loading…
loading…
loading…
By Danyell Punelli, 651-296-5058 Minnesota Family Investment Program August 2025 The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) is a jointly funded, federal-state program that provides income assistance to eligible low-income families. MFIP is partly funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a federal block grant program to states. Who is eligible for MFIP? A family must have income and assets below the program’s limits. The income limit increases with family size. Families do not exit MFIP until their income reaches about 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG). The 2025 FPG for a family of three is $26,650 (135 percent of FPG for a family of three equals $35,978). Assets are limited to $10,000 for applicants and participants, excluding certain items. In addition, families must meet all of the following eligibility requirements: have a minor child or pregnant woman in the home be residents of Minnesota be a U.S. citizen, qualified noncitizen, or noncitizen otherwise lawfully residing in the United States assign rights to child support to the state have received fewer than 60 months’ assistance total from any state satisfy any other eligibility requirements of the program Families are subject to a lifetime limit of 60 months of assistance. Some families may be eligible for assistance extensions past the 60-month limit if they meet specific criteria for one of the following extension categories: ill or incapacitated, hard-to-employ, and employed participants. MFIP participants may be eligible for other benefits such as child care assistance and Medical Assistance. How much are monthly benefits? The MFIP grant is based on a transitional standard that increases with family size. For example, a family of three’s standard benefit in 2025 is $1,394 per month; a family of four’s monthly standard is $1,675. For families without earnings, the monthly grant equals the transitional standard. For families with earnings, the monthly grant equals the “family wage level” (110 percent of the transitional standard minus the family’s net earned income). The MFIP grant is composed of a cash portion and a food portion, both of which are issued by counties in electronic debit card form. What are the work requirements? MFIP caregivers (i.e., persons who live with and provide care and support to minor children) are required to spend a specified number of hours every week engaged in work or work activities. Examples of acceptable activities include job search activities, unsubsidized employment, and on-the-job training. Employment plans must be tailored to recognize the special circumstances of MFIP participants who meet certain criteria, such as being over age 60, being ill or incapacitated, caring for a disabled child, or being the victim of family violence.