Family Support Grant (FSG)

The Family Support Grant Program provides cash grants to families of children, under 25 years of age, with a certified disability, residing at home. The goal of the program is to prevent or delay the out-of-home placement of children and promote family health and social well-being by enabling access to family-centered services and supports.

Recipients between the ages of 14 to 25 can use the grant funds toward transitional services and supports to achieve an employment goal.

Eligibility

Income-based eligibility

Families must have an annual adjusted gross income that is less than $130,807 (starting January 1, 2026) per year. 

  • This income criteria is updated annually. If you are above this income you can apply for a hardship and your hardship will be reviewed. Individuals must be certified disabled through Social Security Administration, State Medical Review Team (SMRT) or by the Developmental Disabilities Case Manager.

Not eligible

  • Currently, people receiving any Home and Community Based Services Waiver are not eligible for this program.
  • People receiving Personal Care Assistance (PCA), Consumer Support Grant (CSG), Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) are not eligible for the Family Support Grant Program. 

How to Apply

Families can contact their Olmsted County social worker or Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) intake worker to request an application. Once returned, the application will be reviewed. You will be contacted by your social worker or HCBS intake worker if you are awarded a grant and the amount.

HCBSintake@olmstedcounty.gov

Grant Options

What can you use it for?

The grant must be spent on services and items that are directly related to caring for the child with a disability. Grant funds are not allowed to be used to pay parents for direct care of their child. Only expenses that are beyond typical cost of caring for a child of similar age may be covered or for the child to achieve an employment goal (14-25 years old).

Allowable expense categories include:

  • Support Services (Staff, Respite)
  • Educational supplies
  • Medical supplies
  • Medications not covered by insurance
  • Transitional services related to employment
  • Specialized transportation
  • Specialized clothing, dietary needs, equipment or modifications
  • Other items/services may be covered – please check with your social worker as it must be related to the disability of the individual served.

Please ask your social worker if you have questions about coverage for a certain item or service not listed.

Family Support Grants may not be used for purchases covered by other funding sources, such as private insurance or Medical Assistance/Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA). A denial letter may be requested from the applicant to show FSG is the last payment coverage option for some items requested to be covered.

How much can I apply for?

  • The maximum grant amount is $3,100/year.

Once Approved

  • You will be notified to fill out a W-9 form to complete the application process to get the funds mailed. Families are required to keep receipts for all expenses for two years – you may be requested to turn in receipts for items that were on your budget sheet to show proof of purchase.
  • Annual expenditure report will be submitted/requested at annual calendar year.

FAQs

Do I need a case manager in order to receive the Family Support Grant? 

  • You do not need an assigned county case manager to be eligible for the grant. You will need to meet all of the requirements with income, age, disability certification, and need for the grant.

How long does it take to get approved for the grant? 

  • After all of the paperwork that is needed to process has been received you will be notified of what you have been approved for and the grant amount. It typically will take around 30-60 days to receive the funds.

What if the person is eligible for all of the criteria besides the child still live at home and is over 25? 

  • As of right now, we can’t approve anyone that is 25 or older to receive grant funds. Please call the intake line at 507-328-6519 to see if other services are available based on the needs of the person.

Do I need to have Medical Assistance to qualify? 

  • You do not need to have MA to be eligible for grant funds but the family support grant should always be used last payer, if you are on MA and it covers a service or your private insurance is able to cover it. You may be asked to provide documentation that show denials of coverage from MA and/or your private insurance before getting approved.

Can I use this program more than once? 

  • You can reapply yearly for the program and your eligibility will be reviewed again. There is a yearly max per year that one individual is allowed to receive.

What if I have more than one child in the home that qualifies? 

  • Each individual that qualifies for the Family Support Grant is allowed to receive up to the max amount each year.
  • Approved grant dollars are allocated to the named individual and can't be reassigned or transferred to a sibling.

When do you receive the monthly checks? Can I pick it up?

  • The checks are always mailed out at the beginning of the month. It is very important to keep your mailing address updated with the case manager. The checks are mailed directly to the family. We do not coordinate in-person pickups of the checks.