Money Assistance Minnesota – Help paying bills, rent, loans & more
Around 11 percent of Minnesota resident are living in poverty based on figures from Poverty USA, with 7.4 percent of children at or below the poverty level. While this figure is lower than most other states, it is still a significant amount of individuals and families. If you are struggling to pay some of your bills, you may qualify for assistance through one of the many public and private programs available to Minnesota residents.
Below are multiple ways to get financial help in Minnesota. Services that include help paying bills, rent, food/groceries, personal loans, debt relief and as mentioned various government benefits and support agencies across Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and all other cities in Minnesota.
Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Minnesota collecting Social Security may qualify for more financial assistance through SSI. For those whose only income is Social Security and you are in need of a loan, there may be specialist lenders who will assist. Learn more about SSI and other social security loan options here.
Assistance with utilities: Minnesota residents can get help with their heating costs through the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program (EAP). The program offers financial help to qualifying families. There are some funds set aside for emergency cases as well. To qualify for help with energy bills, income must be at or below 50 percent of the state median income. Even if you don’t qualify for financial assistance, you may be able to get help weatherizing your home to reduce your energy bills, for free.
Food Assistance: Minnesota residents can get help with their monthly food bill through the Minnesota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program provides money, based on family size and income, each month to be used toward the purchase of food. If you need immediate assistance you can find help though the Minnesota Hunger Partners or Hunger Solutions Minnesota. These programs are designed to provide low-income families with emergency food services. Pregnant women and women with children under the age of 5 can also get help through the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program.
Rent and Mortgage: If you are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage, you may qualify for Section 8 Housing. These subsidized apartment complexes are designed for low-income families and only rent to families who meet income requirements. In addition, you may qualify for rent or mortgage assistance through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency can also help you find emergency assistance if you are concerned about losing your home.
Personal Loan Help: Get help with lower rate, low income loans. See what responsible lending services are available and avoid payday loans. There are numerous non-profit and specialty loans from mainstream banks available – See here
Medical Assistance: The state Medicaid program offers free health insurance to individuals and families who meet specific financial standards. Children can get low-cost insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Other programs include Minnesota Care, UCare’s Minnesota Senior Health Options and Minnesota Senior Care Plus. You can apply for assistance to these programs through UCare.
Educational Assistance: Students from families that meet financial standards can get free money for college. The funds are provided through the Federal Pell Grant Program and are given to students from families with low-incomes. Students are required to attend college full-time while receiving their grant. If you have small children at home you may qualify for help through the Head Start program which offers free preschool programs to at risk children.
Community Action Centers: The Community Action Center of Northfield offers access to community resources including the Food Shelf, medical assistance and education resources. Additionally, residents can participate in free classes and find job search help here. Find your local community action center as well as a link to free resources though Minnesota Community Action Programs.
Charities: According to Wallet Hub, Minnesota ranks as the 6th most giving state in the country! With more people giving to charity than most other states, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get access to the help you need. You can find specific information about charities you are interested in through Local Independent Charities of Minnesota, which allows you to research area charities for free.
Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Minnesota, including: Free clothes, furniture, car, school accessories, help with fines, seasonal items & more!
The below services are in general and may not be available in Minnesota. However, if not available, many may have partnerships with other organizations through out the state that they can connect you with.
Free Hotel or Motel Vouchers for the Homeless or Emergencies
Those experiencing hardship and are without a roof over their head can access different types of short and possibly longer term accommodation throughout Minnesota. Learn more about accommodation assistance in here.
Dealing with tickets or fines
If you have unpaid tickers or fines, avoiding them will only create further financial and credit problems. Learn about ways to get assistance with dealing with fines in Minnesota, from requesting a waiver or challenging inaccurate fines. Get the information you need to tackle fines here.
How to get a free laptop or computer
Low income families have a range of organizations that provide free technology assistance such as computers and laptops throughout the country including Minnesota. Learn about what free computers and laptop organizations are near you and how to apply here.
Getting a free or low cost car
At any given time there are different organizations that assist low income earners with transportation. Across the country and in Minnesota there are different services that assist people with getting a vehicle. Learn more about free cars, how to get one and where to apply.
How to get free gas for emergencies
Gas prices in Minnesota like most of the country are extremely high. This can put serious strain on the family budget. For those dealing with cashflow issues and finding it hard to put fuel in the car, there is help. Learn how to get free gas for emergencies through free gas vouchers.
