Hennepin County Welfare: Cash Assistance

The general assistance program provides cash benefits for single adults, ages 18 to 64, who cannot support themselves. Participants must have lived in Minnesota for at least 30 days, be unable to work for at least 45 days, have little or no income or other resources, do not currently receive Supplemental Security Income, and do not have a minor, dependent child living in the household.

• Older than 55
• Temporarily or permanently ill
• Unemployable
• Learning-disabled
• Medically certified as having developmental disabilities or mental illness
• Needed in the home to care for another person
• Performing court-ordered services
• Living in group residential housing
• Displaced homemakers who are full time students
• Students who are older than 18, learning English at the high school level
• Youth who are younger than 18 and not living with parent, step-parent, or legal guardian
• People who have an application or appeal pending for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration

Acceptable personal assets

The asset limit for General Assistance is $10,000.

The following assets could count towards the asset limit:

• Cash
• Bank accounts (such as checking and savings accounts, debit cards, money market accounts, and matured certificates of deposits)
• Stocks and bonds that can be accessed without a financial penalty
• Vehicles (1 vehicle is excluded per assistance unit member who is age 16 or older)

Emergency programs

Emergency general assistance may provide assistance once a year for eligible individuals or families who are in a crisis situation. Emergency help may be provided for past-due rent or mortgage, utility bills, moving expenses, transportation costs, vital home repairs, appliance replacement or repair.