Economic supports, cash, food: Policies and procedures

• PartnerLink is the Minnesota Department of Human Services' website for county and tribal agencies. PartnerLink is a resource for workers to access reference material. Policy and procedure information can be found in the Manuals section of PartnerLink.
  
  
• Additional cash program resources can also be found on PartnerLink.

• PartnerLink is the Minnesota Department of Human Services' website for county and tribal agencies. PartnerLink is a resource for workers to access reference material. Policy and Procedure information related to Employment Services can be found in the Manuals section of PartnerLink. 
  
  
• Additional Employment Services program resources can also be found on PartnerLink. 

• PartnerLink is the Minnesota Department of Human Services' website for county and tribal agencies. PartnerLink is a resource for workers to access reference material. Policy and procedure information can be found in the Manuals section of PartnerLink. 
  
  
• Additional food program resources can also be found on PartnerLink. 

In response to low Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, the Minnesota Department of Human Services created a statewide outreach program to educate and inform assistance-eligible participants about the program to make an informed decision about participating. This program benefits individuals with low incomes, while boosting local economies. 

• Outreach initiative goals:
  • Educating the community about the purpose of and use of nutrition assistance
  • Dispelling the myths associated with assistance-eligible participants
  • Increasing access to information and application assistance
  • Increasing participation, especially among seniors and Minnesotans with low-incomes

• Resources 
  
  
  • Outreach partners are encouraged to use Bridge to Benefits, on online tool to screen for food assistance eligibility and connect participants to other resources in the community.
    
    
  • Paper screening tools
    • English DHS-3529 (PDF)
    • Spanish DHS-3529 (PDF)
    • Somali DHS-3529 (PDF)
    • Hmong DHS-3529 (PDF)  
      
      
  • Free outreach materials are also available from Hunger Solutions website.
    
    
  • Additional resources are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service.

Farmers markets are a great source for fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods; expanding program participants’ access to healthy food is a priority to the department. More Minnesota farmers markets accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits via the Electronic Benefit Transfer card. Program participants can double participants’ purchasing power at participating farmers markets. Every $1 of benefits spent is matched by $1 in Market Bucks — up to $10. More information can be found on Hunger Solutions Market Bucks website.

The University of Minnesota Extension has developed an interactive map to locate farmers markets. Farmers markets marked with blue map pins accept Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and offer the Market Bucks program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Farmers Market resource webpage offers additional information.

Information on applying to become an authorized farmers market accepting benefits is on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. The online application can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. 

 

Applying for federal Social Security disability benefits can be a challenge. DHS Social Security advocates are available to help you file an application, appeal a denied application, and will make sure that you are applying for all benefits for which you are eligible. More information can be found at Social Security Advocacy Services.

The Benefits Planning Toolkit helps planners show people with disabilities how work is possible, work to their full potential, save money and get ahead financially.

Minnesota county financial workers administer public assistance programs. The Combined Manual (CM) gives financial workers a complete, authoritative, concise set of provisions to determine eligibility fore the cash and food programs and to issue client benefits on MAXIS. This includes the Minnesota Family Investment Program, Diversionary Work Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, General Assistance, Group Residential Housing, end emergency assistance programs.

The Employment Services Manual contains the policies and procedures of the Employment Services component of the Minnesota Family Investment Program and Diversionary Work Program. The primary users of this manual are employment services providers, who are contracted to help Minnesota Family Investment Program and Diversionary Work Program participants become employed and self-sufficient.

Minnesota's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training program helps participants transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency by preparing for and obtaining gainful employment. This is achieved by creating individualized employment plans, moving participants into jobs as quickly as possible. Policies and procedures for this are described in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Manual.

The MAXIS Vendor Help Line is for vendors that have questions on warrants or checks issued for clients receiving public assistance. Questions can be directed to 651-431-4153. 

Registered users can submit questions about economic support policies and procedures to the department using PolicyQuest. To submit a question or check on the status of an answer, visit the PolicyQuest login page. A password is not needed to view the library of questions and answers that have been sent in by county agencies and the Mille Lacs band Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families workers.

Responses provided in PolicyQuest are case specific unless otherwise specified. They are not binding on and do not apply to other cases. Responses are based on applicable statute, regulation, and guidance in effect at the time the responses are issued and may not be accurate at a later date. The department encourages users to submit questions to confirm current policy.