SNAP and food help for older adults in Minnesota

Who qualifies for SNAP

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) runs SNAP through county and Tribal offices.

Net income is your income after deductions. For older and disabled households, Minnesota does not cap the shelter deduction, so high rent or housing costs can lower your countable income a lot.

If your household has someone 60 or older or disabled and your gross income is over 200% of the poverty guideline, you must meet the net income test and an asset test.

These limits change each October 1. The minimum benefit means that a household of one or two that qualifies never gets less than $25 a month, even if the formula gives a smaller amount.

What does not count

For most households, these are not counted:

• Your home.
• Retirement and savings accounts.
• Cars and other vehicles.

The Senior SNAP Application

If you are 60 or older, you can use Minnesota's one-page Senior SNAP Application instead of the longer form.

1. Get the form from DHS or your county office.
2. Fill it out and mail or bring it to your county or Tribal human services office.
3. You will have an interview. If you cannot go to the county office, you can ask for a phone interview or send an authorized representative.
4. Send any proof the county asks for.
5. In most cases, the county must tell you its decision within 30 days. In some emergencies you could get benefits within 24 hours, or within five working days of applying.

You can also apply online at MNbenefits.mn.gov. Health care, such as Medical Assistance or the Medicare Savings Programs, is not part of MNbenefits; you apply for it separately with form DHS-3876.

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture runs this program for low-income seniors.

• You may get $25 in coupons each summer.
• Use the coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables at approved farmers' markets.
• How to get them: contact your local Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) agency, which hands out the coupons. You can also call the Department of Agriculture at 651-201-6060.

The program runs each summer. Contact your CSFP agency early in the season.

If you need food now

The Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) can tell you about food shelves, free meals and farmers' markets near you while you wait for a SNAP decision. It can also check whether you are likely to qualify before you apply.

After you apply

• Report changes as your county tells you. Some households fill out a Combined Six-Month Report and a yearly recertification; others file a monthly Household Report. Your worker will tell you which applies.
• Renew when your county sends the forms, so benefits do not stop.
• If you are denied or your benefit goes down, your notice explains how to appeal and the deadline.

Things people miss

• High housing costs help. For older households, there is no cap on the shelter deduction.
• Savings usually do not matter. Retirement and savings accounts are not counted for most households.
• Even a small benefit adds up. One- and two-person households get at least $25 a month if eligible.
• SNAP and health care are separate applications. MNbenefits does not cover Medical Assistance. If you have Medicare, also ask about the Medicare Savings Programs, which can pay your Part B premium. Minnesota lets you have up to $10,000 in savings for one person for those programs.
• The limits change each October 1. If you were over the limit last year, check again.

Free help

• Minnesota Food HelpLine: 1-888-711-1151, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can check if you qualify for SNAP and help you find food shelves, free meals and farmers' markets.
• Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line): 1-800-333-2433, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Minnesota's free counseling line for older adults on benefits and local services.
• Your county or Tribal human services office for SNAP applications.

See also all benefits in Minnesota.

Phone numbers: Free help lines for Minnesota agencies

Check what you may qualify for