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There are many programs to help people with their food needs, such as emergency food help, Expedited Food Support, Food Support (formerly called Food Stamps) and Minnesota Food Assistance.
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| To return to the top, just use the right scroll bar. |
| You may also apply for Expedited Food Support 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 Food Support 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 actual monthly housing and utility costs (or the standard utility allowance if the household is entitled to it). |
| You may receive expedited service in Minnesota if you meet the above requirements, even if you received Food Support 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. |
| 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 Food Support. MFAP uses state funds to replace the benefits lost when federal Food Support eligibility ends. MFAP is only available to noncitizens 50 years of age or older. Apply for MFAP as you would for Food Support at your county offices. Click here for more information about MFAP. |
| The Food Support Screening Tool asks a few questions to help you determine if you may be eligible for the Food Support Program. It is available in Hmong, Russian, Somali and Spanish at your county agency. |
| Food Support 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 Food Support program is available in all 87 Minnesota counties. |
| To apply for Food Support, contact your county human services agency (PDF). You can find your county government’s web site on the state’s NorthStar website. You may also call the Food Support 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, complete a Combined Application Form (CAF) (PDF) and have an interview. The CAF is the application counties require you to complete to apply for Food Support 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. |
| Because Minnesota’s Food Support program is county-administered, it is best to begin by contacting the county office where you live. These links may be helpful: |
| • The Food Support 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. |
| • Call the Food Support 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. |
| • To report lost or stolen cards call 1-888-997-2227. |
| 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 Food Support outreach |
| 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. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |
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