Education for Justice

FACT SHEET G-2

Fall 2011

 

MFIP FOR PARENTS UNDER AGE 18

 

 

MFIP has special rules for parents under 18.  Here are the most important ones:

 

WHERE CAN I LIVE?

If you are under 18 and want MFIP, the rule is that you have to live:

·         With one or both parents (the county may use a parent’s income to calculate your MFIP grant)

·         With a legal guardian

·         With an approved adult relative (like a grandmother, aunt, uncle)

·         In an adult-supervised living arrangement

 

But, this rule does not count if your situation is any of these things:

  • You don’t have a parent, proper adult relative, or guardian or don’t know where they are
  • You lived away from your parents or guardian for a year before your child was born
  • You lived away from your parents or guardian for a year before you applied for MFIP
  • Your parents, guardian, or adult relative will not let you live with them
  • There is no adult-supervised place for you in the county where you live
  • You or your child’s physical or emotional health or safety is in danger if you live with a parent, relative or guardian.  If you claim this, the county will refer your case to Child Protection.

 

These situations are called exceptions.  If you meet any of these exceptions, the county can ask you to live in adult-supervised, supportive living, but they cannot make you.

 

 

DO I HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL?

If you are under 18 and do not have a high school diploma or GED, you will probably have to go to school to get MFIP.  But, you don’t have to go to school if:

·         You cannot get transportation

·         You cannot get child care

·         You are ill or so seriously disabled that you can’t go to school

·         You are needed at home because someone there is ill or disabled

·         Your child is less than 6 weeks old

·         It’s not safe you to go to school because of domestic violence

 

If you are 18 or 19 years old and do not have a high school education or GED, you can either go to school or do an Employment Plan.

 

 

 

If you are under 18, the county must make an education plan for you.  They must look at your education needs, skills, family issues, child care needs and work history to make the plan.  You must follow the education plan, or you will be “sanctioned.”  Sanctioned means losing some of your MFIP money.  You lose 10% of your MFIP the first month.  Then you lose 30% the next month.  Your benefits will be 30% less every month until you fix the problem.  Sometimes the county can sanction you more than 30%.

 

It is very important to get out of sanction as soon as possible.  If you are in sanction for more than 6 months, you will get a 100% sanction.  This means your MFIP cash and food support will be closed.

 

 

IS MY 5-YEAR CLOCK RUNNING?

You can only get MFIP as a parent for a total of 60 months (5 years) in your life.  But if you are under 20 years old and meet school attendance rules, your time on MFIP won’t count toward the 60 months.  Also, any months you got MFIP through your parents does not count.  Call legal aid about how to extend your 60 month limit.

 

 

WHAT IF I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT MFIP?

You can appeal a decision by the county, if you disagree with it.  Get a written notice of their decision.  Then call your legal aid office right away.

 

Appeal in writing and keep a copy.  Do it right away.  You have 30 days from the date of the notice you want to appeal.

 

You can get full benefits during the appeal if you send the appeal

·         Within 10 days of the date the county mails the notice or

·         Before the date the termination or cut starts.

 

If you have “good cause” for being late, you can appeal up to 90 days after the notice.  An example of good cause is being sick or out of town when the notice came. 

 

See our fact sheet, G- 25 Welfare Appeals. 

 

 

 

To find other Legal Aid Society materials, including the fact sheets mentioned in this document, go to www.lawhelpmn.org/LASMfactsheets.

Minneapolis Legal Aid – CLE

MN Legal Services Coalition

2324 University Avenue W. – Suite 101B

St. Paul, MN 55114

Don’t use this fact sheet if it is more than 1 year old.

Write us for updates, a fact sheet list, or alternate formats.

Fact Sheets aren’t a complete answer to a legal problem.

See a lawyer for advice.

 

© 2011 Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance.  This document may be reproduced and used for non-commercial personal and educational purposes only.  All other rights reserved.  This notice must remain on all copies.  Reproduction, distribution, and use for commercial purposes are strictly prohibited.