Financial Assistance
(507) 377-5400
(main floor of DHS)
Jill Westney, Supervisor
(507) 377-5414
jill.westney@co.freeborn.mn.us
This division of DHS provides financial assistance to persons who qualify. Persons must fill out a formal application in order to have eligibility determined. For more information or to request an application for financial assistance, call (507) 377-5400.
n Cash Assistance Programs
n Medical Programs
n Food Programs
n Emergency Programs
n Child Support and Paternity (IVD)
n Child Care Assistance Program
n Other Financial Assistance Programs
Cash Assistance Programs
· Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP): MFIP is a combination of both cash and food assistance. It is a work-focused program with a goal of helping families move toward self-sufficiency through employment.
· General Assistance (GA): GA provides monthly cash assistance to people who cannot work due to a disability, illness, age, etc. People eligible for GA are automatically eligible for General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC).
· Minnesota Supplemental Assistance (MSA): MSA provides a monthly supplement to people over 65, blind, or disabled and who are receiving Supplemental or Social Security Income (SSI). People on MSA are automatically eligible for Medical Assistance (MA).
Medical Programs
· Medical Assistance (MA): Nationally called Medicaid, this program pays for medical care for low-income people under 21 and over 65 years of age. There are 27 subprograms to Medical Assistance for which this program pays when a person is eligible. Medical Assistance pays for long-term care.
· General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC): GAMC is a state program which provides medical care for people between the ages of 21 and 65 and who are not eligible for the Federal Medical Assistance Program.
Food Programs
· Food Support: Food Support is electronic benefits used to buy food. This cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages, tobacco, pet food, or non-food items.
Emergency Programs
· Family Emergency Assistance (EA): EA provides emergency help for families with children. The emergency must threaten the health and safety of a child. EA is limited to once in 12 months.
· Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Aid (EMSA): EMSA provides emergency assistance to aged, blind, or disabled persons who receive MSA and face an emergency situation that threatens the person’s health and/or safety. You can receive EMSA only once in 12 months.
· Emergency General Assistance (EGA): EGA provides help to people without children who are in a crisis situation, such as fires, floods, evictions, and utility shutoffs. You can only receive EGA once in 12 months.
Child Support and Paternity (IVD)
This program assists in establishing paternity for children and in the collection of child support; locates absent parents. Recipients of MFIP and MA are required to use this service. Others can apply for this service for a one-time fee of $25.
If you have questions regarding child support payments, please contact the Payment Center at 1-800-657-3512. You will need your 4-character PIN number and your 10-digit MCI number to access your account.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
This program is designed to assist low income families so they can work, job search, or attend school. Child Care Assistance is subsidized with county, state, and federal dollars. The local agency takes applications for child care assistance, determines eligibility and co-pays (the amount the parent will pay toward care), and completes contracts with providers to facilitate payment.
Other Financial Assistance Programs
· Group Residential Housing (GRH): GRH pays room and board for a group living situation which has a fixed rate contract with a county. This includes foster care settings for adults. It does not include shelters or medical care facilities.