SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Today, the Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation to provide one-time supplemental payments for low-income working Minnesotans in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Diversionary Work Program (DWP). The bill, authored by Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL – Eagan), will advance to the House floor.
“Low-income Minnesotans have been hit hardest by the current public health crisis,” said Rep. Halverson. “Using federal funds to boost assistance for working families could make a lifetime of difference for thousands of people. Emergency payments would help Minnesotans stay housed and put food on the table while serving as a powerful economic stimulus tool.”
The legislation provides one-time supplemental payments of up to $500 per household for individuals enrolled in MFIP or DWP, programs that help parents move to financial stability through work. Approximately 27,000 families – including 55,000 children – rely on temporary help from MFIP to meet their basic needs. While MFIP generally serves families that earn less than $27,000 per year (for a family of three), most Minnesotans who receive this assistance earn less than $15,000 per year. The text of the bill is available here.
Video of the hearing will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube Channel. Supporting documents can be found on the committee’s webpage.