 | Frequently Asked Questions | | Read below to learn more about the rules and guidelines for the public work support programs on Bridge to Benefits. Click on a question below to find the answer.
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- Who administers these programs?
- What is an income limit?
- Which programs have exceptions to the income limits?
- What are assets?
- Which programs count assets?
- What if I don't have any children? Will I still qualify for any of these programs?
- What if I am pregnant? Does this change my eligibility for any programs?
- How does Minnesota residency affect my eligibility for these programs?
- How does my immigration status affect my eligibility for these programs?
- Who is an eligible caregiver for Child Care Assistance Programs?
- What if all eligible caregivers in my household are NOT employed 20 hours or more per week? Can I still get Child Care Assistance?
- Can I get the money from my EITC before tax season?
- Will receiving money from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) affect my eligibility for other programs?
- If I have or can get health insurance through my employer or another source, will I still qualify for public health insurance?
- Is there a waiting list for any programs on this site?
2. What is an income limit?
An income limit is the maximum amount of money that you or your family can make and still qualify for a program. If your yearly gross income (before taxes) is higher than an income limit, you will probably not qualify. However, some programs have exceptions to the income limits. For example, if you have child care expenses or medical bills you may be able to deduct or spend down income to qualify for Medical Assistance. Also some programs have different income levels for different members of a family. |
3. Which programs have exceptions to the income limits?
Medical Assistance (MA):
Medical Assistance may disregard (not count) some of your income if you have expenses such as child care or medical care. Therefore, if your income is close to the income limit, we recommend that you still apply. If you are receiving care or services from the Center for Victims of Torture, you are eligible for MA regardless of your income, immigration status or assets.
Food Support Program:
The following families are eligible for Food Support with no income or asset test:
- Families in which at least 1 child in the household is eligible to receive Basic Sliding Fee Child Care and/or the Transition Year Child Care. The family must apply and be eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program but can still be on the waiting list.
- Families participating in the Diversionary Work Program (DWP).
- Families composed entirely of people who receive General Assistance (GA), Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Minnesota.
Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC):
If you or a family member is currently participating
in any of the following programs, you and your family are income eligible for
the WIC program:
- Medical Assistance
- MinnesotaCare
- Food Stamps
- Minnesota Family Investment Program
(MFIP)
- Energy Assistance
- Free or Reduced Priced School Meal
- Head Start
Or, if you or a family member is currently receiving
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medical Assistance - TEFRA, the person
receiving these benefits is income eligible for the WIC Program.
2009-2010 Federal Poverty Guidelines/State Median Income Chart
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4. What are assets?
Assets are items of value that you or your family own including cash on hand, money in a checking or savings account or an Individual Retirement Account, and stocks and bonds.
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5. Which programs count assets?
MinnesotaCare:
There is no asset limit for pregnant women and children under 21. For all others, the asset limit is $10,000 for a family of one and $20,000 for a family of two or more. The most commonly counted assets include:
• Cash
• Savings accounts
• Checking accounts
• Certificates of deposit
• Stocks and bonds
• Motor vehicles not used for employment purposes
• Recreational vehicles such as 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, boats/motors/trailers and campers
• Land or houses you do not live on or in
• Amount of capital and operating assets of a trade or business that exceed $200,000
Assets that are not counted include:
• The home you live in
• Household and personal goods such as clothing, jewelry, furniture, appliance and tools and equipment used in the home
• Motor vehicles used for employment purposes
• Individually owned pension and retirement funds
• There may be other assets that your family owns that may be counted or excluded
Medical Assistance (MA):
Asset limits are $10,000 for a single person, and $20,000 for a family of 2 or more. Children under 21 and pregnant women are excluded from asset limits.
If you are applying only for your children or for a pregnant woman,
family assets will not be counted. The asset limit for people who are
blind, disabled or age 65 and older is $3,000 for a single person,
$6,000 for a family of 2, plus $200 for each additional person. Assets
do not include your home, household belongings or car/s that are used
to drive to and from work.
If you are receiving care or services from the Center for Victims
of Torture, you are eligible for MA regardless of your immigration
status, assets or income. General Assistance Medical Care:
The asset limit is $1,000 for a family of any size.
Energy Assistance Program (EAP):
EAP does not look at assets.
Food Support Program:
Household assets must be less than $7,000 in value. The home in which you live, licensed vehicles and retirement accounts are NOT considered assets for Food Support.
The following families are eligible for Food Support with no asset or income test:
- Families in which at least 1 child in the household is eligible to receive Basic Sliding Fee Child Care and/or the Transition Year Child Care. The family must apply and be eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program but can still be on the waiting list.
- Families participating in the Diversionary Work Program (DWP).
- Families composed entirely of people who receive General Assistance (GA), Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Minnesota.
School Meal Program:
The School Meal Program does not look at assets. Child Care Assistance Programs:
Child Care Assistance Programs do not look at assets.
Earned Income Tax Credit/Working Family Credit (EITC/WFC):
For Tax Year 2009, if you have more than $3,100 in investment income, you cannot get
the EITC or WFC. Other assets such as money in a checking or savings account
or other items you own do not matter for the EITC/WFC. Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC):
WIC does not look at assets. |
6. What if I don't have any children? Will I still qualify for any of these programs?
Yes. Adults without children in the household are eligible for MinnesotaCare, General Assistance Medical Care, Food Support, Energy Assistance and tax credits (EITC and WFC). Pregnant women are eligible for WIC.
Adults without children are NOT eligible for the School Meal Program, Child Care Assistance Programs or Medical Assistance, in most cases. However, if you are 19 or 20 years old, you may still qualify for Medical Assistance. |
7. What if I am pregnant? Does this change my eligibility for any programs?
MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance:
Income limits are higher for pregnant women, and asset limits do NOT apply. If you are pregnant and do not have health insurance, contact your county worker to see if you might qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare. To enroll, you will have to provide a letter from a doctor verifying that you are pregnant. Your application should be processed within 15 days of applying. Medical Assistance will also pay for any health care services you have already received--up to 3 months before the date you applied.
Remember, when counting family size for health care programs, a pregnant woman carrying one child equals two people. A pregnant women carrying twins would equal three people.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP):
As a pregnant woman, you can apply for CCAP before the child is born. In fact, it is recommended that you do. When filling out the application, count your unborn child as an infant. Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC):
If you are pregnant, you may apply for WIC and your unborn child(ren) will be counted in your family size.
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8. How does Minnesota residency affect my eligibility for these programs?
MinnesotaCare:
Families must plan to stay in Minnesota. Adults without children must live in Minnesota for at least 180 days.
Medical Assistance:
You must plan to stay in Minnesota.
General Assistance Medical Care:
You must have lived in Minnesota for 30 days.
Energy Assistance Program:
You must be a resident of the county in which you are applying for assistance.
Food Support Program:
You do not need to be a Minnesota resident to apply. However, we recommend that you apply in the county you live in.
School Meal Program:
Minnesota residency is not required if your child is enrolled in a Minnesota school.
Child Care Assistance Programs:
Your family must live in Minnesota before you can receive assistance or be placed on a waiting list.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):
There are no Minnesota residency requirements for the EITC. However, you must have lived in the U.S. the entire tax year to claim the EITC.
Working Family Credit:
Part-year residents and nonresidents multiply their credit by the percentage of income assignable to Minnesota. WIC:
You must be a Minnesota resident.
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9. How does my immigration status affect my eligibility for these programs?
MinnesotaCare:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration
status. A Social Security Number is required for all adults and
children applying (or proof of application if the number is pending).
You do not need to provide copies of Social Security cards. Parents without acceptable immigration status can apply for their children as long as the children are U.S. citizens or
have acceptable immigration status. Also, if only some people in your household have acceptable immigration status, you can apply just for them. You may be asked to provide copies of your immigration documents if you are not a U.S. citizen. However, you will not have to supply immigration information for family members who are not applying for the program.
- A new law requires some MinnesotaCare applicants and
enrollees to prove that they are U.S. citizens and give proof of their
identity when they apply for or renew their coverage. This includes
U.S. nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island. You do not have to show proof if you are an adult without children and are applying for or enrolled in MinnesotaCare, getting Medicare benefits or getting or previously received Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Medical Assistance:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration status. Parents without acceptable immigration status can apply for their children as long as the children are U.S. citizens or
have acceptable immigration status. Also, if only some people in your household have acceptable immigration status, you can apply just for them. You may be asked to provide copies of your immigration documents if you are not a U.S. citizen. However, you will not have to supply immigration information for family members who are not applying for the program.
- If you are receiving care or services from the Center for
Victims of Torture, you are eligible for MA regardless of your
immigration status, assets or income.
- A new law requires some Medical Assistance applicants and
enrollees to prove that they are U.S. citizens and give proof of their
identity when they apply for or renew their coverage. This includes
U.S. nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island. You do not have to show proof if you are getting Medicare benefits or getting or previously received Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
General Assistance Medical Care:
You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration status.
Energy Assistance Program:
You do not need to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration
status. You will be asked to provide Social Security Numbers on the
application for everyone in the household. However, you are not required to provide Social Security
Numbers and it will not impact your ability to get any benefits if you
do not provide them.
Food Support Program:
You must be a U.S. citizen or have an acceptable immigration status. However, if only some people in your household have acceptable immigration status, you can apply just for them. Most people will need a Social Security Number (or proof of application if the number is pending) to apply. There are exceptions to this rule. If you are under the age of
18, or have been a lawful U.S. resident for more than 5 years, or are a refugee or asylee, you do NOT need a Social Security Number.
School Meal Program:
A parent's or child's immigration status does not matter as long as the child is enrolled in school.
Child Care Assistance Programs (CCAP):
Children for whom you are applying for CCAP must be U.S. citizens or
have an acceptable immigration status. Parents or other caregivers do
not have to be U.S. citizens or have an acceptable immigration status
but they do need to provide proof of identity (e.g. driver's license,
state identification card, passport, school identification card or
birth certificate) and residence (e.g. one of the items listed above or
a copy of a recent utility bill, rental lease or mortgage document).
Also,
you will be asked to provide Social Security Numbers on the
application. You are not required to provide Social Security Numbers
and it will not impact your ability to get any benefits if you do not
provide them. Earned Income Tax Credit:
You must either be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for the entire calendar year for which you are filing taxes. The taxpayer, spouse and any qualifying children must all have valid Social Security Numbers that authorize work.
Working Family Credit:
You must have worked in Minnesota for at least part of the year and either be a U.S.
citizen or a legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for the
entire calendar year for which you are filing taxes. The taxpayer,
spouse and any qualifying children must all have valid Social Security
Numbers that authorize work.
Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC):
WIC does not require
information about your citizenship status. If you are an immigrant, using WIC services will not affect
your ability to become a U.S. citizen.
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10. Who is an eligible caregiver for Child Care Assistance Programs?
Eligible caregivers include:
- The biological mother or father of the child
- An adult who is not the biological parent but married to either the mother or father
- A legal guardian and his/her spouse
- Unmarried parents living in the same household with a child in common
If an adult is living with one of the child’s parents but not married to that parent and is not the biological father or mother of the child, he or she is NOT an eligible caregiver. Grandparents, boyfriends and girlfriends as well as other adult relatives who do not have a parental relationship with the child needing care are also NOT eligible caregivers.
If you have questions about who is an eligible caregiver within your household, contact a county worker from the Child Care Assistance Program. |
11. What if all eligible caregivers in my household are NOT employed 20 hours or more per week? Can I still get Child Care Assistance?
Yes. If you are a full-time student, you must work at least an average of 10 hours per week to be eligible for Child Care Assistance. CCAP can also pay for 240 hours of child care (in a year) for parents to look for work. Contact your county worker to discuss exceptions that may apply to your family and your family’s eligibility status. |
12. Can I get the money from my EITC before tax season?
If you received the EITC last year, you can get some of next year's EITC money in each paycheck, instead of waiting until your refund at tax time. Ask your employer for a W-5 form so that you can file for the "Advanced EITC." You can return the form to your employer at any time of the year and start getting a portion of your credit in each paycheck. For example:
Juanita has two children and qualified for a $2400 EITC last year, but struggled to make ends meet during the year. She filed a W-5 at her job and now gets $100 per month extra in her paycheck. She will get the remaining $1200 from the EITC when she files taxes (12 months of $100 = $1200, plus the $1200 at tax tax = $2400).
You get the same amount of money this way, but with the Advanced EITC, you can get up to half of your money back earlier in your paychecks. You get the rest of your credit at tax time. This is to protect you--so you won't be at risk for owing money. For more information, click here to go the the IRS site. |
13. Will receiving money from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) affect my eligibility for other programs?
Some programs have asset tests that limit how much money families can have and still be eligible. For most programs, the money from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is NOT counted as an asset during the month it was received and the following month. After that, the money may affect your eligibility for programs that have asset limits. Some programs have different rules:
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14. If I have or can get health insurance through my employer or another source, will I still qualify for public health insurance?
If you can receive health insurance through your employer (where your employer pays at least 50% of the premium cost), you will NOT be eligible for MinnesotaCare. However, if your employer does not offer health insurance for your spouse or your dependents (or pay at least 50% of their premiums for coverage), they are still eligible to apply for MinnesotaCare.
This rule does not apply to Medical Assistance or General Assistance Medical Care.
If you have had health insurance at any time during the past four months, you can NOT get MinnesotaCare even if you meet the income requirements. (Note: Medical Assistance does not count as insurance). However, you may qualify once you have been without health insurance for four months and you meet the income requirements. If you are applying for your family, only the people who have had health insurance in the past four months will NOT qualify. The rest of the family members can still get MinnesotaCare. (Note: Medical Assistance does not have this four month rule). |
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