Arc Guide to Family Support Grant

The Family Support Grant (FSG) is a Minnesota grant program. The FSG provides cash grants to families of people with disabilities.

Eligibility

The person with disabilities must be younger than 25 years old. They must live in the family home.
- A person living in an institutional setting may be eligible for FSG, if they move to the family home if a FSG is given.
The family annual adjusted gross income must be $105,230 or less. (Effective January 1, 2019)
- Exceptions can be made depending on family size, other family members with disabilities, or family debt due to the child’s disability.
The person with disabilities must be certified as disabled. This certification can come from the Social Security Administration, State Medical Review Team (SMRT), or Rule 185 Developmental Disabilities Case Management.

Individuals Are Not Eligible For FSG If They Receive:

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers
Personal Care Assistance (PCA)
Consumer Support Grant (CSG)

General Information

The maximum grant is $3113.99 per year (subject to change).
Funds can be given in cash, voucher, or by paying the provider/vendor.
There may be a waiting list for FSG.
Families with more than one child who meets eligibility criteria may apply for a grant for each child.

A parent/guardian interested in applying for FSG should contact the county or tribe where they live. A MnCHOICES assessment is often done to determine FSG eligibility. Most counties have an application form the parent must complete and submit.

How FSG Can Be Used

Services and items:
- Directly related to the individual’s disability not available from any other funding source
- For expenses the family would not have if the child did not have a disability
- Described in the individual’s support plan and approved by the lead agency (county or tribe)
- Supporting transition from school to work for dependents ages 14-24

Examples include:
- Day care
- Education services not paid for by the school
- Medical costs and medication not covered by insurance
- Respite care
- Specialized clothing, diets, equipment
- Transportation

FSG Cannot Pay For:

Services paid by federal, state, or county funds
Care provided to minor children by parent

The Plan Must Include:

Personal information – name, address, phone, email
A description of the person with a disability – hopes, dreams, needs, age, how the disability affects them
How the grant helped in the past and if anything changed
The services and items you want to purchase including:
- How and why they are needed
- Costs

Resources

Arc Guide to Family Support Grant PDF

Minnesota Statute 252.32

Department of Human Services Family Support Grant

Arc Guide to MnCHOICES

For more information or advocacy services, contact The Arc Minnesota at 833.450.1494 or visit www.arcminnesota.org. (Please note: This document is not legal advice. No information should replace the advice of an attorney.)