Education for Justice FACT SHEET G-18 Fall 2009

MSA (MINNESOTA SUPPLEMENTAL AID)

AND EMERGENCY MSA

WHAT IS MSA?

MSA is Minnesota Supplemental Aid. It pays people with low incomes who are elderly, blind, or disabled to bring their income up to a set amount. If your monthly income, with certain deductions, is less than these amounts, then MSA will pay you the difference:

• Person living alone $698
• Person living with others $513
• Couple living alone $1,047
• Couple living with others $695

Many people on MSA get their income from SSI. If you work, some of your earned income is not counted.

SHOULD I APPLY FOR MSA?

Yes, if you:

· Are 65 or older or

· Are between 18 and 65 years old and are blind, have severely impaired vision or are disabled. MSA uses the same rules as Social Security to say who is disabled.

Your income must be less than the amounts listed above or you must have special needs. Special needs can be things like a special diet or representative payee fees. You can also get special need payments for home repairs, furniture or appliances. MSA has asset limits. To apply, call your county welfare office. A worker will go over your income and assets to see if you are eligible.

WHAT ARE THE MSA ASSET LIMITS?

A single person can have up to $2,000 in assets. A couple can have up to $3,000. Assets mean money or property. But some things don’t count:

· A home

· Personal items and household goods

· 1 car, no matter how much it is worth, does not count if you or someone in your household uses it for transportation.

· Any property or tools you use to support yourself.

· Life insurance and burial plans worth up to $1,500.

· Burial plots.

WHAT IS EMSA?

Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Assistance (EMSA) helps when you have a crisis that could hurt your health or safety.

SHOULD I APPLY FOR EMSA?

Yes, if you:

• Are blind, disabled, or 65 or over and
• Have an emergency and
• Get MSA now, or meet its rules and could get it.

WHAT KIND OF EMERGENCY DO I HAVE TO HAVE TO GET EMSA?

You must have a crisis that could hurt your health or safety like an eviction, a mortgage foreclosure, or a utility shut-off. The county will look at things to decide if you can get EMSA.

• If using all your income and assets is still not enough to fix the emergency.
• Any income you get that month will count as money you can use to fix the emergency.
• Any assets you can sell at a fair price in time to fix the emergency also count.

You do not have to sell your home, clothes, personal items, furniture or your car.

WHAT IF I GET TURNED DOWN FOR MSA OR EMSA?

You have the right to appeal. Ask your worker for a form or give them a short letter saying you want to appeal. You have to appeal in writing. You have 30 days from the date you got the notice that you were turned down to file an appeal. You may appeal within 90 days of the notice if you have a good reason for not being able to appeal in 30 days. A worker may tell you not to apply for EMSA because they think you don’t qualify. You always have the right to apply, and to appeal if you are denied.

· This includes EMSA and MSA.

· You will get a hearing with a state referee, who will make a written decision on your appeal. If you have an emergency, ask for an expedited appeal (“expedited” means fast). Then your hearing date will be set quickly.

· Check for other ways to solve the emergency. Call First Call for Help at 211 statewide. If you are calling from a cell phone, call (651) 291-0211.

Minneapolis Legal Aid – CLE MN Legal Services Coalition 2324 University Avenue W. – Suite 101B St. Paul, MN 55114

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