HF 1961

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/06/2025 02:40 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying the Minnesota supplemental aid program;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 256D.34; 256D.405, subdivision 3;
256D.425, subdivision 1; 256D.435, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.34, is amended to read:

256D.34 POLICY.

The purpose of sections 256D.33 to 256D.54 is to (1) provide a sound administrative
structure for public assistance programs; (2) maximize the use of federal funds for public
assistance purposes; and (3) provide an integrated public assistance program for all Minnesota
residents who are recipients of Supplemental Security Income or who, except for excess
income new text begin or resources new text end , would be receiving Supplemental Security Income and who are found
to have maintenance needs as determined by application of state standards of assistance
according to section 256D.44.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.405, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Reports.

Participants must report changes in circumstances according to section
256P.07 that affect eligibility or assistance payment amounts within ten days of the change.
Participants who do not receive SSI because of excess income new text begin or resources new text end must complete
a monthly report form if they have earned income, if they have income deemed to them
from a financially responsible relative with whom the participant resides, or if they have
income deemed to them by a sponsor. If the report form is not received before the end of
the month in which it is due, the county agency must terminate assistance. The termination
shall be effective on the first day of the month following the month in which the report was
due. If a complete report is received within the month the assistance was terminated, the
assistance unit is considered to have continued its application for assistance, effective the
first day of the month the assistance was terminated.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.425, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Persons entitled to receive aid.

A person who is aged, blind, or 18 years
of age or older and disabled and who is receiving supplemental security benefits under Title
XVI on the basis of age, blindness, or disability (or would be eligible for such benefits
except for excess income new text begin or resources new text end ) is eligible for a payment under the Minnesota
supplemental aid program, if the person's net income is less than the standards in section
256D.44. A person who is receiving benefits under the Minnesota supplemental aid program
in the month prior to becoming eligible under section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act is
eligible for a payment under the Minnesota supplemental aid program while they remain
in section 1619(b) status. Persons who are not receiving Supplemental Security Income
benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act or disability insurance benefits under
Title II of the Social Security Act due to exhausting time limited benefits are not eligible
to receive benefits under the MSA program. Persons who are not receiving Social Security
or other maintenance benefits for failure to meet or comply with the Social Security or other
maintenance program requirements are not eligible to receive benefits under the MSA
program. Persons who are found ineligible for Supplemental Security Income because of
excess income new text begin or resources new text end , but whose income is within the limits of the Minnesota
supplemental aid program, must have blindness or disability determined by the state medical
review team.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.435, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Income.

For persons receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits,
the countable income used to determine eligibility and benefits for Minnesota supplemental
aid is the gross amount of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) after allowing for the general
income disregard in subdivision 5. For persons who have been denied a Supplemental
Security Income benefit due to excess income new text begin or resources new text end , and have had their blindness
or disability determined through the state medical review team, the countable income is the
gross amount of earned and unearned income, minus the exclusions and disregards listed
in subdivisions 4a, 5, and 6 new text begin , and must not be less than the Supplemental Security Income
standard for a single individual living alone new text end .