WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.905 --> 00:00:03.005
Moving ahead with Minnesota benefits,

2
00:00:03.525 --> 00:00:05.005
a Griffin Hamis production.

3
00:00:06.305 --> 00:00:08.025
I have a disability and I'm just

4
00:00:08.025 --> 00:00:09.425
struggling to pay my bills.

5
00:00:10.165 --> 00:00:12.025
Are there any programs that could help me?

6
00:00:12.605 --> 00:00:13.705
That's a great question.

7
00:00:14.545 --> 00:00:16.225
Minnesota does have some public benefits.

8
00:00:16.535 --> 00:00:19.785
They help people with disabilities in three main ways.

9
00:00:20.435 --> 00:00:23.665
First, they can help cover basic needs like food,

10
00:00:24.015 --> 00:00:25.185
rent, and healthcare.

11
00:00:25.875 --> 00:00:29.225
There are two types of public benefits, cash benefits,

12
00:00:29.285 --> 00:00:30.425
and healthcare benefits.

13
00:00:31.095 --> 00:00:32.905
Okay, so what are the cash benefits?

14
00:00:33.475 --> 00:00:34.585
There are a number of them.

15
00:00:34.975 --> 00:00:36.625
Each help different groups of people.

16
00:00:37.495 --> 00:00:41.385
General assistance in Minnesota supplemental aid are cash

17
00:00:41.705 --> 00:00:44.305
benefits for people with disabilities who have low income.

18
00:00:45.045 --> 00:00:48.055
Housing support is also for people with disabilities

19
00:00:48.055 --> 00:00:49.095
who have low income.

20
00:00:49.675 --> 00:00:52.175
It pays for rent, utilities, and food.

21
00:00:52.795 --> 00:00:55.895
The supplemental nutrition assistance program, which used

22
00:00:55.895 --> 00:00:59.015
to be called food stamps, is for any household

23
00:00:59.015 --> 00:01:00.015
with low income.

24
00:01:00.435 --> 00:01:01.855
It helps pay for food too.

25
00:01:02.635 --> 00:01:06.335
And lastly, the Minnesota Family Investment Program is a

26
00:01:06.335 --> 00:01:08.415
cash benefit for families with low income

27
00:01:08.515 --> 00:01:10.935
who have kids under 18 living in the household.

28
00:01:11.555 --> 00:01:13.775
Oh, wow. There are a lot of them. Yes,

29
00:01:13.775 --> 00:01:14.775
There are.

30
00:01:14.785 --> 00:01:17.255
There are also several healthcare programs.

31
00:01:17.845 --> 00:01:20.335
Medical assistance called MA

32
00:01:20.335 --> 00:01:22.735
for Short helps pay medical expenses

33
00:01:22.915 --> 00:01:24.295
for people with low income.

34
00:01:25.435 --> 00:01:27.955
Minnesota Care also helps pay medical expenses.

35
00:01:28.545 --> 00:01:30.435
It's for people with low to middle income

36
00:01:30.535 --> 00:01:32.795
who can't get affordable healthcare through their job.

37
00:01:33.855 --> 00:01:37.515
Lastly, the Medicare Savings Programs help pay Medicare

38
00:01:37.795 --> 00:01:39.475
expenses for people with low income.

39
00:01:40.435 --> 00:01:44.375
You can read about them at MN.DB101.org.

40
00:01:44.915 --> 00:01:47.575
Wow. I see how Minnesota benefits can be helpful

41
00:01:47.675 --> 00:01:49.015
in covering basic needs.

42
00:01:49.595 --> 00:01:53.665
You are right. They can. The second way they help is

43
00:01:53.665 --> 00:01:56.065
by making sure you have more money when you work.

44
00:01:56.845 --> 00:02:00.905
How do they do that? Let's say you get $350

45
00:02:00.965 --> 00:02:02.185
of general assistance.

46
00:02:02.415 --> 00:02:05.025
Then you get a job making $400 a month.

47
00:02:05.455 --> 00:02:08.265
When you work, the cash benefits aren't reduced

48
00:02:08.265 --> 00:02:11.945
by every dollar you earn with most of the cash benefits,

49
00:02:12.245 --> 00:02:14.785
the first $65 you earn is excluded,

50
00:02:15.165 --> 00:02:17.545
and then only half of what's left is counted.

51
00:02:17.895 --> 00:02:20.585
That means your general assistance would only go down

52
00:02:20.645 --> 00:02:22.625
by $167

53
00:02:22.725 --> 00:02:26.025
and 50 cents, not the full $400 you earned.

54
00:02:26.565 --> 00:02:28.985
So you have $182

55
00:02:29.485 --> 00:02:34.025
and 50 cents of general assistance plus $400 of wages,

56
00:02:34.355 --> 00:02:37.665
which is $582 and 50 cents.

57
00:02:38.245 --> 00:02:41.185
That's more than the $350 you had.

58
00:02:41.605 --> 00:02:43.585
Now, that's certainly not enough to live on,

59
00:02:43.805 --> 00:02:46.185
but it's a helpful safety net while you build up your

60
00:02:46.185 --> 00:02:47.225
ability to work more.

61
00:02:48.235 --> 00:02:52.265
Since public benefits only help cover basic needs, it's good

62
00:02:52.265 --> 00:02:53.825
to know work is the best option

63
00:02:53.965 --> 00:02:55.505
and can get you to a better place.

64
00:02:56.045 --> 00:02:59.765
That's great. The third way Minnesota benefits help is

65
00:02:59.765 --> 00:03:00.845
by making sure people

66
00:03:00.845 --> 00:03:03.565
with disabilities have healthcare coverage when working.

67
00:03:04.595 --> 00:03:07.685
This is possible through a program called Medical Assistance

68
00:03:07.705 --> 00:03:09.725
for Employed Persons with Disabilities,

69
00:03:10.065 --> 00:03:12.285
or MA-EPD for short.

70
00:03:12.665 --> 00:03:14.045
Oh, yeah. I think I've heard of that,

71
00:03:14.305 --> 00:03:15.725
but I'm not sure how it works.

72
00:03:16.675 --> 00:03:17.845
It's easy to use.

73
00:03:18.385 --> 00:03:20.645
You just need to meet the eligibility rules

74
00:03:21.025 --> 00:03:22.405
and pay a monthly premium.

75
00:03:22.955 --> 00:03:25.045
Okay, and what are the eligibility rules?

76
00:03:25.665 --> 00:03:27.005
You must have a disability

77
00:03:27.065 --> 00:03:29.965
or blindness that's been certified by Social Security

78
00:03:30.105 --> 00:03:32.965
or the Minnesota State Medical Review team and be working.

79
00:03:33.745 --> 00:03:37.885
One of the most amazing things about MA-EPD is

80
00:03:37.885 --> 00:03:39.685
that there's no upper income limit

81
00:03:39.865 --> 00:03:41.685
and no limit on the things you own.

82
00:03:42.725 --> 00:03:45.505
You can earn thousands of dollars each month, save

83
00:03:45.505 --> 00:03:47.265
for things like a house or a car

84
00:03:47.645 --> 00:03:50.305
and still be eligible for MA-EPD.

85
00:03:50.895 --> 00:03:51.905
That is incredible.

86
00:03:52.225 --> 00:03:55.625
I am so relieved to know I can keep ma if I start working.

87
00:03:56.445 --> 00:03:58.705
I'm curious, what would the monthly premium be?

88
00:03:59.085 --> 00:04:01.145
The amount you pay depends on your income.

89
00:04:01.495 --> 00:04:05.185
There's a calculator on MN.DB101.org

90
00:04:05.185 --> 00:04:06.865
that you can use to get an estimate.

91
00:04:07.285 --> 00:04:09.665
You'll find it in the MA-EPD article.

92
00:04:11.005 --> 00:04:12.235
Great. I'll check it out.

93
00:04:13.155 --> 00:04:16.315
I see how the Minnesota Public benefits can help me cover

94
00:04:16.325 --> 00:04:17.795
basic needs when I need it,

95
00:04:18.095 --> 00:04:19.915
and make sure I get ahead when I work.

96
00:04:20.615 --> 00:04:23.475
You can learn even more about the Minnesota benefits on

97
00:04:23.495 --> 00:04:26.195
MN.DB101.org.

98
00:04:27.255 --> 00:04:30.325
Check out the cash benefits and healthcare coverage sections

99
00:04:30.665 --> 00:04:33.565
or get answers to questions by starting a chat.

100
00:04:34.055 --> 00:04:37.685
Click chat online at the top or bottom of each page.

101
00:04:37.985 --> 00:04:40.405
And if you'd like to talk to someone about your questions,

102
00:04:40.835 --> 00:04:42.925
call the Disability hub MN at

103
00:04:43.025 --> 00:04:47.365
1-866-333-2466.

104
00:04:48.105 --> 00:04:50.485
To see more videos like this one, go

105
00:04:50.485 --> 00:04:53.605
to MN.DB101.org.

106
00:04:54.605 --> 00:04:55.735
Knowledge is power.

107
00:04:56.165 --> 00:04:58.815
Take time to learn more about Minnesota benefits.