Minnesota SNAP for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Household Rules and Benefits

SNAP Counts Your Income — But the Threshold Is Higher Than You Think

If you're already receiving the MFIP child-only grant, you know that your personal income is completely excluded from that calculation. SNAP works differently. Federal rules generally group people who live together and customarily purchase and prepare food together into one SNAP household. If you and your grandchild are in the same SNAP household, your income is counted.

But before you assume you won't qualify, check the numbers. Minnesota operates under Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, which sets the gross monthly income limit at 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Use the size of your SNAP household, not everyone who lives at the same address.

Income Limits by Household Size (October 2026)

Between the listed household sizes, each additional member raises the limit by $946 or $947, depending on household size.

If your Social Security check is $1,800 and you're raising one grandchild in the same SNAP household with no other income, your gross income is well under the $3,607 threshold for a two-person household.

How Kinship Payments Affect SNAP

Here's where it gets complicated. MFIP child-only grants have two parts: a cash portion and a food portion. The food portion is already integrated into the MFIP benefit — it's loaded onto your EBT card as part of the child-only grant. That food portion is not separate SNAP.

The cash portion of an MFIP child-only grant counts as unearned income for your SNAP household calculation. So does Northstar Kinship Assistance if you receive it.

In practice, this means that receiving MFIP child-only can slightly reduce a separate SNAP benefit, but the combined food support (MFIP food portion plus any additional SNAP) is usually more than SNAP alone.

Deductions That Lower Your Countable Income

SNAP doesn't just look at gross income. Standard deductions reduce your countable income before benefits are calculated:

• A standard deduction based on household size
• An excess shelter deduction for housing costs that exceed half your adjusted income
• A dependent care deduction for childcare costs
• Medical expense deduction for elderly or disabled household members (costs over $35/month)

A grandparent paying $1,200/month rent on a $1,800 Social Security check will see a significant shelter deduction, which can increase the SNAP benefit substantially.

ABAWD Work Rules Don't Apply to Most Kinship Caregivers

Adults ages 18 to 64 who do not live with a child under 14 in the same SNAP household and do not meet another exemption are subject to time-limited SNAP work rules. A caregiver who lives with a child under 14 in the same SNAP household is exempt; other exemptions include being unable to work because of a physical or mental health condition. Adults 65 and older are outside the age range for these time-limited rules.

If you live with a child under 14 in the same SNAP household, you meet this exemption; adults ages 55–64 do not qualify for the exemption based on age alone.

How to Apply

Apply through MNbenefits (mnbenefits.mn.gov) — you can request SNAP at the same time you apply for MFIP child-only. If you're filing a paper application, it's the same Combined Application Form (DHS-5223).

If you need food help immediately, tell the county. Expedited SNAP processing is available within 7 calendar days for households with less than $150/month gross income and no more than $100 in liquid assets, or whose monthly rent, mortgage, and utilities exceed their combined gross income and liquid assets.

Our Minnesota Kinship Financial Help Guide includes worked examples showing how SNAP interacts with MFIP child-only — including the specific deductions and the math behind what your household would actually receive.

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