Minnesota Food Stamps and EBT Guide

If you are trying to see if you are eligible to apply for Food stamps in Minnesota (SNAP) or need more information about Minnesota EBT, you’ve come to the right place. The Minnesota food stamps and EBT program, also called the Food Assistance Program, is a federal nutrition program that helps low-income individuals and families buy food.

Food Stamps benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets.

The program is run at the state level by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).

If you apply and are approved for benefits, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, which works like a debit card.

We have provided below everything you need to know to successfully apply for food stamps. We have also explained how EBT Card works and what you can expect with your card if you are approved for food stamps.

Table of Contents:

• Should I apply for Minnesota Food Stamps?
• Who is Eligible for Minnesota Food Stamps?
• Minnesota Food Stamps Income Limit
• How Much Will I Receive in Minnesota Food Stamps?
• How to Apply for Minnesota Food Stamps
• How long to get Approved for Minnesota Food Stamps?
• What is the Minnesota EBT Card?
• What can I buy with EBT in Minnesota?
• Which Minnesota Grocery Stores Accept EBT Online?
• What time are Food Stamps EBT deposited in Minnesota?
• How to Check Minnesota EBT Card Balance?
• How Do I Get a Minnesota EBT Card Replacement?
• Minnesota EBT Card Discounts, Perks, and Freebies

Should I apply for Minnesota Food Stamps?

If you’ve hit tough times and are struggling to afford food for yourself or your family, you should consider applying for food stamps.

The food stamps program is a federal entitlement program. This means anyone who is eligible will receive benefits. You will not be taking away benefits from someone else if you apply.

In addition, the food stamps program is a nutrition program and not a welfare cash assistance program (which is called TANF). You do not have to be receiving TANF to get food stamps.

Who is Eligible for Minnesota Food Stamps?

To be eligible for food stamps in Minnesota, you have to meet the Gross Income, Net Income, and Asset tests.

Additionally, if your household has an elderly (over 60) or disabled member, you may be exempt from the Gross Income, Net Income, and/or Asset tests.

In Minnesota, eligibility for SNAP is limited to people with gross incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty line.

Also, your net income (Gross income minus allowable deductions) cannot exceed 100% of the poverty level.

Furthermore, able-bodied adults without dependents can only receive three months of benefits during any three-year period if they’re not working a minimum of 20 hours per week or participating in a training program.

Minnesota Food Stamps Income Limit

Below is the food stamps income limit for Minnesota. It is based on the number of people in your household.

For example, if you are a family of 4, you cannot make more than a gross income of $3,007 a month to qualify for food stamps.

Minnesota Food Stamps Asset Limit

There is no asset limit for Food Stamps in Minnesota.

How Much Will I Receive in Minnesota Food Stamps?

The amount of food stamps benefits a household gets depends on how many people are in the household and how much monthly net income remains after taking allowable deductions.

A family of 4 can receive a maximum food stamps benefit of $939.

Because food stamps households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their own resources on food, the amount of food stamps you get is calculated by multiplying your household’s net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.

Minnesota Food Stamps Work Requirement

The state of Minnesota has very strict work requirements when it comes to eligibility for food stamps.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the work requirements below before applying for benefits.

SNAP participants between ages 18 and 50 who do not receive cash benefits from other public assistance programs may be required to participate in SNAP Employment and Training programs.

You may be excused from participating if you:

• Are caring for young children or an incapacitated household member
• Receive unemployment benefits
• Participate in a chemical dependency treatment program
• Work 30 or more hours per week
• Participate in an approved training program
• Have a permanent or temporary disability.

How to Apply for Minnesota Food Stamps

There are 3 ways you can apply for food stamps in Minnesota.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the MNbenefits.mn.gov Portal – as shown in the image below.

If you have an account, you can log in or create your MNbenefits.mn.gov Portal Account. Click here to be taken to the website.

Option 2 – Apply at DHS Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) office near you. Click here to locate a DHS office.

Option 3 – Download Minnesota Food Stamps Application

You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county DHS office or submit it in person.

How long to get Approved for Minnesota Food Stamps?

Generally, a decision will be made on your Minnesota food stamps application within 30 days of the day you submitted a COMPLETE application.

Once you submit a complete application, your caseworker will schedule an interview with you to review your application information and ask any questions they may have about the information you submitted.

What is the Minnesota EBT Card?

The Minnesota EBT Card is used to administer your monthly food stamps and cash benefits.

If you are approved for food stamps, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on a Minnesota EBT Card, which works like a debit card.

You can access your SNAP and/or Cash benefits using your Minnesota EBT Card and your 4-digit PIN.

What can I buy with EBT in Minnesota?

You are allowed to use your food stamps benefits card to buy foods that your household will prepare to eat at home, including the following

• breads and cereals
• fruits and vegetables
• meats, fish and poultry; and
• dairy products
• Seeds and plants to produce food for the household to eat
• Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream
• Seafood, steak, and bakery cakes
• Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label
• Energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible

What you CANNOT buy with EBT in Minnesota

Now that you know what you can buy with your SNAP card, here is the list of things you CANNOT buy with the card:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
• Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, diapers, and household supplies
• Vitamins and medicines
• Food that will be eaten in the store
• Hot foods
• Live animals

NOTE: In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Which Minnesota Grocery Stores Accept EBT Online?

The following grocery stores accept Minnesota SNAP EBT cards online for pickup and/or delivery.

• ALDI
• Amazon
• Ernie’s Food Market
• Hornbacher’s
• Hugo’s Family Marketplace
• Mackenthun’s Fine Foods
• Sam’s Club Scan and Go
• Target
• Walmart
• Whole Foods

What time are Food Stamps EBT deposited in Minnesota?

SNAP benefits in Minnesota are sent out from the 4th to the 13th of the month. The day your benefits are available on your Minnesota EBT Card is based on the last digit of your case number.

Here’s the complete SNAP EBT Schedule for Minnesota.

How to Check Minnesota EBT Card Balance?

There are three ways to check your Minnesota EBT Card balance.

Option 1

Call 1-800-997-2222 to check the balance on your Minnesota EBT Card.

Option 2

• You can check the balance online here.

Option 3

• You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt.

How Do I Get a Minnesota EBT Card Replacement?

To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail call the Minnesota EBT Customer Service number at – 1-800-997-2222.

If your EBT card is stolen and benefits are used these benefits cannot be replaced.

You can also call the number above for the following:

• To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail.
• To know the date your benefits will be available in your account each month.
• To know if your benefits have been deposited into your account and get your account balance.
• To hear your last 10 transactions.
• To file a claim if you question a transaction in your account.
• If you want to select or change your PIN.
• If your card does not work.
• To find the nearest location where you can use your card.
• If you have other questions about or problems with your card.

Minnesota EBT Card Discounts

Your Minnesota EBT Card comes with some perks, discounts, and freebies. This includes:

• 50% Discount on Amazon Prime Membership
• Discounts on Home or Cell Phone Service
• Up to $30 credit toward home internet service
• A one-time discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer

For details on the SNAP EBT discounts and perks described above, continue reading below.

Sign up for Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Holders

Amazon.com has announced that beneficiaries enrolled in some government assistance programs can now get Amazon Prime subscriptions for $6.99 a month. EBT Cardholders are included in this offer.

This means that if you are currently receiving benefits on an EBT card, like Food Stamps, you can sign up for Amazon Prime discount for EBT holders. To sign up, click here to be taken to their sign-up page.

The regular Amazon Prime membership is $14.99 a month. However, if you have an EBT Card, you can get Prime Membership for $6.99. That’s over 50% off the regular price.

Discounts on Home and Cell Phone Services

If you are currently on Food Stamps, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost cell phone or home phone service for you or a member of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program, which serves nearly 13 million Americans.

The Lifeline Program program provides discounts on cell phone service or home phone service for qualifying low-income consumers, including those on Food Stamps.

Here are the companies that participate in the program in the state of Minnesota.

There are different companies providing cell phone (Mobile Service) and home phone service (Home Service). Be sure to view the “Type of Service” column to make sure you are selecting the right company.

• Home Service means that the provider offers Lifeline home phone or Internet service.
• Mobile Service means the provider offers Lifeline mobile phone or Internet service.

An asterisk (*) after the company name means that this service provider offers both ACP and Lifeline.

Discounts on Internet Service and Laptop/Tablet

If you are currently on Food Stamps, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost internet service and a one-time credit towards the purchase of a laptop or tablet. for you or a member of your family through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

How much of a discount will I receive on my Internet Service?

If your household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, you can receive:

• Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service
• Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
• A one-time discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of an eligible laptop, tablet, or desktop computer

Minnesota Food Stamps and EBT Summary

We hope this post on Minnesota Food Stamps and EBT was helpful.

If you have further questions about SNAP Benefits & EBT, or Personal Finance topics affecting low-income households, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles on low-income personal finance. 

• WIC Program Eligibility
• How to file for Unemployment Benefits
• Way2Go Card California for Child Support
• How to Claim Earned Income Tax Credits