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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 09/2016

ORIENTATION TO FINANCIAL SERVICES

0005.12.12.06

MFIP: Counties must provide caregivers with an orientation to financial services, as noted below. Give caregivers written information that the caregiver must attend orientation unless he/she meets 1 of the following exemptions:

● A single parent, or 1 parent in a 2-parent family, employed at least 35 hours per week.

OR ● The 2nd parent in a 2-parent family, when the 2nd parent is employed at least 20 hours per week and the 1st parent is employed for at least 35 hours per week.

OR ● Pregnant or parenting minor under the age of 20 who is not exempt from the educational requirement and is complying with that requirement.

The orientation may be a part of the intake process or it may be held at a separate time. If orientation is not on the same day as the caregiver’s intake appointment, you must provide or reimburse transportation and child care the caregiver needs to attend orientation. Orientation must be held within 30 days of approval of the case.

Any time an application/reapplication is filed for MFIP, the caregiver(s) must attend an orientation. Caregivers who do not receive MFIP are NOT required to attend orientation.

The orientation must inform caregivers of:

● MFIP work incentives.

● An explanation of the significant change policy. See 0008.06.15 (Removing or Recalculating Income).

● Availability of the Earned Income Credit (EIC).

● Minnesota Working Family Credit.

● The types and locations of child care your agency makes available to help a caregiver participate in employment, pre- employment, and training or educational programs.

● The child care resource and referral service that will help the caregiver choose child care services. See 0029.31 (Child Care Resource and Referral).

● The rights and responsibilities of MFIP participants.

● What will happen if they do not meet program requirements.

● An explanation of the 60-month time limit on assistance (including that some periods of exemption and periods of non- cooperation with program requirements with or without good cause continue to count toward the 60 months) and the post 60- month time limit extension categories. See 0011.30 (60-Month Lifetime Limit), 0011.33 (MFIP Hardship Extensions).

● Information about exemption from the 60-month time limit for victims of family violence. See 0011.30 (60-Month Lifetime Limit), 0028.15 (Employment Plan (EP)).

● Information about shelters and programs for victims of family violence.

● The Child & Teen Checkup Program. See the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual for more information.

● Eligibility for Transition Year Child Care when MFIP ends. See 0029.30 (Child Care Assistance).

● Eligibility for Health Care programs. See the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual.

● The necessity to obtain immediate employment.