Financial Assistance
Ramsey County helps determine your eligibility for financial assistance programs including: emergency, cash, child care, food and health care.
Emergency Assistance is a short-term safety-net program designed to help residents address urgent, unexpected financial crises. An emergency is defined as circumstances that require immediate action which, if not resolved, will result in severe hardship and may include:
- Past-due rent or mortgage
- Damage deposit
- Utilities when there is threat of disconnection. Utilities include electricity, heat, and water.
How to apply
Online
Apply for cash assistance, food assistance, emergency assistance and child care assistance programs online through MNbenefits.mn.gov. This is the fastest and easiest way to apply for these benefits.
Please submit only one application. Submitting multiple applications through different channels will delay the processing of your application.
Fax or in-person
Residents can also apply for benefits by:
- Faxing applications to 651-266-3942.
- Dropping applications off in a county form drop-off & walk-in assistance site.
Language services available
To better serve the needs of our non-English speaking residents, Ramsey County has added language options in the Financial Assistance call center greetings and call menus. Languages include Español, Hmoob, Soomaali and Karen.
Instructions
- Dial 651-266-4444.
- Follow audio directions to select language option.
- Greetings and menu options will be in the selected language.
- Once connected with a call center agent, an interpreter will also support the call.
Check your benefit status
Review your benefit status by phone with EZ Info phone line or online using the new Case Status Tracker if you have you applied for, or are currently receiving SNAP (food), Cash, Child Care or Emergency Assistance.
Case Status Tracker
Access your eligibility, additional information needed to process your application and benefit status online using the new Case Status Tracker, visit https://mnbenefits.mn.gov/status/pages/checkStatus
- Use the primary applicant's case number, last name and birth date to access the information for the household.
- Once assigned, a case number can be found in corresponding mail regarding your application.
- It might take some time for your status to be available for verification purposes.
EZInfo
Ramsey County operates a 24/7 automated EZ Info phone line (651-266-3800) to provide information about financial assistance programs in English, Español, Hmoob, Soomaali and Karen.
- Access your financial assistance eligibility, program and benefits status.
- Request a form to report a change in your situation.