minnesota’s community living supports homelessness 101 february 2014

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MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

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Page 1: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS

Homelessness 101

February 2014

Page 2: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Adult Income Support Programs

• General Assistance (GA)

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

• MSA Housing Assistance

• Group Residential Housing (GRH)

Page 3: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Provide for basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, utilities, etc.

GA MSA

GRH SSIMSA Housing Assistance

Waivers

MA

Supportive Housing

SNAP

Rental Assistance

Child Care Assistance

MFIP

Energy Assistance

SSDI

Local Programs

Page 4: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

The DHS Combined Manual

Page 5: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Applying for public benefit programs

• Combined Application Form (CAF)• ApplyMN (https://applymn.dhs.mn.gov)• In-person or telephone interview may be required• Cash and Food Support benefits are paid on EBT card;

GRH is paid to a vendor on the client’s behalf• Applicants who appear to be eligible for SSI must sign an

interim assistance agreement (DHS 1795)• SSI reimburses the state for any GA or GRH received

during retroactive SSI eligibility

Page 6: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

General Assistance (GA)

• Primary safety net for single adults and childless couples who are unable to provide for themselves

• Average monthly caseload of 23,100 in 2013

• Maximum monthly benefit is $203 (individual)

• $260 for a couple, $250 for minor not living with parent

Page 7: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

GA Eligibility Criteria

• Income less than $203/month or $260/month for a couple after deductions and disregards:

• Earned income disregard• $50/month (everyone); 1:1 reduction after• Self-Sufficiency Account (residents of GRH/IRT)

• Work expense deduction

• Assets less than $1,000• Excluding things like the home in which the person

lives, personal property, one burial space, burial accounts up to $1,000, vehicle valued up to $1,500 and property essential for self-support

Page 8: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

GA Bases of Eligibility• Permanent or temporary illness (medical opinion form)

• Placement In A Facility (often GRH)• Unemployable (vocational assessment)• Developmental Disability or Mental Illness (qualified professional)

• Advanced Age (55 or older)• SSDI/SSI Application/Appeal Pending

Page 9: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

GA Bases of Eligibility• Performing Court Ordered Services (prevented from working at least 4 hours/day)

• Learning Disability• Women In Battered Women’s Shelter (Department of Public Safety contract)

• Caring For Another Person (no one else able)• English Not Primary Language (over 18 & in high school at least ½ time)

• Under age 18 and not members of a family• Drug/Alcohol Addiction (medically certified as material factor in disability)

• Displaced Homemaker Full Time Student

Page 10: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

GA: Other Things

• Eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as Food Support or Food Stamps)

• GA is paid on an EBT card• Must apply for all other potential benefits• Monthly reporting required if earned income• Report changes within 10 days• Annual recertification

Page 11: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Emergency General Assistance (EGA)• Emergency financial assistance

• Emergency need that threatens health or safety• Net income under 200% FPG previous year• Cannot exceed 30 days• Can be used only once in 12 months

• Annual county allocation• Aid is subject to availability of funds• Aid available could be up to amount needed to resolve emergency,

based on availability of funds

Page 12: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

SSI & SSDI• Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)

Federal cash assistance benefit for people who are aged (over 65), blind, or disabled who have limited income and resources. The Federal Government funds SSI from general tax revenue.

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Safety net for people who are blind or disabled and have worked enough quarters (and paid into the Social Security trust fund) to obtain “insured” status. Dependents may also be eligible for benefits from another’s earnings record.

Page 13: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

SSI Maximum Monthly Benefit

$721

(in 2014, individual)

($1,082 for an eligible couple)

Known as “Federal Benefit Rate” or FBR

Page 14: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

• Monthly cash supplement to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment

• Average monthly caseload of 30,350 persons receiving MSA in 2013

Maximum monthly benefit $81(individual) ($111 for couples)

• Additional $ for special needs

Page 15: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

MSA Eligibility Criteria

• Must be receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or would be except for excess income

• If not receiving SSI must be• Age 65 or older• Blind, or• Disabled

Page 16: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

MSA Special Needs

• Special Diets • Restaurant Meals• Guardian/Conservator Fees• Representative Payee • Home Repairs• Household Furnishings & Appliances

Page 17: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

MSA Housing Assistance Eligibility

Must be:• Eligible for MSA (or would be upon discharge from institution), and

• Under age 65 (grandfathering allowed), and• Relocating from institution, or• Eligible for self-directed supports (CDCS), or• Waiver recipient living in their own place

Monthly shelter costs must exceed 40% of gross monthly income

Must apply for subsidized housing

Page 18: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Group Residential Housing

• Income supplement paid on behalf of individuals for “room and board” in licensed or registered settings (very diverse!)

• GRH can pay for services in some cases

• More than 20,000 people use GRH monthly

• $130,000,000 spent on GRH in FY2013

Page 19: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Group Residential Housing•GRH Housing Rate

(Room & Board, Rate 1, Base Rate, MSA Equivalent Rate)

• $877 maximum per month

• Pays for Rent, Utilities, Food

• NOT services, clothing, medical costs

• Individuals pay their countable income first, then GRH pays the remainder

Page 20: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Group Residential Housing• Eligibility for GRH Housing Rate

• At least 18 years old

and

• Meet a Basis of Eligibility for SSI

or• Meet a Basis of Eligibility for GA

Page 21: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Group Residential Housing• Eligibility for GRH Housing Rate

• Income: Less than $972/month

• Assets:

• SSI Basis of Eligibility: $2,000

• GA Basis of Eligibility: $1,000 (can add $2,000 for those with a self-sufficiency savings account)

Page 22: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

Group Residential Housing

• GRH Supplemental Service Rate (Service Rate, Rate 2)

• $482.84 (or higher if Legislature authorized an exception)

• Only if not eligible for waiver/PCA services • Only certain settings are eligible• Moratorium on new service rate GRH beds (unless Housing First)

Page 23: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

John Petroskas

MN Department of Human Services

651-431-5644

[email protected]

[email protected]

Page 24: MINNESOTA’S COMMUNITY LIVING SUPPORTS Homelessness 101 February 2014

OTHER RESOURCES

• WWW.DHS.STATE.MN.US Click “People We Serve > Adults > Economic Supports”

• Applymn.dhs.mn.gov – apply online for cash programs, childcare, emergency help, and food support

• Senior Linkage Line1-800-333-2433• Disability Linkage Line (www.DB101.org)

1-866-333-2466