Minnesota family investment program (MFIP)

The Minnesota family investment program (MFIP) helps families with children meet their basic needs, while helping parents move to financial stability through work. Parents are expected to work, and are supported in working with both cash and food assistance. Most families have a lifetime limit of 60 months on MFIP.
 

MFIP helps families by providing assistance with

: 
  • cash income supplement
  • food support
  • child care costs
  • health care coverage
  • employment services
The goal is to reduce long-term public assistance use and to encourage personal responsibility.

Families may be referred when they first apply for assistance or after they finish four months of the Diversionary Work Program. It can take up to 30 days to process an MFIP application. 
 

MFIP supports work

. The program provides help with child care costs and medical coverage, in some cases as long as a year after the family transitions out of the program. Income-earning families also may receive additional incentives.

MFIP encourages personal responsibility

. For most participants, program expectations include developing an employment plan with an employment services counselor. Failure to cooperate with program requirements can result in sanctions. The program has 60-month lifetime limit.

Your county worker will help you to calculate your assets to determine whether you are eligible for aid or not. 
 

MFIP orientation requirements for participation


If you participate in MFIP you are required to read the complete MFIP orientation presentation.

If you need help applying


You may have someone else apply for you. To do this, you must write a letter identifying that person as an "authorized representative" who has permission to complete the process on your behalf. If you are in the hospital or home-bound, call our office for assistance.

How to apply

Complete one of the applications below to apply. If you complete the combined application form you will need to submit it to one of our locations or email it to mnprairie@mnprairie.org.  You may also call 507.431.5600 to have a form mailed to you.