Commissioners hear MFIP caseload on the increase

Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) is a program designed to assist low income families with children. On Tuesday, Social Service Director Steve Reger and Gail Fletcher, supervisor of financial workers, attended the Morrison County commissioners meeting to give an update on the status of the program.

MFIP is a program designed to assist low income families with children. It provides a grant which includes both cash and food benefits. The program has strict time limits and parents are expected to meet work rules. Employment services are provided and will assist to help parents find and keep a job.

If parents are working they may still get a grant, depending on household income. A family can earn about 20 percent above the federal poverty level before they lose cash assistance. (The federal poverty guidelines are based on family size. For a family of four, the federal guideline would be an adjusted gross income of $17,650).

If a family does not meet work rules their grant will be reduced the first month by 10 percent and the second month by 30 percent. Asset limit is $2,000 at application and increases to $5,000 once the case is open.

Fletcher said, “Morrison County began piloting MFIP. In January, 1998, we began converting all AFDC and pilot MFIP cases to the statewide MFIP program. In the first 12 months, our caseload reduced by 31 percent and by August, 2000 it had reduced by 57 percent. Now, one year later the caseload has began to climb again and it has increased by 23 percent.”

She explained,“When the caseload size reduced, many families found work and empowerment while overcoming complex and sometimes devastating personal histories. But, many of these families moved to low wage jobs with limited opportunities for earning growth. Statistics have shown that over half of all families who have left the program continue to live below the federal poverty line. The average wage for the primary caretaker is $6.50 – $7 an hour.”

Fletcher added, “The case load growth is on the incline for various reasons, one being the change in the economy. Child Care availability and transportation still continue to be ongoing issues. Many of them still struggle with social and mental health barriers. During the past four years of the program, we have tried to deploy parents to the work force as rapidly as possible with limited attention being given to a person’s medical, psychological, social or educational limitations.”

In the past 12 month many of the department’s applications are due to families reapplying for assistance—14.3 percent of the applications are new families to the program, 26.5 percent are reapplications and 10.3 percent are families moving into the county from other areas.

The county currently has four families that will reach the 60- month time limit in 2002.

Under new legislation the county must send out notices 180 days before their time runs out. Sixty days before their assistance ends, a face-to-face interview is necessitated. Extensions can be applied for if the recipient has been in compliance 10 of the past 12 months and the meet one of three groups. These are ill, injured or incapacitated; needed in the home for an ill person or needed in the home for a disabled person.

Anyone with questions on the MFIP program may call 632-2951 and ask to speak with the financial screener.