Short answer
What benefits can you get in Minnesota?
Minnesota households may qualify for food help through SNAP, health coverage through Medical Assistance, heating bill help through the Energy Assistance Program, help with Medicare costs through the Medicare Savings Programs, a property tax refund for homeowners, and a monthly food box for people 60 and older. (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (MN Revenue, Homeowner's Homestead Credit Refund) (Minnesota Department of Health, CSFP) Each program has its own income limit and its own application, and you apply yourself with the agency that runs it. The table below shows one official limit for each.
| Fact | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP (food) | Gross income under $2,660 a month for 1 person, $5,500 for 4 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027) | Minnesota DCYF, SNAP |
| Medical Assistance (health) | $1,768 a month for 1 adult 19 to 64 or parent (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) | Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A income guidelines |
| Energy Assistance Program (heat) | $3,205 a month for 1 person, $6,164 for 4 (FFY27); apply by May 31, 2027 | Minnesota Commerce, EAP income guidelines |
| Medicare Savings Programs | QMB $1,350 a month for 1 person (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) | Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182 |
| Homestead Credit Refund (M1PR) | 2025 household income under $142,490 for homeowners; due August 15 | MN Revenue, Homeowner's Homestead Credit Refund |
| CSFP senior food box | Age 60 or older; $1,995 a month for 1 person (effective February 2026) | Minnesota Department of Health, CSFP Income Guidelines |
| MFIP (cash for families) | Minnesota's TANF program, listed by ACF | ACF, Help for Families |
Sources: Minnesota DCYF, DHS, and Commerce figures from Benefit Bull research packets (research/mn-snap.md, research/mn-medical-assistance.md, research/mn-energy-assistance.md, research/ma-mn-medicare-savings-programs.md); MN Revenue and Minnesota Department of Health pages read .
Each state agency decides who may qualify. Benefit Bull is free, always. It never applies for you.
Minnesota splits its help across several agencies. Food help (SNAP) is run by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families; health coverage and Medicare help by the Department of Human Services; heating help by the Department of Commerce; the property tax refund by the Department of Revenue; and the senior food box by the Department of Health. That is why one household can end up filing several applications.
Use this page to see which programs fit, then go to the full guide for each one. Every figure below is an official limit with its effective period. Minnesota's state websites block our server, so the DCYF, DHS, and Commerce figures come from our research packets, which copy the state documents line for line and were checked against them in October 2026.
Who may qualify for SNAP in Minnesota?
SNAP helps Minnesotans with low incomes buy food, and "SNAP eligibility depends on household size and income." (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) Minnesota's SNAP table sets the gross monthly income limit at 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and "These guidelines are effective October 1, 2026." (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP)
For every household size, see our Minnesota SNAP income limits guide.
Apply online at MNbenefits, get help from a SNAP outreach specialist through mnFoodHelper, or file a paper application with your county or Tribal Nation human services office. "After applying, applicants must complete an interview with their local county or Tribal Nation human services office." (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) Households that are elderly or disabled, or above 200 percent, follow other tests, which our full guide explains: Minnesota SNAP income limits and how to apply.
If you have little or no money this month, start your SNAP application on MNbenefits today and ask about expedited help. See emergency food stamps.
Who may qualify for Medical Assistance in Minnesota?
"Medical Assistance is Minnesota's Medicaid program." It covers children and families, pregnant people, adults without children, seniors, and people who are blind or have a disability. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) "There is no monthly cost to enrollees." (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
For limits by age and household size, see our Minnesota Medical Assistance guide.
If your income is over the limit, "you may still qualify for MA by meeting a spenddown," which DHS compares to an insurance deductible. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) "The easiest way for most people to apply is online through MNsure," but seniors and people with disabilities may need a different application. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) Full tables, asset rules, and pregnancy and infant limits: Minnesota Medical Assistance income limits. Coverage must be renewed every year; see Medicaid renewal in Minnesota.
Apply even if you think you are a little over the limit. Ask the county whether a spenddown could apply to your household.
How does the Energy Assistance Program help with heating bills?
Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is federally funded and run by the Department of Commerce with local service providers. "Both renters and homeowners can qualify. Eligibility is based on income and household size." (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) Payments go "directly to the household's utility company or to a provider of fuel." (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program)
For every household size and how to apply, see our Minnesota Energy Assistance Program guide.
"The deadline to apply for Energy Assistance for the winter of 2026-2027 is May 31, 2027." (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) Commerce says "The program is free." (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) Apply online or mail a paper application to your local service provider. Full details, crisis help, and providers: Minnesota Energy Assistance Program. If heat is included in your rent, see heat included in rent; for home repairs that cut energy use, see weatherization in Minnesota.
If your heat or electricity is shut off or about to be, or you cannot get a fuel delivery, call your local EAP service provider first, before the regular application.
Can Minnesota help pay your Medicare costs?
Minnesota runs three main Medicare Savings Programs. QMB "pays Medicare premiums, deductibles, copays and coinsurance"; SLMB and QI pay Medicare Part B premiums. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
For QMB, SLMB, and QI limits and the asset limit, see our Medicare Savings Programs guide.
"There is no cost for Medicare Savings Programs," and coverage "usually starts the month we get your application." (Minnesota DHS, Help with Medicare costs) People asking only for help with Medicare costs use the paper Minnesota Health Care Programs Application for Certain Populations (DHS-3876). (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) More: Medicare Savings Programs in Minnesota and Medicare Extra Help.
If you are on Medicare and your income is near these limits, apply. The county reviews the application for both Medical Assistance and the Medicare Savings Programs.
Can Minnesota homeowners get property taxes back?
Yes, through the Homestead Credit Refund, filed on Form M1PR. For the regular refund, MN Revenue says you must have "owned and lived in your home on January 2, 2026," and "Your household income for 2025 was less than $142,490" (official 2025 limit). (MN Revenue, Homeowner's Homestead Credit Refund)
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Home | You owned and lived in your home on January 2, 2026 |
| Household income | Less than $142,490 for 2025 (official limit) |
| Due date | August 15; you may file up to one year after the due date |
"The due date is August 15. You may file up to one year after the due date." Homeowners "may be able to file for free" using MN Revenue's Property Tax Refund Online Filing System. (MN Revenue, Filing for a Property Tax Refund)
If you missed the August 15 date for your 2025 refund, you still have up to one year to file. Use MN Revenue's free online system if you are a homeowner.
What other help is there in Minnesota?
Senior food box (CSFP). The Minnesota Department of Health runs CSFP for people who "Are 60 years or older," "Live in Minnesota," meet the income guidelines, and "Prepare their own meals and do not live in a facility that provides meals." It has "No cost and more than 200 pick-up locations statewide" and an online application. (Minnesota Department of Health, CSFP)
| Household size | Monthly income limit (official) | Yearly income limit (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,995 | $23,940 |
| 2 | $2,705 | $32,460 |
| 3 | $3,415 | $40,980 |
Cash help for families (MFIP). ACF lists the Minnesota Family Investment Program as Minnesota's TANF cash program, with a DCYF MFIP page and MN Benefits. (ACF, Help for Families) Minnesota's pages did not load for our checks, so we do not list MFIP rules here.
Keeping what you have. SNAP and Medical Assistance both have renewals. See SNAP recertification in Minnesota and Medicaid renewal in Minnesota.
If you are 60 or older, ask about CSFP when you apply for SNAP. They are separate programs, and you can use both.
How do you apply, and what does it cost?
There is no single application for everything. Here is where each one starts, from the state pages above.
| Program | Where you apply | Cost, as the state puts it |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP | MNbenefits online, mnFoodHelper, or your county or Tribal office | No Minnesota page we checked says it; see the note below |
| Medical Assistance | MNsure online for most people; paper forms for some seniors and people with disabilities | "There is no monthly cost to enrollees" |
| Energy Assistance Program | Online or by mail to your local service provider | "The program is free" |
| Medicare Savings Programs | Paper application DHS-3876, reviewed by your county or Tribal office | "There is no cost for Medicare Savings Programs" |
| Homestead Credit Refund (M1PR) | MN Revenue, on paper or electronically | Homeowners "may be able to file for free" |
| CSFP senior food box | Minnesota Department of Health online application | "No cost" |
Sources for this table: (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) (Minnesota DHS, Help with Medicare costs) (MN Revenue, Filing for a Property Tax Refund) (Minnesota Department of Health, CSFP)
For SNAP, we did not find a Minnesota page that says applying is free in those words. One state example: New Jersey tells applicants, "You should never be asked to pay for help filling out an application. There is no charge." (NJ Human Services, NJ SNAP Ways to Apply) Federal SNAP rules also say "you must apply in the state in which you currently live." (USDA FNA, SNAP Eligibility)
You submit each application yourself on the official site. Benefit Bull is free, always. It never files for you.
Start with the program you need most this month. Food and heat applications move fastest when you have last month's income proof and a recent bill ready.
Which Minnesota numbers matter?
- $2,660
- Official SNAP gross monthly limit for 1 person, through September 30, 2027
- $1,768
- Official Medical Assistance monthly limit for 1 adult, through June 30, 2027
- May 31, 2027
- Energy Assistance Program deadline for this winter
- $142,490
- Official 2025 household income limit for the homeowner property tax refund
See which Minnesota and federal programs your household may qualify for, with estimated values and official links.
Sources: (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A income guidelines) (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) (MN Revenue, Homeowner's Homestead Credit Refund)
What this adds up to
Minnesota households may qualify for several programs at once, and each has its own agency, limit, and application. (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) (Minnesota Commerce, Energy Assistance Program) The official limits for one person are $2,660 a month gross for SNAP, $1,768 a month for Medical Assistance for adults 19 to 64 and parents, $3,205 a month for energy help, and $1,350 a month for QMB, each for the period shown above. (Minnesota DCYF, SNAP) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A income guidelines) (Minnesota Commerce, EAP income guidelines) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) Homeowners with 2025 household income under $142,490 may claim the Homestead Credit Refund on Form M1PR. (MN Revenue, Homeowner's Homestead Credit Refund) You submit each application yourself on the official site. Benefit Bull is free, always. It never files for you. Questions about this guide: ben@benefitbull.com.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from. Figures checked November 2026. Last updated November 2, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, SNAP (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/mn-snap.md on October 17, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, Medical Assistance (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/mn-medical-assistance.md on October 17, 2026; reverified October 23, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, Insurance Affordability Programs Income and Asset Guidelines, DHS-3461A (revised 6-26, PDF) (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/mn-medical-assistance.md on October 17, 2026; reverified October 23, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Health Care Programs, DHS-3182 (revised 7-26, PDF) (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/mn-medical-assistance.md and research/ma-mn-medicare-savings-programs.md on October 17, 2026; reverified October 23, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, People who need help with Medicare costs (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/ma-mn-medicare-savings-programs.md on October 17, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, Energy Assistance Program (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/mn-energy-assistance.md on October 17, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, EAP income guidelines (FFY27) (read for Benefit Bull research packet research/mn-energy-assistance.md on October 17, 2026; Minnesota state sites block our server, so figures come from that packet)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Homeowner's Homestead Credit Refund (last updated June 23, 2026) (accessed November 2, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Filing for a Property Tax Refund (last updated June 5, 2026) (accessed November 2, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Health, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) (accessed November 2, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Health, CSFP Income Guidelines (effective February 2026) (accessed November 2, 2026)
- ACF Office of Family Assistance, Help for Families: State and Tribal TANF Program Contact Information (accessed November 2, 2026)
- New Jersey Department of Human Services, NJ SNAP Ways to Apply (accessed November 2, 2026)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility (accessed November 2, 2026)
