1. Overview of Emergency Assistance Programs MFIP-S Five Year Time Limit Adjunct Professor Monica Bogucki, BSW, JD 2019 Copyright

2. Overview of Emergency Assistance Programs
MFIP-EA, Special Session, Chapter 14, Article 1, Section 94, Minn. Stat. 256J.626 (consolidated fund)
Emergency General Assistance, Minn. Stat 256D.06, subd.2
Some counties use all “county funds” to supplement the state funding.

3. MFIP-EA is no longer uniform state program
Each county determines the eligibility criteria for that county
Ask the county for a copy of its guidelines
Olmsted County Emergency Assistance policy

4. MFIP-S Emergency Assistance
MFIP-EA- every county has different rules
Some counties, participants can receive MFIP-EA once every 12 months
Chippewa County, MN-once every 18 months
Some counties, participants can receive MFIP-EA once in a lifetime
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a uniform state emergency assistance program?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a county implemented emergency assistance program?

5. Use once every 12 months
Emergency General Assistance, Minn. Stat. 256D.06, subd. 2(b)
Participant can use only once every 12 months.

6. Emergency General Assistance Income Limits
Income limit for EGA
Must have annual net income no greater than 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines for previous calendar year. Minn. Stat. 256D.06, subd. 2(b)

7. Assess every person in the household
Determine each person in the household and which government benefit program, each person is receiving
Charting process

8. Items that may be covered emergency assistance
Mortgage foreclosures; contract for deed cancellations
Home repair- roof, foundation, wiring, heating system, chimney, water and sewer system
Utility costs-water, sewer, electric, gas, heating includes wood heat too.

9. Emergency General Assistance
Each county will define emergencies for the Emergency General Assistance program effective November 1, 2011
Minn. Stat. 256D.02, subd. 2

10. Emergency General Assistance
Primarily state funding
Broader categories of eligibility
12 MONTH RULE NOW APPLIES TO EGA

11. Must be cost effective and resolve the emergency.
What is cost effective? What if the emergency is not cost effective? Must resolve the emergency and not delay it.

12. Review Sample County Policy

13. Funding issues with emergency general assistance
Limited funding to counties
Chippewa County, MN has annual funding of $1,000

14. What is the Minnesota Department of Human Services Combined Manual?
Financial workers have access to this and usually do not see statutes
Available on the internet at Minnesota Department of Human Services website
What if this manual is more restrictive than the statute?

15. MFIP-S Program FIVE YEAR TIME LIMIT

16. Five Year Rule
An assistance unit in which any adult caregiver has received 60 months of cash assistance funded in whole or part
By the TANF block grant…. is ineligible to receive MFIP.
The 60 month time period does not need to be consecutive months for this provision to apply.
Minn. Stat. 256J.42, subd. 1

17. Exemptions vs. Extensions
Exemption-if eligible for exemption, the month does not count towards 5 year limit
Extension-extends benefits beyond five years by using state funds

18. Family Violence Waiver-exemption
If a caregiver has an approved safety plan, those months will not count towards the five year time limit.
Minn. Stat. 256J.42 subd. 4
Minn. Stat. 256J.425 subd. 3(4)
Minn. Stat. 256J.521, subd. 3
Discuss documentation-see Minn. Stat. 256J.545

19. Family Violence Waiver
The family violence waiver/employment plan must be prepared by job counselor and domestic abuse counselor.
May NOT require the participant to get an order for protection or to attend counseling.
Minn. Stat. 256J.521,subd. 3

20. Exemption for caregivers age 60 or older. Minn. Stat. 256J. 42 subd
Exemption for caregivers age 60 or older. Minn. Stat. 256J.42 subd. 5(a)

21. Minor parent exemption
18 or 19 year old caregiver who is complying with an education plan.
Minn. Stat. 256J.42, subd. 5(d)

22. Hardship extensions Minn. Stat. 256J.425. subd. 1(a)
If a participant is in sanction the 60th month, the participant will NOT be eligible for an extension.
Minn. Stat. 256J.425. subd. 1(a)

23. Extension categories
Participant who is suffering from an illness, injury, or incapacity which severely limits the person’s ability to obtain or maintain employment.
The illness, injury or incapacity must be expected to last more than 30 days.
A qualified professional must verify the illness, injury or incapacity.
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd. 2(a)(1)

24. Caring for ill household member extension
Participant is needed in the home as a caregiver of an ill, injured or incapacitated household member (assistance unit member, relative in the household, or foster child in the household)
A qualified professional must verify the illness, injury or incapacity.
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd. 2(a)(2)

25. Extension for Caregivers
With a child or adult household member who meets criteria for
home care services/community-based waiver services
Severe emotional disturbance or
Serious and persistent mental illness
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd. 2(a)(3)

26. Unemployable extension
A vocational specialist must determine the participant to
be unemployable.
Vocational specialist is usually through county agency.
Also, consider State of Minnesota Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd 3(a)(2)(i)

27. Extension for those with IQ below 80
If an individual has an IQ below 80 and this condition severely limits an individual’s ability to maintain suitable employment, this qualifies as a hardship extension
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd 3(a)(2)(ii)

28. Learning disability
If an individual has a learning disability and this condition severely limits the person’s ability to obtain employment, this person qualifies for
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd 3(a)(3)

29. Work activities-extension
One parent assistance unit work activities 30 hours per week of which 25 hours are in employment
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd 4(a)(1)

30. Work activities-extension
Two parent assistance unit work activities 55 hours per week of which at least 45 hours per week are spent in employment.
Minn. Stat. 256J.425, subd. 4(2)

31. Duty to cooperation with child support collection
Participant has a duty to cooperate with the county agency in establishing and collecting child support unless the participant can establish “good cause.”
Minn. Stat , subd. 7

32. Good cause exemption
Good cause exists when an individual documents that pursuit of child support…… could reasonably result in:
Physical harm to child
Emotional harm to child
Physical harm to parent or caregiver
Emotional harm to parent or caregiver.
Minn. Stat , subd. 10(b)

33. Good cause
Once an individual is granted “good cause” then the county agency must cease child support enforcement services.
Minn. Stat , subd10(a)

34. Five year extension case studies
Small group exercise