Education for Justice FACT SHEET G-19 Fall 2009

EMERGENCY GENERAL ASSISTANCE (EGA)

WHAT IS EMERGENCY GENERAL ASSISTANCE (EGA)?

EGA is a cash grant from the county for low income people with an emergency. It can be for 1 person, married couples or families. Some examples of emergencies are eviction, utility shut-off, mortgage foreclosure, fire, flood, major illness, broken furnace, and homelessness. Apply for EGA at your county welfare office.

WHO CAN GET EGA?

1) You do not have to be on or eligible for General Assistance (GA) to get EGA.

2) 1 person in the household has to meet citizenship or immigration rules.

3) 1 person in the household must have lived in Minnesota for 30 days before you can get EGA.

4) You cannot be on MFIP.

5) You can only use EGA once during a 12 month period.

6) The EGA must fix the crisis. EGA will not pay back rent if your income will not cover your rent in future months and you would lose your housing anyway.

7) You have to be dealing with an emergency that puts someone in your household in danger to their health or safety.

8) You must use your own money first. EGA can be used to pay what you cannot. The county can make you sell your personal property to raise money, but only if someone will buy it at a reasonable price soon enough to fix the emergency.

9) You have to show what you did with your money for the 2 months before you apply for EGA. If you spent more than half of your money on things other than basic needs like food and rent, EGA will not pay unless you show good cause. Some examples of good cause are a family emergency or car repairs.

WHAT IF I GET TURNED DOWN?

You can appeal. Give the worker a letter that says you want an “expedited” appeal. Expedited means faster than usual because it is an emergency. Date the letter and keep a copy. See our fact sheet, Welfare Appeals. Call your legal aid office right away.

To see about other emergency funds, call First Call for Help at 211 statewide or (651) 291-0211 from a cell phone.

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

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