Minnesota Minnesota

MFIP Employment Services Manual

MFIP Employment Services Manual


9.3 Policies Specific to Teen Parents

ISSUE DATE: 02/2026

MFIP policies specific to teen parents include:

  • · Having education the primary goal and activity.
  • · Being able to earn money without reducing the MFIP benefits when meeting education requirements.
  • · Not having months of MFIP assistance count while attending middle or high school or GED preparation.
  • · Maybe counting their parents income, if they live with their parents.
  • · Having required assessments done through social services.


    • Some policies differ based on the age of the teen parents:

    MFIP policies

    For minor parents (younger than 18)

    For 18- and 19-year-old parents

    Living arrangements.

    Have to live with 1 of the following:

  • · Their parents.
  • · A legal guardian.
  • · Another adult relative.
  • · Adults who manage a supervised living arrangement approved by the county or tribe.


    • (For more detail, see Combined Manual 0012.06 (Requirements for Caregivers Under 20)).

    No special policies.

    Issuance of benefits.

    Have to have their MFIP cash benefits issued by warrant to the supervising adult on their behalf, when possible. This is called a protective payment. The food benefits, however, are available directly to the minor parent.

    Receive benefits directed to them on their own EBT card like other adult-headed households.

    Assessments.
    See 9.15 (Social Services Assessments).

    Must include the minor parent’s child.

    Do not have to include the teen parent’s child.

    Referrals by county or tribal eligibility staff.

    Must be referred to county or tribal social services, see 5.3 (Referrals to Employment Services).

    May be referred to an employment services agency or the county or tribal social services department, see 5.3 (Referrals to Employment Services).

    Education requirements.

    Must attend high school or GED preparation courses, if the minor parent does not yet have a high school diploma or GED. See 9.6 (Education Requirements).

  • · Have the option to pursue either education or work as a primary activity. See 9.9 (Options for 18- & 19-Year Old Parents).
  • · Must pursue the work option if they have a GED or high school diploma or no appropriate educational opportunity is available. See 9.6 (Education Requirements).

    • Child under 12 months exemption, see 5.21 (Child Under 12 Months Old Exemption).

    Have only a 6-week exemption from attending school to care for a newborn. See 9.27 (Child Under 12 Months & Teen Parents).

    Have only a 6-week exemption to care for a newborn if taking the education option. See 9.27 (Child Under 12 Months & Teen Parents).

    Minnesota (MN) Paid Leave exemption, see 5.23 (Minnesota Paid Leave Exemption)

    Can take the MN Paid Leave exemption.

    See 9.29 (Minnesota Paid Leave & Teen Parents).

    Can take the MN Paid Leave exemption. See 9.29 (Minnesota Paid Leave & Teen Parents).

    PREVIOUS REVISIONS

    DateNotes
    08/2020

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