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| Home -> Departments -> Human Services -> Income Maintenance -> FAQs |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) are available for the following Income Maintenance topics:
GeneralQ. How can I get information on benefits? A. Call either: Q. If I want to apply for Income Maintenance services, how do I know which to call, Family Intake or Adult Intake? A. Family Intake is for families with children up to age 18 (19 if they are a full-time high school student). The staff for these programs is located at the Anoka County Human Service Center in Blaine. The number to call is 763-717-7730. Adults with no children under the age of 18 can apply for services through the Adult Intake, Anoka County Government Center, Anoka, 4th floor. The number in Anoka is 763-422-7246. Cash ProgramsQ. What is General Assistance? A. GA is a cash grant program to help adults who have low, or no, income and assets and are unable to work due to age, disability, illness or certain other reasons. Q. What is MFIP? A. The Minnesota Family Investment Program is a monthly, cash payment program for families who have one or more children under age 19 or for women who are pregnant and who have little or no income. Eligibility is based on income and assets. To receive cash payments, participants must participate in employment services. Q. What is DWP? A. The Diversionary Work Program (DWP) is a short-term work focused program for families applying for cash benefits. It provides a maximum of 4 consecutive months in a 12-month period of necessary services and other program support to families. The purpose of the program is help families achieve unsubsidized employment, increase economic stability, and reduce the risk of needing longer term assistance under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). Q. Which refugees are eligible for cash help? A. Non-citizen single adults with refugee status who have been in the United States less than eight months may be eligible. Immigrant families with children up to age 19 if they are a full-time high school student may qualify for MFIP or other programs. More information about Cash Programs Child SupportQ. What child support services are available? A. Services include help with: locating parents, establishing parentage, establishing court orders for support, reviewing and modifying support orders, collecting and processing support payments. Q. Who can apply for child support services? A. Child support services are available to anyone who has a child not living with both parents. Q. How can I apply for child support services? A. If you receive public assistance, you are automatically referred for child support services. If you are not receiving public assistance, you can apply through the county's child support office in the Anoka County Government Center, Anoka, 4th floor. There is a one-time $25 application fee. In addition, effective July 1, 2004, there is a 1% fee that is deducted from the amount of child support collected, and a $25 annual Federal fee after the collection of $500. Q. How are child support payments made? A. Most payments are made by withholding income through an employer's payroll system. Payments are sent to a central payment center where they are processed within 24 hours resulting in payment to the applicant. Q. What happens when a parent doesn't pay child support? A. Child support officers use a number of enforcement methods including: new hire reporting, credit bureau reporting, driver's license suspension, tax refund intercept, passport denial and contempt of court. Q. Can child support be ordered if the parties were not married at the time of a child's birth? A. Yes, the father needs to be determined either by voluntarily signing a Recognition of Parentage that is filed with the Minnesota Department of Health or through a court process. Then, an order for child support can be established. Q. Does the child support office help with genetic testing to determine the parent? A. Yes. An applicant can request the court through the child support office to require a child, mother or alleged father to submit to genetic testing. The child support office can arrange to collect the genetic sample at the Anoka County Government Center. The testing of the sample is done at an accredited laboratory. Q. How is the amount of child support calculated? A. Child support is calculated by using state mandated guidelines applied to the gross income of the parents. Q. Must a parent paying child support also help pay for medical expenses? A. Either parent may be ordered to provide medical and/or dental insurance and pay a percentage of medical expenses that are not reimbursed. The other parent may be ordered to help with these expenses. Q. Must the parent who is paying child support also help pay the cost of child care? A. The parent paying child support may be ordered to contribute to the cost of work and education related child care expenses. Q. How can I find out more about my child support case? A. For those already participating in child support, the State of Minnesota has a secure interactive web site with direct access to case information. Go to the Minnesota Child Support Online web site. More information about Child Support Emergency ProgramsQ. Who qualifies to use this program? A. There are a number of emergency programs each with different criteria. Q. I have a low income job and children, which program can help me pay my heating bill? A. EA is a program that helps families with children under the age of 18 who are in danger of being evicted or having a utility shut off. EA can be used once in a 12-month period. Eligibility is based on income and assets at the time of application. Q. Who does the Emergency General Assistance program help? A. EGA helps eligible households that do not qualify for EA, MFIP, DWP, or EMSA. For use in a crisis to cover utilities and housing. Participants must show that they have spent half of the prior month's income on basic needs and have an adequate monthly income to keep up with expenses. EGA can be used once in a 12-month period. More information about Emergency Programs Food Support ProgramQ. How can I get Food Support Program Benefits? A. The Food Support Program, formerly known
as "Food Stamps," helps low income, low asset persons
purchase food using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. The
benefit amount is based on income and certain expenses and the
number of people in the household. Applications are available by
contacting: More information about Food Support Funeral FundsQ. Who qualifies for help with the cost of a funeral? A. Anoka County residents who die with so little cash or other assets that there is not enough to cover the cost of a basic funeral and burial. There is a maximum the county can pay. A family member or friend can apply for this program. More information about funeral funds Housing ReferralQ. I've been given notice by my landlord to move out, but I can't find any kind of housing I can afford. Can the county help me? A. Anoka County maintains current lists of housing vacancies in the county. It also has information on subsidized housing and has contacts with agencies that may be able to help. The county's housing coordinator may be able to help in cases of mortgage foreclosure, homelessness and tenant rights. More information about Housing Referral Medical ProgramsQ. How do I apply for help through one of the medical programs? A. Call or stop by an Anoka County Human Service Center and ask for a Health Care Application (HCAPP). You may also download an application from the Department of Human Services web site. Fill out the application, attach the verification required and return it to either Human Service Center (Anoka or Blaine). The application can be returned by mail. For households with children, call 763-717-7730. For households with no minor children, call 763-422-7246. Q. I can't get health care insurance, is there a program to help me? A. MinnesotaCare provides health care coverage for uninsured adults and families if they meet income, residence and insurance guidelines. Participants may be required to pay premiums for coverage based on family size, income and number of persons covered. Q. Although I am disabled, I am working. I still need help with medical costs, is there any help for me? A. To qualify for Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD), the applicant must be certified as disabled by the Social Security Administration or a state medical review team. MA-EPD requires that the applicant be ineligible for regular MA. A premium payment will be required. It will be based on income. More information about Medical Programs page last updated -
11/28/2007 |
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