Overview of Income Maintenance Programs 2012 Copyright Monica Bogucki

Need Based Programs 1. Is the client categorically eligible? 2. Is the client financially eligible ? Is the client within income limits? Is the client within assets limits?

The income and asset limits are different for every program.

Public Interest Lawyers Recognizing need based programs-income and asset limits Recognizing need based programs-income and asset limits Recognizing clients’ eligibility for programs Recognizing clients’ eligibility for programs Recognizing special benefits of programs-such as the family violence waiver for MFIP-S Recognizing special benefits of programs-such as the family violence waiver for MFIP-S

Government Benefit Programs For Families ▪ MFIP-S-monthly cash assistance program for families ▪ Food Stamps ▪ Medical Assistance ▪ EBT Cards link in Minn. ▪ er/Legacy/DHS-3315A-ENG

Government Benefit Programs ▪ General Assistance ▪ Food Stamps ▪ General Assistance Medical Coverage ▪ For individual or couples without children

General Assistance Sixteen different categories for eligibility Sixteen different categories for eligibility Minn. Stat. 256D.05 Minn. Stat. 256D.05

Food Stamps Federal Funding-United States Department of Agriculture Federal Funding-United States Department of Agriculture Cost of living adjustment every year Cost of living adjustment every year

Food Stamps Also available as a stand alone program Also available as a stand alone program Underutilized-important to refer clients who eligible Underutilized-important to refer clients who eligible

Food Support or Food Stamps National National Food Research and Action Center Food Research and Action Center Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-new name \

Food Stamp Calculator Example: Example: dstampcalculator dstampcalculator dstampcalculator dstampcalculator

Government Benefits for Immigrants Issue- Issue- Public Charge Public Charge

Government Benefit Programs for Emergencies ▪ MFIP-Emergency Assistance ▪ Varies by county ▪ Emergency General Assistance ▪ Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Assistance (this is now merged into the Emergency General Assistance Program.

What kinds of emergencies do these programs cover? ▪ Mortgage foreclosure ▪ Eviction ▪ Damage deposit ▪ First and last months rent

More Emergencies ▪ Utility shut-off ▪ Homeless shelter ▪ Broken furnace ▪ Fire ▪ Flood ▪ Other health and safety repairs on the house

Disability Programs through Social Security Administration ▪ Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI) ▪ Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI)

Low Income Families Who are Working ▪ May qualify for programs such as: ▪ Food stamps ▪ Minnesota Care ▪ Emergency Assistance

Social Security Administration Disability Programs Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)-Need based program Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)-Need based program Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance program-not need based (RSDI) Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance program-not need based (RSDI)

SSA Disability Programs and Medical Coverage SSI and Medical Assistance (Medicaid) SSI and Medical Assistance (Medicaid) RSDI and Medicare RSDI and Medicare No time limit No time limit Important to shift clients from MFIP to SSI/RSDI if the client is qualified Important to shift clients from MFIP to SSI/RSDI if the client is qualified Also means more money for the family Also means more money for the family

Unemployment Insurance or Reemployment Insurance State administered and employer funded State administered and employer funded Minnesota Department of Economic Security Minnesota Department of Economic Security

Minnesota Supplemental Aid Supplemental monthly cash grant for Supplemental monthly cash grant for Elderly and Disabled Elderly and Disabled State funded and county administered program State funded and county administered program

Appeal Rights Client has a right to appeal most unfavorable actions such as: ▪ Termination of benefits ▪ Reduction of benefits ▪ Suspension of benefits ▪ Delay in processing benefits ▪ Sanctions

Appeal Time lines ▪ Vary by program ▪ Must move quickly to get continued benefits pending appeal

Clients may have many workers ▪ Financial worker ▪ Job counselor ▪ Child care provider ▪ Child care subsidy worker ▪ School, special education ▪ Court system: Social workers, Probation officers ▸ Child protection workers

In Your Practice What benefit programs are you clients and their family members receiving? What benefit programs are you clients and their family members receiving? Have clients bring in all of their written notices Have clients bring in all of their written notices If client cannot remember what programs-ask client where they go for their benefits If client cannot remember what programs-ask client where they go for their benefits Get the name of the clients’ work, including phone number and case number Get the name of the clients’ work, including phone number and case number Do they have an EBT card? Do they have an EBT card?

General Assistance Categorical Eligibility Exercises Minn. Stat. 256D.05