The Basics
The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) helps families work their way out of poverty. MFIP gives money to families to pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent. It also helps with job training and finding employment.
MFIP is Minnesota’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; it used to be called "Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)."
Learn how Minnesota benefits can help you get ahead when you work by watching the short video below.
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Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
SNAP
SNAP, also known as Food Support or Food Stamps, helps you pay for food.
MFIP
- The Basics
- The Details
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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The Details
Eligibility
MFIP gives money to families who don't have enough to pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent. MFIP defines a family as one or two parents living with their child or children under 18. The age limit is 19 for children who are in school full time. A family could include biological kids, step kids, adopted kids, and children of relatives.
To figure out whether or not you're eligible for MFIP, the state looks at your income and assets.
Assets
Assets are things you own. Common examples of assets are:
- Checking accounts
- Savings accounts
- Stocks
- Bonds
To qualify for MFIP, your assets have to be worth less than the program's $10,000 asset limit.
Asset Exclusions
There are some things that the state realizes you can’t use to pay for basic needs. The state doesn't include these things when they count your assets. Some of the assets that don't count are:
- The home your family lives in and any other real property;
- Personal goods like furniture, clothing, jewelry, appliances, and tools;
- The value of one car per family member who is 16 or older. (If you have more cars than that, they will be counted as assets.)
- Assets in a tax-free ABLE account. Learn more about ABLE accounts.
Income
The state also looks at how much money you get from work, benefits, or other sources. This money is called income. Income affects MFIP in two ways:
- There’s a limit to how much income you can have and still qualify for MFIP, and
- If you qualify for MFIP, your income may affect the amount you get in benefits.
Not All of Your Income Counts
However, MFIP doesn't count all of your income:
-
MFIP will count less than half of your earned income
- First, they subtract $65 from your total earned income.
-
Then, they divide the rest of your earned income by two. What's left is what they count.
- Example: If you make $1,000 each month at a job, only $468 are counted by the MFIP program.
-
MFIP won't count:
- Money that you spend on the needs of people in your household who can’t get MFIP
- Money that you spend to take care of a child or a household member with a disability while you’re working,
- Money that you spend on child or spousal support, and
How MFIP Determines Your Benefit Amount
The rules for how MFIP figures out your benefit are complicated. Your benefit amount depends on:
- Your household size
- Whether or not you have income
- Whether your income is earned, unearned, or both
- Whether or not the household members are related
The more income you have, the lower your MFIP benefit will be. But when you add up your earnings and MFIP benefit, you’ll always have more money overall when you work.
For example, for a family of four:
Your earnings will be: |
Your total MFIP benefit will be: |
Your total income (earnings + MFIP) will be: |
|
---|---|---|---|
When you aren’t working at all |
$0 |
$1,675 |
$1,675 |
When you work 30 hours a week at $10.85 per hour |
$1,400 |
$1,175 |
$2,575 |
When your income is over the MFIP limit |
$3,750 or higher |
$0 |
$3,750 or higher |
Your county worker can show you examples for your family size.
Many families who get MFIP benefits also get $110 each month to help pay for housing. Learn more about MFIP Housing Assistance and Chat with a Hub expert if your family gets MFIP to see if you qualify for this additional help.
Application
Apply for MFIP online with MNbenefits. You may also fill out a Combined Application Form and turn it in to your county or tribal human services office. After you turn it in, you’ll be interviewed. You should get a decision within 30 days after you apply.
Starting on MFIP
When you are approved for MFIP, you’ll get a notice telling you when your benefits will begin and the amount you’ll get. There will be an orientation that you have to attend.
Diversionary Work Program
Most people have to go through four months of a Diversionary Work Program before they start to get MFIP benefits. The goal of the program is to help low-income Minnesotans find a job.
MFIP Payments
If you qualify for the program, you will get monthly payments from MFIP. Part of the money is for things like rent and clothing. This is called the cash benefit. The other part of the money is for food.
- Through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card
- Through direct deposit to a bank account
- Through a check from the State of Minnesota
Finding a Job
In addition to giving you cash benefits, MFIP will also help you with finding a job. Once you're enrolled in MFIP, you''ll meet with an employment counselor and come up with an Employment Plan. The Employment Plan includes:
- Your employment goals
- The things you need to do to reach those goals
- Timelines
- Job search ideas
- A statement saying that you will be able to take an appropriate job when it’s offered
- Information about the help you'll get from the employment counselor
Time Limits
In most cases, you can be on MFIP for a total of 60 months. In some situations, that time limit may be extended. After MFIP ends, you can get help paying for food from SNAP if you need it.
The Work Benefit Program provides a monthly cash grant incentive of $50 to employed families for up to 24 consecutive months after exiting the MFIP cash and food portions, or the Diversionary Work Program.
For more details, see the DHS brochure on MFIP and Time Limits.
Rules for Families with People with Disabilities
There are a few MFIP rules specific to families with people with disabilities:
- People with disabilities don’t have to participate in the Diversionary Work Program.
- If you have a disability and apply for MFIP, you also have to apply for SSI (the Department of Human Services has people who can help you apply for SSI).
- You can’t be on both SSI and MFIP at the same time.
- When counting your assets, MFIP does not include the car used to transport a person with a physical disability.
- If you have a disability or are taking care of someone with a disability, MFIP's 60-month time limit might be extended.
- Your Employment Plan might have different requirements if you or someone you’re caring for has a disability.
Learn more
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
SNAP
SNAP, also known as Food Support or Food Stamps, helps you pay for food.
MFIP
Try It
Example
Jason's Story
Jason’s family was having a difficult time making ends meet. Up until a month ago, he could financially support his wife and two children through his job as a cashier at a local grocery store. But his wrists and arms began hurting to the point where he could no longer do his job. The grocery store was letting some people go at the time, and Jason was one of the people they laid off.
Jason and his wife didn’t have much money in savings. They realized that they were going to have trouble paying for rent, food, and utilities. They decided to apply for help from Minnesota until they could get back on their feet. Jason used MNbenefits to apply online for the Minnesota Family Investment Program, or "MFIP" for short. Because he had a disability, he also applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at his local Social Security office.
The next week, he went back to the agency for an interview. He brought all of his bank statements and proof of the things he owned. A few weeks later, the county approved Jason and his family for MFIP. They would get a total of $1,675 a month from MFIP. $861 was for things like rent, and $814 was for food.
As part of the MFIP program, both Jason and his wife met with an employment counselor to come up with a plan to get them jobs. His wife needed just a few more classes to complete her training as an x-ray technician, but had put those plans on hold when they had their kids. Her employment plan included finishing those credits and then an organized job search. Jason’s plan was a little different because of his disability. He thought that maybe he could work from home doing customer service over the phone. His employment plan included a one week customer service training program and a job search as well.
Jason and his wife had two concerns about working. The first was that they wouldn’t be able to pay for child care while they were in classes, looking for work, or working. As part of MFIP though, families get help paying for child care. Their other concern was that working would make them ineligible for further MFIP benefits. But when they both began working, they realized that even though their MFIP benefits went down, their overall income went up because they had more money from their jobs.
When Jason was approved for his SSI benefits a year later, he received assistance from SSI while his children continued to get help from MFIP.
Learn more
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
SNAP
SNAP, also known as Food Support or Food Stamps, helps you pay for food.
Try It
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)?
MFIP is Minnesota’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It helps families pay for food and other basic needs while assisting with job training and finding employment.
Who is MFIP for?
MFIP is for families with children who cannot afford to pay for basic needs.
How does MFIP define a family?
MFIP defines children as people under 18 who live with their parents or guardians. This age limit is 19 for people who are in school full time. A family could include biological kids, step kids, adopted kids, and children of relatives.
What is MFIP’s asset limit?
For MFIP, you have to have less than $10,000 in assets. However, if your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where you can save up to $18,000 each year and not have it count as assets for MFIP. Learn more about ABLE accounts.
Does MFIP count all of my family’s assets when they decide if we’re over the limit?
No. Some examples of assets that MFIP doesn’t count are:
- The home your family lives in and any other real property;
- Personal goods like pets, furniture, clothing, jewelry, appliances, and tools;
- The value of one car per family member who is 16 or older (if you have more cars than that, they will be counted as assets); and
- Assets in a tax-free ABLE account. Learn more about ABLE accounts.
What are MFIP’s income limits?
MFIP’s income limits can vary depending on:
- How many people are in your family;
- Whether or not people in the family work; and
- Whether or not people in the family are related to one another.
How much money will I get each month from MFIP?
MFIP will take the income limit for your family and subtract the family’s net income. The result is the amount that the family gets each month.
Many families who get MFIP benefits also get $110 each month to help pay for housing. Learn more about MFIP Housing Assistance and Chat with a Hub expert if your family gets MFIP to see if you qualify for this additional help.
I’m worried that when I work, my MFIP benefits will go down, and I’ll have less money overall. Is that true?
No. Your MFIP benefit will go down but the combination of your earnings and MFIP benefit will always be higher when you work. In other words, you’ll always be better off financially working.
How are MFIP benefits paid?
You can choose to get MFIP benefits through:
- An Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which looks and works like a debit card;
- Direct deposit to a bank account; or
- A check from the State of Minnesota.
How does MFIP help me find a job?
People on MFIP participate in MFIP’s employment services. You will meet with an employment counselor to come up with an Employment Plan.
What goes on an MFIP Employment Plan?
An MFIP Employment Plan includes:
- Your employment goals;
- The things you need to do to reach those goals;
- Timelines;
- Information on your job search;
- A statement saying that you are willing to take an appropriate job when it’s offered; and
- Information on the help you'll get from your employment counselor.
How long can I be on MFIP?
Your family can get MFIP benefits for up to 60 months. The months don’t have to be one right after another. This time limit can be extended in some cases.
How do I apply for MFIP?
Apply for MFIP online at MNbenefits or by filing a paper application. After your form is received, you’ll be interviewed.
The county will let you know within 30 days whether or not you've been approved for MFIP.
Are there different rules for families with members with a disability?
Yes. Families with members with disabilities have different requirements for income, assets, and Employment Plans. Click here for more details.
How does MFIP interact with Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
If you have a disability and apply for MFIP, you have to apply for SSI as well. You can’t be on both SSI and MFIP at the same time.
Learn more
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
SNAP
SNAP, also known as Food Support or Food Stamps, helps you pay for food.
MFIP
Try It
Frequent Pitfalls
Not attending your phone or in-office interview
When you apply for MFIP, you will have an interview. If you can’t go into the county office for the interview, you can schedule it over the phone. Make sure to keep your appointment or to reschedule it if you miss it. MFIP might deny your application if you don’t have an interview.
Not reporting changes to your income, assets, or living situation
When you start getting MFIP, you will get instructions on how to report changes in your household. It’s important to fill out these forms accurately and on time.
Misinformation
It can be difficult to find accurate and complete information about public benefits programs. Some social workers and advocates may have limited knowledge of available options. They may also be unaware of how changes in income or employment can affect eligibility for such programs.
To be sure the information you receive is accurate and complete, Chat with a Hub expert or contact your county or tribal human services office.
Not filling out the application at MNbenefits correctly
The online application form at MNbenefits is complicated. It’s important to read through the instructions carefully so that you are sure that you’ve filled out the form as best you can. You can save a partial application and come back to it later.
If you prefer, you can fill out a paper application.
Learn more
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
SNAP
SNAP, also known as Food Support or Food Stamps, helps you pay for food.
MFIP
- The Basics
- The Details
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
Try It
Next Steps
Learn More
To learn more about MFIP:
- Visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website for general information on cash benefit programs, including MFIP.
- See the Minnesota Combined Manual for detailed information on cash benefit program rules.
- If you can't find what you're looking for or have questions, Chat with a Hub expert.
Apply for MFIP
Apply for MFIP online at MNbenefits or by filing a paper application.
Learn About Work and Benefits - Chat with a Hub expert!
When you have questions or need help, use Chat with a Hub expert. This feature connects you to a DB101 Expert using live chat, phone, or secure email. Anything you talk about is private.
- Understand your current benefits
- Get help using DB101.org
- Connect to resources
- Plan next steps
Free Legal Help
The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) provides free assistance to people with civil legal issues related to their disability. Call the MDLC Intake Line at 1-612-334-5970 (Twin Cities metro area), 1-800-292-4150 (Greater Minnesota), or 1-612-332-4668 (TTY).
Find Local Services
You can use MinnesotaHelp.info to find social services near you, from benefits applications to job counseling. |
Try these searches:
Learn more
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
SNAP
SNAP, also known as Food Support or Food Stamps, helps you pay for food.