Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Food Assistance Programs

There are many programs to help people with their food needs, such as emergency food help, Expedited SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps) and Minnesota Food Assistance.

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How Can We Help You?

Get food now

If you need food right now, Minnesota Hunger Partners and the Minnesota Food Helpline (1-888-711-1151), a program of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, can help you find a food shelf, food bank or meal. Also check MinnesotaHelp.info for a listing of emergency food resources around the state. For information about Minnesota’s other emergency food programs, click here.

You may also apply for Expedited SNAP which makes benefits available quickly to households unable to meet their food needs. If you are eligible, benefits will be issued within 24 hours of your interview. Contact your county (PDF) for more information.

Expedited SNAP is available to the following types of households:

  • • Those with less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid assets
  • • Destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker units who have $100 or less in liquid assets
  • • Households where the combined monthly gross income and liquid assets are less than their monthly housing costs and the applicable standard utility deduction if the household is entitle to it.

    • You may receive expedited service in Minnesota if you meet the above requirements, even if you received SNAP in another state during the month of application.

    Many families are concerned about rising costs of food. This pamphlet from the USDA (PDF) contains tips on how to stretch food dollars through budgeting, food selection and low-cost recipes.

    Apply for the SNAP program

    What is the SNAP program?

    SNAP is a county-run federal program that helps Minnesotans with low incomes get the food they need for sound nutrition and well-balanced meals. The program issues electronic SNAP benefits that can help stretch your household food budget. This flier provides more information about the SNAP program (PDF).

    What is the Minnesota Food Assistance Program?

    The Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP) was created by the Minnesota Legislature in response to federal law changes which made certain noncitizens ineligible for federally funded SNAP. MFAP uses state funds to replace the benefits lost when federal SNAP eligibility ends. MFAP is only available to noncitizens 50 years of age or older. Apply for MFAP as you would for SNAP at your county offices. Click here for more information about MFAP.

    How do I get started?

    This Screening Tool asks a few questions to help you determine if you may be eligible for the SNAP. It is available in Hmong, Russian, Somali and Spanish at your county agency.

    Am I eligible?

    SNAP eligibility depends on your household’s income. Households with an income at or below 165 percent of the federal poverty guideline that have also received the Domestic Violence Information Brochure (PDF), will not have an asset limit. The brochure is available on this website or at your county office. Just tell your county worker that you have received the brochure. County human services agencies accept client applications, determine eligibility, and determine benefit levels in accordance with state and federal regulations. The SNAP program is available in all 87 Minnesota counties.

    What is the next step?

    To apply for SNAP, contact your county human services agency (PDF). You can find your county government’s web site on the state’s Minnesota.gov website. You may also call the SNAP Hotline at (651) 431-4050 in the Twin Cities metro area or 1-800-657-3698 outside the metro area. For TTY service, call the Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.

    Next, go to Apply MN or print out and complete the Combined Application Form (CAF) (PDF) and have an interview. The CAF is the application counties require you to complete to apply for SNAP and Cash assistance. When your benefits begin depends on the date the county receives the first page of the CAF. You can get a CAF from your local county office or from the DHS Web site. If you are not able to go to your county office for an interview you may request a phone interview.

    What about cost of living adjustments?

    Many participants in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) may see slight increases in benefits beginning October 1, 2012, when new levels for calculating standard income and expense deductions go into effect. The Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making five cost-of-living adjustments to reflect changes in economic conditions. These increases will affect SNAP eligibility and benefit determinations:

  • • Maximum shelter deductions increase from $459 to $469
  • • Standard deductions increase for all households
  • • Gross income, net income and eligibility thresholds increase
  • • Utility standards for heating and/or cooling expenses increase from $402 to $450
  • • Utility standards for electricity increase from $120 to $138.

    • Minimum and maximum allotments will not change, so some SNAP cases may not see any increases in benefits. SNAP recipients will not receive a written notice about these automatic adjustments.

    County offices are the best places to begin

    Because Minnesota’s SNAP program is county-administered, it is best to begin by contacting the county office where you live. These links may be helpful:

  • • Apply MN
  • • a list of all Minnesota County Human Services agencies (PDF)
  • • a list of county government websites.

    • Or you can call:

  • • The SNAP hotline at DHS in the Twin Cities metro area is (651) 431-4050.
  • • Outside the metro area, call toll-free at 1-800-657-3698.
  • • For TTY service, call the Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
  • Or go to:

    • Solve Common Problems

    Problems with your benefits

  • • Contact your County Human Services Agency (PDF) .
  • • Call the SNAP Hotline: (651) 431-4050 in the Twin Cities metro area or 1-800- 657-3698 outside the metro area.
  • • For TTY service, call the Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800- 627-3529.

    • Problems with your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card

  • • To report lost or stolen cards call 1-888-997-2227.
  • • For further information on using your card, visit this page: How to Use your Minnesota EBT Card (PDF) .

    • To file a formal complaint

    In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, DHS is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 1(800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Find out about SNAP outreach

    Click here for more information about SNAP outreach.

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    In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, DHS is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability.

    To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication,1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 1 (866) 632-9992 (voice), or (800) 877-8339 (TTY) or (800) 845-6135 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.


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