Supervisor - Barb Kavanagh
320-231-7800
Extension 2331
Supervisor - Sue Leal
320-231-7800
Extension 2361
Cash Assistance Programs:
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP): MFIP is a combination of cash, food assistance, and child care assistance for families whose income and assets are within program limits. It is a work-focused program with a goal of helping families move toward self-sufficiency through employment. There’s a 60 month lifetime limit for this program, with some exceptions.
Diversionary Work Program (DWP): DWP is a short term, work-focused program for certain families with children. It provides a maximum of four consecutive months of assistance in a 12 month period.
General Assistance (GA): GA provides a monthly cash assistance grant to people who cannot work due to a disability, age, illness, etc.
Minnesota Supplemental Assistance (MSA): MSA provides a monthly supplement to people over age 65, blind, or disabled and who are receiving SSI.
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA): RCA provides financial assistance to refugees who have been in the U.S. for eight months or less.
Group Residential Housing (GRH): GRH is available to help pay for room and board costs for recipients living in certain group living arrangements. The recipient cannot be related to the person providing care and the home must be licensed by the county. To qualify, the recipient must meet GA or MSA requirements.
IV-E Foster Care: Pays for foster care for children whose families would qualify for a cash assistance program if the children were at home.
Child Care Assistance:
Child Care Assistance is a subsidized assistance program that helps pay for child care services for people who are employed or seeking employment.
There are three components to Child Care Assistance–Basic Sliding Fee (BSF), MFIP Child Care, and Transition Year Child Care. Each has its own set of requirements. At Home Infant Child Care is also available.
Medical Programs:
Medical Assistance (MA): Nationally called Medicaid, this program pays for medical care for low-income people under 21 and over 65 years of age, as well as certain disabled people. There are 27 sub-programs to Medical Assistance for people who qualify. Medical Assistance also pays for Long Term Care.
General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC): GAMC is a state program which provides medical coverage for people who are between the ages of 21 and 65 who are not eligible for Medical Assistance.
Minnesota Care: Minnesota Care is a health care program for people who live in Minnesota and who don’t have health insurance. There is a premium required for persons eligible for Minnesota Care.
Food Programs:
Food Support: Food Support benefits are for single people and for families with or without children.
Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP): This state program provides food assistance to eligible non-citizens who do not qualify for the Federal Food Support Program or the food portion of MFIP.
Emergency Programs:
County Crisis Funds (CCF): CCF provides emergency help for Minnesota families with dependent children under 21. The emergency must threaten the health and safety of a child, such as eviction or utility shut-off. EA is available only once in a 12 month period. A family must have lived in MN for at least 30 days.
Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Aid (EMSA): EMSA provides help to emergency assistance to aged, blind, or disabled people who receive MSA and face an emergency situation that threatens the person’s health and/or safety.
Emergency General Assistance (EGA): EGA provides help to people without children who are in a crisis situation, such as evictions and utility shut-offs. To be eligible, a person has to have lived in Minnesota for at least 30 days.
Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA): EMA provides medical coverage in emergency situations only for people who are not otherwise eligible for MA or GAMC due to immigration status or deemed income/assets of a sponsor.
Welfare Fraud:
Welfare fraud complaints can be made to the county. Anyone suspecting that someone is abusing the public assistance system should call Kandiyohi County Family Services at (320)231-7800 ext. 7024, or the State Hotline at 1-800-627-9977. Callers may remain anonymous.
Last Updated: 05/21/2010