Skip to: Main content | Subnavigation | Quicklinks |
Department of Human Services Department of Human Services
  About DHS     Aging     Partners and Providers     Children     Disabilities     Economic Supports     Health Care     Publications     Licensing    
Food Support and Food Assistance Programs
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.

To return to the top, just use the right scroll bar.

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 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.

Apply for the Food Support program

What is the Food Support program?
The Food Support (Food Stamps) program 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 food support benefits that can help stretch your household food budget. This flier provides more information about the Food Support 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 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.


How do I get started?
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.


Am I eligible?
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.


What is the next step?
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.


County offices are the best places to begin
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:

• a list of all Minnesota County Human Services agencies (PDF)
• a list of county government websites.
Or you can call:

• 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.
Or go to:
Solve Common Problems

Problems with your benefits
• Contact your County Human Services Agency (PDF) .
• 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.

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 Food Support outreach

Click here for more information about Food Support outreach.

Return to the top.

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.


Related Pages
•  Food Support Outreach
•  Minnesota Food Assistance Program

Related Links
•  Food shelves
•  MinnesotaHelp.info
•  School Nutrition Programs
•  Summer Food Service Program
•  USDA Food Nutrition Service
•  USDA Food Stamp Outreach
•  University of Minnesota Extension Service

  Rate/Report this page   Report/Rate this page

 
© 2012 Minnesota Department of Human Services Online
North Star is led by the Office of Enterprise Technology
Updated: 11/3/11 11:25 AM | Accessibility | Terms/Policy | Contact DHS | Top of Page |