Minnesota Assistance Programs and Benefits
Free help finding assistance programs, from the Iron Range to the Twin Cities
A January heating bill, fewer hours at work or a trip to the ER can strain any Minnesota household. Helping Hands shows you which Minnesota assistance programs fit what you're facing and how to reach them.
Start with what you need. We match it to programs, explain the basic rules and point you to the Minnesota offices that can help.
Our coverage includes all 87 counties in Minnesota. You might live in Minneapolis, Saint Paul or Rochester, in Hennepin, Ramsey or Dakota County, or on a gravel road in the Red River Valley. You won't pay a cent for our guidance.
In Minnesota, help runs through state programs, county human services offices, Tribal Nations, federal benefits, food shelves and community action agencies. We help you figure out where to go first.
Check Your Eligibility for Free
Rules change from one program to the next. Income, household size, age, disability, housing costs and work history all play a part.
We help you narrow the list to programs that may fit and tell you where to begin.
Minnesota Financial Assistance Programs
Losing a job in the middle of winter or getting hit with a big medical bill can empty a savings account fast. Minnesota families have several kinds of financial help to look at.
If covering the basics has gotten hard, we help you find resources that fit and show you where to apply.
Helping Hands can help you locate information about programs and resources involving:
Minnesota Food Assistance and SNAP Benefits
Groceries cost more every year, and a tight budget feels it first.
Our guide covers Minnesota food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Minnesota delivers SNAP on an EBT card, and you swipe it like a debit card at approved grocers.
Running short on food? Check your SNAP eligibility early instead of waiting for the fridge to empty.
You can apply for SNAP and cash help through the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) online at MNbenefits. Your county or Tribal Nation office reviews the application.
We can also help Minnesota residents locate:
Minnesota Utility Bill Assistance
Minnesota winters rank among the coldest in the lower 48, and your furnace may run from October into April. Falling behind on heat or electric bills puts your home at risk.
We can show you heating and electric help that Minnesota households may qualify for before the next cold snap.
Resources may include information about:
Minnesota Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Minnesota runs the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as the Energy Assistance Program (EAP), directed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Local service providers around the state take EAP applications and can help with heating bills, energy crises and energy-related repairs. Funding and deadlines change, so confirm current details with the provider for your county.
We help you find that provider and get started.
Minnesota Rental Assistance and Housing Assistance
When income drops, rent can eat most of a paycheck.
Behind on rent, facing eviction, or searching for an affordable apartment in the metro or up north? We connect you with Minnesota programs and nonprofits that may step in.
Helping Hands provides information about housing resources that may be available to qualifying Minnesota residents, including:
Section 8 and Housing Assistance in Minnesota
Minnesotans who need lower rent should know about Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other subsidized housing.
Local housing authorities, called HRAs in many Minnesota communities, run these programs, and wait lists differ by area.
Helping Hands can provide information and resources to help you understand:
Minnesota Eviction Assistance
If you got an eviction notice or fell behind on rent, act now. Days matter in an eviction case.
Look for rental assistance, eviction prevention, emergency housing, legal aid and local community resources through your county, and we'll help you find them.
Depending on your situation, help may come from nonprofits, legal aid groups, county programs or housing agencies.
Foreclosure Prevention Assistance in Minnesota
Homeowners in a rough stretch should look at their options before missed payments add up.
Ask us for foreclosure prevention and housing counseling referrals if you own a home anywhere from the suburbs to the North Shore.
If a missed payment has you scared, phone a housing counselor and your mortgage servicer this week.
Minnesota Assistance for Seniors
Older Minnesotans may qualify for help with health care, food, housing, transportation and household bills.
For aging and Medicare questions, call Minnesota Aging Pathways, formerly the Senior LinkAge Line, at 1-800-333-2433.
Helping Hands provides information about resources that may be available to older adults, including:
Minnesota Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Medicare Resources
Medical costs hit seniors, people with disabilities and lower-income families hardest.
Helping Hands helps you find information about Medicare, Medical Assistance (Minnesota's Medicaid program), MinnesotaCare and other health resources that fit your situation.
Each program follows its own rules, so review the current requirements before you apply.
Disability Assistance in Minnesota
Minnesotans living with a disability may qualify for specialized programs, in-home supports and community services.
Qualifications vary, so check each program on its own.
Helping Hands can help Minnesota residents locate information about resources involving:
Legal Assistance for Minnesota Residents
Denied benefits, a landlord dispute or debt trouble can call for legal advice.
Helping Hands helps you find legal aid and free legal resources across Minnesota for people who qualify.
Each legal aid office decides who it can serve at no cost or low cost.
Legal assistance may be particularly relevant for issues involving:
Education, Employment and Training Assistance
Long-term stability often means building new skills.
Helping Hands also shares education, job training and workforce resources that can help Minnesotans find steadier, better-paying work.
Resources may include:
Minnesota Food Banks and Emergency Food Resources
Need food today? Minnesota food shelves and food banks serve every region, from Duluth to the southwest prairie.
We help you locate a food shelf near your home, including options for families, seniors, people with disabilities and anyone in a rough month.
When the fridge is empty or the heat is off, dial 2-1-1 in Minnesota. United Way 211 answers around the clock and connects you with local services.
Assistance Available Throughout All 87 Minnesota Counties
Program information and guidance from Helping Hands reach all 87 counties in Minnesota, from Cook County to Rock County.
Our Minnesota resources reach big cities and lake towns, including:
- Minneapolis
- Saint Paul
- Rochester
- Bloomington
- Duluth
- Brooklyn Park
- Plymouth
- Woodbury
- Maple Grove
- St. Cloud
- Eagan
- Eden Prairie
- Mankato
- Moorhead
- Winona
- Hennepin County
- Ramsey County
- Dakota County
- Anoka County
- Washington County
- And communities throughout Minnesota
From a Minneapolis apartment to a farmhouse near Moorhead, the help you can get depends on your household and the programs in your county.
How Helping Hands Can Help
Counties, Tribal offices, state agencies and nonprofits each run a piece of the safety net, and their forms don't match.
Helping Hands keeps track of those pieces so Minnesotans can find the right door faster.
Our goal is to help you:
- Identify programs that may match your situation.
- Understand basic eligibility requirements.
- Find the appropriate agency or organization.
- Learn where and how to apply.
- Locate additional resources if one program does not meet your needs.
Any Minnesota resident can use our help and resource information free of charge.
Need Help in Minnesota? Start Here.
Short on groceries, rent or heat money this month? You can skip the guesswork of tracking down every program yourself.
We connect you with county offices, Tribal programs and nonprofits that may help, based on what you tell us.
Common Minnesota Assistance Programs
Food & Nutrition
- SNAP / Food Stamps
- EBT information
- Food banks
- Food pantries
- Emergency food assistance
Housing
- Rental assistance
- Section 8
- Low-income housing
- Eviction assistance
- Foreclosure prevention
- Emergency housing
Utilities
- LIHEAP (EAP)
- Electric assistance
- Gas assistance
- Utility bill assistance
Financial Assistance
- Emergency financial assistance
- Cash assistance
- Family assistance
- Single-parent resources
- Community grants and assistance
Health & Senior Services
- Medicare
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
- Senior assistance
- Disability resources
- Health-care assistance
Other Resources
- Legal assistance
- Education
- Job training
- Workforce resources
- Community services
Immediate Minnesota Assistance
In a crisis right now? Dial 2-1-1 for United Way 211, which links Minnesotans to local food, shelter and utility help day or night.
For SNAP and cash assistance, contact the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or your county human services office.
For aging and Medicare questions, call Minnesota Aging Pathways at 1-800-333-2433.
Helping Hands makes finding help in Minnesota simpler.
Find out what you may qualify for and start with Minnesota assistance programs today.
Helping Hands is a resource and information service. Program eligibility, availability, funding, and application requirements are determined by the applicable government agency, nonprofit organization, housing authority, or other program administrator. Providing information about a program does not guarantee eligibility or approval.
