Located in:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
States that include TANF in the Combined State Plan must outline how the State will meet the requirements of section 402 of the Social Security Act including how it will:
m. Provide for All Moe-funded Services the Following Information: the Name of the Program Benefit or Service, and the Financial Eligibility Criteria That Families Must Meet in Order to Receive That Benefit or Service. in Addition, for Tanf Moe-funded Service
Current Narrative:
1. Name of Service Program: Minnesota Family Investment Program
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: [MN Statutes 256J.02-256J.74] - Grants to Individuals: MFIP grants provide integrated cash and food assistance to families with children or pregnant women while the caregiver works towards becoming self- sufficient. Caregivers are expected to participate in employments services requirements unless exempt.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: MFIP grants provide basic assistance to eligible families. The combined cash and food benefit program also includes an earned income disregard factor that has been shown to encourage work.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $87,277,714
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $23,629,876
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 18,887 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: Pregnant women or a caregiver with a child under age 18, or under age 19 if the child is in secondary education or vocational training. The resource limit is $10,000 for applicants and $10,000 for participants. An assistance unit must be below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a family of applicable size. Participants must be citizens or legal non-citizens.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0 Comments: Final approval of the Food Stamp Waiver allowing the MFIP program to go forward was effective January 1, 1998. The legislation authorizing MFIP was passed during the 1997 session of the Legislature. The latest MFIP FNS waiver, which allows Minnesota to combines cash and food into one grant, was approved in in August 2017. State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: Employment and Training Services
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: These grants are state funds provided to counties to pay for Employment Services for MFIP and DWP participants.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Grants are given to counties to provide various services to MFIP and DWP recipients to assist them in becoming employed. The services include, but are not limited to — job search, job club, GED, employment related education, work literacy, case management, job retention, and job or skills update.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: 8,200,582
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $2,194,792
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE fund: 10,436 a. This last figure represents the total served for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: To be eligible for the program, the recipient must be an adult or minor caregiver receiving an MFIP or a DWP grant.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0 Comments: This program was first authorized in the 1997 Legislative session and was repealed effective June 30, 2003. It was replaced with the supportive services portion of the Consolidated Fund, which provides only TANF-funded reimbursements, in the final quarter of FFY 2003. The Diversionary Work program employment & training services became part of the Consolidated Fund July 1, 2004. State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: MFIP/DWP Child Care Assistance
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: [MN Statute 119B] — MFIP/DWP Child Care Assistance helps caregivers receiving MFIP or DWP benefits with child care costs while participating in authorized activities such as working, looking for work, or participating in other activities that are part of an employment service plan. In addition, a family that leaves MFIP or DWP may be eligible to receive Transaction Year Child Care Assistance for up to 12 calendar months after leaving MFIP/DWP.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: The purpose of MFIP/DWP child care assistance is to help families with child care costs while they are participating in MFIP/DWP authorized activities, such as job search, employment, or training/education.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $99,228,926
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $81,329,123
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 4,011 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: Child care through MFIP is available to families who have an approved job search support or employment plan under MN Statutes 256J.521 or meet the employment requirements under MN Statutes 119B.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0
12. Comments: None State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
Name of Service Program: Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Subsidy
1. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: [MN Statutes 119B, 119A] — The BSF Program assists low-income working families who are not participating in MFIP or DWP with child care costs.
2. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: The purpose of the BSF child care assistance is to help pay the child care costs while low-income non MFIP/DWP families work, look for work or attend educational programs.
3. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
4. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
5. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $51,333,360
6. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $44,512,239
7. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 3,072 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.
8. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: Families may enter the BSF program if their income is less than or equal to 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size. Families moving from Transition Year to BSF are considered to have met the income entry requirement in the first subprogram in which they participated. Families may receive child care assistance until their income reaches 250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size. Eligible families may receive BSF child care assistance for children under the age of 13 or, for children with a disability, under the age of 15. Parents must be working, looking for work, or in an authorized education/training activity.
9. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
10. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0
11. Comments: None State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: Head Start
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: [MN statute 119A.50] - Head Start is a federal- and state-funded child and family development program that assists low-income families become self-reliant while also helping prepare their children for school success.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: The purpose of the Head Start program is to provide comprehensive child development services to children, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills required to be successful in school.
4. Program Type: This program is operated separate from the TANF program
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $25,100,000
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $5,700,000
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 578 a. This last figure represents the total served for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: Head Start eligibility requires that at least 90 percent of children enrolled be from low-income families as defined by the federal poverty level. State funding to supplement the federal Head Start program is authorized under Minnesota Statute 119A.52.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $11,500,000.00
12. Comments: None State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017 1. Name of Service Program: Minnesota Working Family Credit
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: [MN Statute 190.0671] Minnesota Working Family Credit. This program provides a tax benefit to eligible low-income families through a refundable income tax
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: The purpose of the program is to provide economic support to low-income families as well as to encourage employment among low-income parents.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $249,319,989
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $127,000,000
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 117,702 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year. 9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: A family that qualifies for the federal Earned Income Credit also qualifies for the MN Working Family Credit.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $22,800,000.00
12. Comments: None State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: Consolidated Fund — Emergency Needs
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: Short-term, non-recurring shelter and utility needs that are excluded from the definition of assistance under TANF, for families who meet the MFIP residency requirements.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Grants provide short-term, basic help to eligible families who find themselves in a crisis or emergency situation.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $136,241
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $136,241
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds:103 a. This last figure represents the total served for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: Families with a minor child, a pregnant woman, or a non-custodial parent of a minor child receiving assistance with an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a family of the applicable size are eligible for services funded under the Consolidated Fund.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0
12. Comments: None
State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: State Administration
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: The funds represent the state share of the administrative costs of running the MFIP program as allocated through the state’s approved cost allocation plan.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: The purpose of state administration is to oversee county administration of the MFIP program to ensure that clients are served under federal and state guidelines.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $1,486,071
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $1,486,071
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 18,887 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: State staff administers TANF program rules and regulations by supervising county administration of TANF funds.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0
12. Comments: None State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: County Administration
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: The funds represent the state share of the administrative costs of running the MFIP program as allocated through the state’s approved cost allocation plan.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: The purpose of county administration is to provide eligibility determination, case maintenance, fraud control and prevention, and related administrative services.
4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $16,256,162
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $16,256,162
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 18,887 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: County staff administers the TANF program rules and regulations under federal and state guidelines.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0
12. Comments: Effective July 1, 2003 this program is funded under the Consolidated Fund (this note is not required on ACF-204). State of Minnesota Fiscal Year 2017
1. Name of Service Program: Credit for K-12 Education Expense
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: [MN statute 290.0674] — The Credit for K-12 Education Expense is a refundable tax credit which is equal to 75 percent of eligible education expenses for a qualifying child in kindergarten through grade 12.
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Eligible expenses include fees or tuition for instruction outside the regular school day or school year, such as tutoring and educational summer camps. Also eligible are costs required for the regular school day for textbooks, instructional materials, and transportation costs paid to others. Private school tuition does not qualify for the credit, although it does qualify for the subtraction. Eligible expenses also include personal computer hardware and educational software, limited to a maximum of $200 per family.
4. Program Type: This program is operated separate from the TANF program.
5. Description of Work Activities: N/A
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $12,296,425
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $9,000,000
8. Total Number of Families serviced with MOE funds: 38,462 a. This last figure represents the average monthly total served for the fiscal year.
9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE funded Program Benefits or Services: The maximum credit of $1,000 times the number of children in kindergarten through grade 12 is allowed to taxpayers with total household income of $33,500 or less. For taxpayers with one or two children, the maximum credit is phased out for household income between $33,500 and $37,500. For taxpayers with more than two children, the phase-out range for the maximum credit is increased by $2,000 for each additional child.
10. Program Authorization: YES ? NO ?
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0
12. Comments: This refundable tax credit was not instituted until 1997.