Minnesota Minnesota

Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM)

Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM)


Family Support Grant (FSG)

Page posted: 11/1/03

Page reviewed: 5/17/22

Page updated: 5/17/22

Legal authority

Minn. Stat. §252.32

Definition

Family Support Grant (FSG): A statewide program that provides cash grants to eligible families with children who have been certified disabled. The program:

  • · Helps families access disability services and supports.
  • · Prevents out-of-home placement for children who have disabilities.
  • · Promotes family health and social well-being.
  • · Supports families in transition-related activities for dependents age 14-24.

    • Eligibility

    FSG is available to a child who meets all of the following requirements:

    1. Younger than age 25.

    2. Lives in their biological or adoptive family home.

    3. Biological or adoptive family has an annual adjusted gross income below statutory limits (refer to DHS – FSG), except in cases where extreme hardship is demonstrated (refer to extreme hardship section on this page).

    4. Certified disabled by one of the following:

  • · Social Security Administration (SSA).
  • · State Medical Review Team (SMRT).
  • · Lead agency Rule 185 developmental disability/related condition case management.

    • Extreme hardship

    The lead agency may approve hardship exceptions to the income limit on a case-by-case basis. The lead agency can consider factors such as:

  • · Family size.
  • · Presence of disability in other family members.
  • · Substantial existing family debt due to the child’s disability.

    • Multiple children with disabilities

    Families with more than one eligible child may apply for individual grants for each eligible child.

    Mental health

    A child who has a mental health diagnosis is eligible for FSG if they meet one of the following requirements:

  • · Has a serious and persistent mental health (SPMI) diagnosis under Rule 79.
  • · Has a mental health diagnosis that is not an SPMI but is certified disabled by SSA, SMRT or lead agency Rule 185.

    • A child who has a mental health diagnosis also must meet all other eligibility criteria.

    Ineligibility

    A child cannot receive FSG at the same time as they receive home and community-based services (HCBS) under any of the following:

  • · Brain Injury (BI) Waiver.
  • · Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver.
  • · Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver.
  • · Community First Services and Supports (CFSS).
  • · Consumer Support Grant (CSG).
  • · Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver.
  • · Personal care assistance (PCA).

    • Covered services

    FSG provides eligible families with cash grants up to $3,113.99 a calendar year. The grants offset higher-than-average expenses incurred if they are directly related to their child's disabilities.

    Families must use grant money to purchase services and items:

  • · Described in their child's lead-agency-approved individual service plan.
  • · Not available through other funding sources or other community programs.
  • · That support transition-related activities.

    • Place of residence

    A child may not receive FSG if they permanently reside outside their biological or adopted family home in any of the following settings:

  • · Intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities (ICF/DD).
  • · Nursing facility (NF).
  • · Regional treatment center (RTC).
  • · Other licensed residential service facility licensed by DHS or the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

    • The lead agency may authorize FSG for an eligible child who is finalizing the adoption process, but who currently resides outside their biological or adopted family home or in licensed residential service facilities, if:

  • · Items are for early childhood intervention, prevention or treatments.
  • · Items will help the adoptive family meet the child's needs.
  • · Items will be for the child's exclusive use and will remain with the child if the adoption process is not successful.

    • Temporary out-of-home placement

    When a child who receives FSG is placed out of the home temporarily, the lead agency must:

  • · Suspend FSG for a child who enters temporary out-of-home placement for 30 days or less.
  • · Terminate FSG when a child has been in an out-of-home placement for 31 days.
  • · Reinstate FSG when an eligible child returns home (if funds are available at the lead agency of residence).

    • Secondary information

    Depending on the child’s needs, the lead agency can decide on a case-by-case basis how to distribute FSG money. Options for the distribution are:

  • · A lump sum.
  • · Monthly payments.
  • · Vouchers or direct payments to vendors.

    • Additional resources

    CBSM – FSG lead agency process and procedure: Specific information on how to administer grants

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