Where this sits: Benefits › Programs. Each program page lists the questions to ask first, the main rules, how to apply, how the program fits with others, and recent changes.
The programs
| Need | Program | For | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | SNAP | Low-income households of any make-up | CAF or MNbenefits |
| Cash and food for families | MFIP | Families with a minor child or pregnant woman (DWP ended 2026-03-01) | CAF or MNbenefits |
| Cash for adults | General Assistance | Adults without children who can't work for a listed reason | CAF or MNbenefits |
| Cash on top of SSI | Minnesota Supplemental Aid | People 65+, blind or disabled, on SSI or nearly | CAF or MNbenefits |
| Housing in a setting | Housing Support | Aged, blind, disabled or GA-type adults in approved settings | CAF, through the county |
| Emergencies | EA and EGA | Households under 200% of poverty facing loss of a basic need | CAF or MNbenefits, marked as an emergency |
| Health care | Medical Assistance | Low-income children, parents, adults, pregnant, aged, blind or disabled people | MNsure or county |
| Health care | MinnesotaCare | Up to 200% of poverty, not eligible for MA | MNsure or county |
| Child care | Child care assistance | Working or studying parents with children 12 and under (13-14 with special needs) | MNbenefits or county |
| Heating bills | Energy Assistance | Renters and homeowners, by income | Commerce online or local provider |
Where people apply
- Food, cash, housing and emergency help: one Combined Application Form (CAF, DHS-5223) covers SNAP, MFIP, Refugee Cash Assistance, GA, MSA, Housing Support and Emergency Assistance. Its online version is MNbenefits. Child care assistance can be applied for through MNbenefits, or in person, by mail or by fax.
- Health care: MNsure online, or the paper form DHS-6696; households where everyone is 65 or older, blind or disabled use DHS-3876. One application checks MA, then MinnesotaCare, then tax credits.
- Energy Assistance: the Department of Commerce's own application (shared with Weatherization), through local providers.
Who runs them
Counties and Tribal Nations run most of these programs day to day. The Department of Human Services supervises Medical Assistance and administers MinnesotaCare. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families oversees child care assistance, and, judging from its own federal-funding tracker, implements SNAP policy. The Department of Commerce runs Energy Assistance.
Not covered yet
WIC, school meals and SUN Bucks, SNAP Employment and Training, MFIP employment services, SSI and Social Security, Medicare Savings Programs, disability waivers and long-term services, Refugee Cash Assistance, Tribal TANF, housing assistance beyond Housing Support, mental health and substance use services, and child welfare. For these, say the site doesn't cover them and point the person to the county or the agency that runs the program.
How child support counts in several of these programs is on child support and benefits.