Minnesota Statutes Public Welfare and Related Activities (Ch. 245-267) § 256D.64. Minnesota food assistance program

(1) the applicant must meet the initial and ongoing eligibility requirements for the federal SNAP, except for the applicant's ineligible immigration status;

(2) the applicant must be either a qualified noncitizen as defined in section 256J.08, subdivision 73, or a noncitizen otherwise residing lawfully in the United States;

(3) the applicant must be a resident of the state; and

(4) the applicant must not be receiving assistance under the MFIP or the work first program.

Subd. 3. Program administration. (a) The rules for the Minnesota food assistance program shall follow exactly the regulations for the federal SNAP, except for the provisions pertaining to immigration status under section 402 or 403 of Public Law 104-193.

(b) The county agency shall use the income, budgeting, and benefit allotment regulations of the federal SNAP to calculate an eligible recipient's monthly Minnesota food assistance program benefit. Until September 30, 1998, eligible recipients under this subdivision shall receive the average per person SNAP benefit issuance in Minnesota in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997. Beginning October 1, 1998, eligible recipients shall receive the same level of benefits as those provided by the federal SNAP to similarly situated citizen recipients. The monthly Minnesota food assistance program benefits shall not exceed an amount equal to the amount of federal SNAP benefits the household would receive if all members of the household were eligible for the federal SNAP benefits.

(c) Minnesota food assistance program benefits must be disregarded as income in all programs that do not count SNAP benefits as income.

(d) The county agency must redetermine a Minnesota food assistance program recipient's eligibility for the federal SNAP when the agency receives information that the recipient's legal immigration status has changed in such a way that would make the recipient potentially eligible for the federal SNAP.

(e) Until October 1, 1998, the commissioner may provide benefits under this section in cash.