Cash & Food Assistance
Olmsted County provides cash & food assistance programs and services to residents who qualify (SNAP, GA, MSA, MFIP, Refugee Assistance). Click the links below to learn about each program and begin your application process. Steps to apply are provided at the bottom of the page.
No English? Contact us
How to Apply for Assistance
Apply Online
You may apply online through MN Benefits
Mail or drop off
We have paper applications available outside our building.
You can mail/drop off your paper application at:
2117 Campus Drive Southeast, Suite 100
Rochester, MN 55904
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
You can email your paper application to PAQ@Olmstedcounty.gov
Fax
You can fax your paper application to 507-328-7956
Application Assistance
We can help you fill out applications, answer questions, and guide you through the process. Please call to make an appointment.
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Call: 507-328-6500
Toll Free: 1-855-282-3390
Printable application forms
Combined application form - English
Combined application form - Spanish
Combined application form - Somali
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling 833-620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
mail:
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
Alexandria, VA 22314; or
fax:
833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or
email:
FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Food Assistance (SNAP)
The SNAP Program (formerly called the Food Stamp Program or Food Support) is a county-run federal program that provides low-income households with money to buy healthy food.
Interview hours for SNAP: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider“
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
WIC is a health and nutrition program for growing families. Choosing healthy foods while you're pregnant, learning how to breastfeed, and taking care of yourself and your family's nutrition is a big job. WIC helps families by providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy foods, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider“
General Assistance (GA)
The General Assistance program provides cash assistance to single and married adults without children who cannot work. Elderly, injured, and ill adults may qualify for help.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider“
Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)
Minnesota Supplemental Aid is a state-funded cash assistance program for people who receive Social Security Income (SSI) benefits.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider“
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
The Minnesota Family Investment Program helps families become financially stable by providing work support, temporary cash assistance, and food support. This program is for low-income families with children under 18 and pregnant women who are able to work.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider“
Refugee Assistance
Refugee Cash Assistance may be available to individuals and families who cannot return to their home country because it is unsafe. In Olmsted County this program is administered by Catholic Charities.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider“
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