Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP)

The Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP) was created by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature in response to federal law changes, which made certain noncitizens ineligible for federally funded Food Support (formerly called Food Stamps).

Program info
Eligibility
Benefits
Apply

Program info

The Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP) provides state-funded food assistance to legal noncitizens age 50 or older who do not qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called Food Stamps or Food Support) because of their citizenship status.
Eligibility

To qualify, you must meet all of the following:
- Be eligible for SNAP except for the U.S. citizenship requirement
- Be a qualified noncitizen or a noncitizen lawfully residing in the United States
- Live in Minnesota
- Not be enrolled in the Minnesota Family Investment Program.
The program follows all of the policies and procedures of SNAP except for rules that make noncitizens ineligible. Income limits and deductions are the same as those used in SNAP.
Benefits

Benefits for the MFAP are the same as SNAP. The amount of monthly benefits a household can receive is based on the income, expenses and number of people in the household. The amount is the same that a recipient would get if they were eligible for SNAP. Cost-of-living adjustments are made to SNAP benefits annually in October. Benefits are issued through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which is used to purchase food at retailers that accept EBT. Read more about EBT cards (PDF).
Apply

To apply:
- Visit MNbenefits.mn.gov
- Use the paper Combined Application Form (PDF) - also available in Hmong (PDF), Russian (PDF), Somali (PDF), Spanish (PDF) and Vietnamese (PDF).
For help attaining or completing the application, contact your local county human services agency.

Call the SNAP Hotline at 651-431-4050 in the Twin Cities metro area or 800-657-3698 outside the metro area. For TTY service, call your preferred relay service.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)