checking or savings account or other items you own do not matter for the EITC/WFC.

Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC):
WIC does not look at assets.

Adults without children are NOT eligible for the School Meal Program, WIC, or Child Care Assistance Programs, in most cases.

Remember, when counting family size for health care programs, a pregnant woman carrying one child equals two people. A pregnant women carrying twins would equal three people.

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP):
As a pregnant woman, you can apply for CCAP before the child is born. In fact, it is recommended that you do. When filling out the application, count your unborn child as an infant.

Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC):
If you are pregnant, you may apply for WIC and your unborn child(ren) will be counted in your family size.

 Grandparents, other relative caregivers, or family friends who are raising children who are not their own can apply for most of these programs in two different ways:  1) You can apply as a household and count the children in your care as if they were your own; or 2) You can apply just for the children in your care.  You do not have to be a legal guardian to apply as a household or to apply on behalf of the children.  However, the child(ren) must live with you for more than six months of the year and the biological parents cannot be claiming the child(ren) for the same public program benefits.

If you apply as a household you may have a larger family size that will allow you to qualify for programs at a higher income level or provide you with a larger benefit amount.  For grandparents over the age of 65, applying as a household may make you eligible to receive benefits from programs you normally would not be eligible for as an adult over the age of 65 such as MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance for families.  When applying as a household, the programs will count both the earned and unearned income of you and your spouse and they will count your assets toward any asset limits.  To see if you are eligible for any of these programs as a household, complete the Bridge to Benefits screening tool and count the children in your care as if they are your own children. If you apply just for the child(ren) in your care (and not for other household members), only the child(ren)’s income (if any) will be counted in determining program eligibility.  Asset limits usually do not apply to children who are applying on their own.  Usually children in these caregiving situations are eligible for SNAP (formerly Food Support), Medical Assistance and cash assistance programs.  If you are applying for just the children in your care, you are encouraged to use the Combined Application Form (the same application that is used for SNAP, click here).  You can use this application to apply for SNAP, Medical Assistance and cash assistance.

Note about Child Support Enforcement:  As part of the application process, some of these programs will ask you to comply with Child Support enforcement.  This means you will be asked to supply information on the biological parent(s) of the children you are raising so that the county can seek child support payments from the parents.  If you refuse to supply information, you should understand that the county will still pursue the biological parents for child support.  In addition, by refusing to supply information, you and your spouse can be denied program coverage even though you may be otherwise eligible.  The children in your household, however, can never be denied coverage because of your refusal to comply with Child Support enforcement.  If you have “just cause” for refusing to comply with Child Support enforcement (such as you fear for your safety or the safety of the children in your care), you can ask for and fill out a “just cause” form.

The following information about each of the programs on the Bridge to Benefits screening tool may help you better understand how you and the children in your care are eligible for programs.

MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance:  1) You can apply as a household to receive health care coverage for the adults and children in your household.  You count the children in your care as if they are your own.  Your and your spouse’s income and assets will be counted.  2) You can apply for just the children in your care so that only the children receive health care benefits. Only the children’s income (if any) will be counted.  There is no asset limit for children.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP (formerly Food Support)  1) You can apply as a household and count the children in your care as your own.  You will receive a larger SNAP benefit as a household.  Your and your spouse’s income will be counted.  2) You can apply for just the children in your care and only the children’s income (if any) will be counted.  The benefit amount will be calculated for just the children.

Child Care Assistance Program:  You can apply for assistance to help cover the cost of providing child care for the children in your care.  All household income, including your and your spouse’s earned and unearned income, will be used in determining eligibility.

Earned Income Tax Credit:  If you and/or your spouse are working, you can claim the children in your care when you file your taxes.  Depending on how much you earn, you may qualify for both the Earned Income Tax Credit and Working Family Credit.  The children you claim must live with you for at least six months of the year and be under the age of 19 or 24 if they are full-time students.

WIC:  You can apply for WIC benefits for the children in your care who are under the age of 5.  You will be asked to provide income information for everyone in your household. 

Energy Assistance Program:  This program asks for information, including income, for everyone living in the household regardless of their relationship.  You should list the children you are caring for as members of your household on the Energy Assistance application.

School Meal Program:  You may apply for this program for the child(ren) in your care by counting them as part of your household.  You should provide income information for both you and your spouse.

Yes, youth under age 21 who are not living with a parent or guardian may be eligible on their own for several programs. Independent youth can use the Bridge to Benefits screening tool on their own to determine potential eligibility. You can fill out the application independently, but you will need to provide personal information and an address where you can receive program notices. If you are a pregnant or parenting teen and are living on your own you can apply independently for programs for you and your children, and you should use the Bridge to Benefits screening tool to determine if you and your child may be eligible to receive WIC and Child Care Assistance as well as the following programs.

Youth who are not living with a parent or guardian may be eligible on their own to receive SNAP. You may apply as a household of one. Your parents’ income does not count if you are not living with them. If you live in a shelter, you must provide a letter from an employee at the shelter stating that you live there.

In addition, you must meet the general requirements to receive SNAP including being a US citizen or an eligible qualified noncitizen. Most people will need a Social Security number and you must provide identification, however, you cannot be turned down for SNAP for not having a photo ID. Other proofs of identity that work are an ID from work, a school badge, a health benefit card, an ID from another social service agency, your pay stub or birth certificate.

You can apply for SNAP in person at your county office or send your application in the mail. To download an application click here. To find out where in your county to go to apply or send your application, and who can help you with the application, go to the Program Directory.

Once enrolled in SNAP you will have to report any changes about your address, income, or number of people living with you by calling your county within 10 days. If you have money from work (earned income), you have to fill out a report that comes in the mail every six months. You have to mail it back with proof of income, like check stubs. If you do not have money from work (no earned income), you will only have to do paperwork every 12 months.

Medical Assistance (MA):

Youth who are not living with a parent or guardian may be eligible independently for MA. You may apply as a household of one. Your parents’ income does not count if you are not living with them. Asset limits usually don’t apply to children who are applying on their own.

To apply for MA you must have a photo ID, proof of income and assets, and proof of citizenship or acceptable immigration status. To receive MA you must meet the general requirements for MA, including the income and citizenship guidelines. Noncitizen children who don’t have an acceptable immigration status are not eligible for MA, but may be eligible for Emergency MA if they are in need of emergency health services. You can apply for MA in person at your county office or send your application in the mail. To download an application click here. To find out where in your county to go to apply or send your application, and who can help you with the application, go to the Program Directory.

Once enrolled in MA you will have to report any changes about your address, income, or number of people living with you by calling your county within 10 days. Every six months, you will get a “Renewal Form” in the mail that you will have to mail back right away to keep getting MA.

Energy Assistance Program: The Energy Assistance Program helps people pay their energy bills in the colder months (October to May). The application asks for information on all members of the household, regardless of age or relationship. You can apply as a household of one if you live by yourself and pay your own energy costs. You can apply through the mail or in person. To download an application click here. To find out where in your county to apply or send your application, go to the Program Directory.

School Meal Program: The School Meal Program application asks for income information on all adults in the household. You can apply on your own, but you may need to supply the date you began living away from your parent(s) or guardian(s) and a signature from your school district’s homeless liaison.  You must turn your application in at your school. To download an application click here.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)/Working Family Credit (WFC): You must be at least 25 years old or have at least one child to be eligible for the EITC and WFC. To apply you must file your taxes and have some earned income in the past year. For a list of free tax preparation sites in Minnesota click here.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): There are no Minnesota residency requirements for the EITC. However, you must have lived in the U.S. the entire tax year to claim the EITC.

Working Family Credit: Part-year residents and nonresidents multiply their credit by the percentage of income assignable to Minnesota.

WIC: You must be a Minnesota resident.

MinnesotaCare:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration status. A Social Security Number is required for all adults and children applying (or proof of application if the number is pending). You do not need to provide copies of Social Security cards. Parents without acceptable immigration status can apply for their children as long as the children are U.S. citizens or have acceptable immigration status. Also, if only some people in your household have acceptable immigration status, you can apply just for them. You may be asked to provide copies of your immigration documents if you are not a U.S. citizen. However, you will not have to supply immigration information for family members who are not applying for the program.
• A new law requires some MinnesotaCare applicants and enrollees to prove that they are U.S. citizens and give proof of their identity when they apply for or renew their coverage. This includes U.S. nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island. You do not have to show proof if you are an adult without children and are applying for or enrolled in MinnesotaCare, getting Medicare benefits or getting or previously received Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Medical Assistance:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration status. Parents without acceptable immigration status can apply for their children as long as the children are U.S. citizens or have acceptable immigration status. Also, if only some people in your household have acceptable immigration status, you can apply just for them. You may be asked to provide copies of your immigration documents if you are not a U.S. citizen. However, you will not have to supply immigration information for family members who are not applying for the program.
• If you are receiving care or services from the Center for Victims of Torture, you are eligible for MA regardless of your immigration status, assets or income.
• A new law requires some Medical Assistance applicants and enrollees to prove that they are U.S. citizens and give proof of their identity when they apply for or renew their coverage. This includes U.S. nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island. You do not have to show proof if you are getting Medicare benefits or getting or previously received Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Energy Assistance Program:
You do not need to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration status. You will be asked to provide Social Security Numbers on the application for everyone in the household. However, you are not required to provide Social Security Numbers and it will not impact your ability to get any benefits if you do not provide them.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP (formerly Food Support):
You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration status. However, if only some people in your household have acceptable immigration status, you can apply just for them. Most people will need a Social Security Number (or proof of application if the number is pending) to apply. There are exceptions to this rule. If you are under the age of 18, or have been a lawful U.S. resident for more than 5 years, or are a refugee or asylee, you do NOT need a Social Security Number.

School Meal Program:
A parent's or child's immigration status does not matter as long as the child is enrolled in school.

Child Care Assistance Programs (CCAP):
Children for whom you are applying for CCAP must be U.S. citizens or have an acceptable immigration status. Parents or other caregivers do not have to be U.S. citizens or have an acceptable immigration status but they do need to provide proof of identity (e.g. driver's license, state identification card, passport, school identification card or birth certificate) and residence (e.g. one of the items listed above or a copy of a recent utility bill, rental lease or mortgage document).

Also, you will be asked to provide Social Security Numbers on the application. You are not required to provide Social Security Numbers and it will not impact your ability to get any benefits if you do not provide them.

• The biological mother or father of the child
• An adult who is not the biological parent but married to either the mother or father
• A legal guardian and his/her spouse
• Unmarried parents living in the same household with a child in common

If an adult is living with one of the child’s parents but not married to that parent and is not the biological father or mother of the child, he or she is NOT an eligible caregiver. Grandparents, boyfriends and girlfriends as well as other adult relatives who do not have a parental relationship with the child needing care are also NOT eligible caregivers.

If you have questions about who is an eligible caregiver within your household, contact a county worker from the Child Care Assistance Program.

• Refundable tax credits are not counted as income in determining eligibility or the amount of benefit for any federally-funded public benefit program.
  
• Refundable tax credits cannot be counted as an asset for up to 12 months in determining eligibility for any federally-funded public benefit program.
• Money placed in an Individual Development Account (IDA) is never counted toward asset limits. If you are interested in learning about opening an IDA savings account through the FAIM program, click here.

This rule does not apply to Medical Assistance.

If you have had health insurance at any time during the past four months, you can NOT get MinnesotaCare even if you meet the income requirements. (Note: Medical Assistance does not count as insurance). However, you may qualify once you have been without health insurance for four months and you meet the income requirements. If you are applying for your family, only the people who have had health insurance in the past four months will NOT qualify. The rest of the family members can still get MinnesotaCare. (Note: Medical Assistance does not have this four month rule).