Benefits and Resources for Disabled Seniors in Minnesota

Last updated: August 2025

---

Quick help box — urgent contacts

If you or someone you care for needs immediate help, start here. Keep this list handy.

Reality check: Phone lines get busy, especially during winter and open enrollment. If you can’t get through, try calling early in the morning, use the website’s contact form, or ask a family member or case manager to call with you.

---

How to use this guide

• This guide focuses on Minnesota programs for older adults with disabilities. It links directly to official state and federal sources.
• Start with your biggest need (health coverage, food, housing, safety), then move to long-term supports.
• For one-on-one help, call Senior LinkAge Line or Disability Hub MN. They can walk you through applications and next steps.

---

Who this guide is for and where to start

If you are age 60 or older and live with a disability, Minnesota has programs to help you stay healthy, safe, and housed. Many services are available even if you’re under 65 but meet disability rules. Most long-term care help starts with a MnCHOICES assessment by your county/tribal agency. This assessment looks at your needs and helps match you to services at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility.

• Request an assessment: contact your county or tribal human services office and ask for a MnCHOICES assessment. Find your local office: DHS: County and Tribal Human Services Offices.
• Not sure which program fits? Call Senior LinkAge Line (1-800-333-2433) or Disability Hub MN (1-866-333-2466). They can check your situation and send you to the right place.

Tip: Have your Medicare card (if you have one), Social Security number, a list of medications, and proof of income/resources handy when you call or apply.

---

Cash, food, and health coverage

Minnesota uses plain portals so you don’t juggle many websites:

• Use MNbenefits to apply for many cash, food, and housing support programs: Apply at MNbenefits.
• Use MNsure to apply for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or MinnesotaCare if you’re under 65 (or helping a younger spouse/relative): Apply at MNsure.

Here’s a snapshot of the main programs.

Table: Cash, food, and health programs at a glance

Notes and realities:

• Income and asset limits change each year. Always confirm current limits with your county/tribe, DHS, MNsure, or Senior LinkAge Line.
• Processing times can take weeks. If you have urgent medical needs, tell your worker; some cases can be expedited (especially SNAP).
• If you get a notice you don’t agree with, you have appeal rights and deadlines. See DHS Appeals.

---

Long-term services and supports (care at home, assisted living, nursing care)

Minnesota has several programs that can fund care at home or in the community so you can delay or avoid a nursing home when possible. Most require a MnCHOICES assessment.

How to start

1. Call your county or tribal human services office and request a MnCHOICES assessment: Find local offices.
2. An assessor meets you (at home, by phone, or video) to review your needs.
3. If you qualify, the assessor connects you with programs and providers.

Major Minnesota programs that can help

• Elderly Waiver (EW): For people age 65+ who need a nursing home level of care but want to live at home or in the community. Covers services like home care, adult day, respite, home modifications, and assisted living services (but not room and board). Source: EW overview (DHS).
• Alternative Care (AC): For people age 65+ who need help but don’t yet qualify for Medical Assistance. Helps fund home care and community services while protecting assets. Source: AC Program (DHS).
• Essential Community Supports (ECS): For older adults who don’t meet nursing home level of care but need modest help to stay at home (like homemaking or chore services). Source: ECS (DHS).
• CADI Waiver (Community Access for Disability Inclusion): For people under 65 with disabilities who need a nursing facility level of care; can continue after 65 in many cases. Source: CADI (DHS).
• Brain Injury (BI) Waiver and Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver: For people with qualifying brain injuries or developmental disabilities who need intensive support. Source: BI Waiver, DD Waiver.
• Personal Care Assistance (PCA) / Community First Services and Supports (CFSS): Minnesota has been transitioning PCA to CFSS to give people more control, including hiring and training their own workers. Status and details change; check the current CFSS page: CFSS (DHS).

Table: Waivers and community programs at a glance

Reality checks:

• These programs don’t pay rent in assisted living; they cover the care part. You still need a way to pay room and board (see MSA Housing Assistance or Housing Support below).
• Waiting lists can happen for some services, especially in rural areas. Ask about temporary help (homemaking, meals) while you wait.

---

Housing and home repairs

Main housing programs for disabled seniors in Minnesota

• Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing): Helps pay for room and board in licensed settings (board and lodge, adult foster care, some assisted living). Apply at your county/tribe. Source: Housing Support (DHS).
• MSA Housing Assistance: Extra monthly payment for rent for some MSA recipients. Source: MSA Housing Assistance (DHS).
• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher/Public Housing: Federal rental help managed by local housing authorities. Apply through your local PHA. Source: HUD Minnesota: Public Housing Agencies.
• Bridges Rental Assistance: State rental help for people with serious mental illness waiting for or without a Section 8 voucher, administered locally with Minnesota Housing. Source: Bridges (Minnesota Housing).
• Home modifications: If you’re on a waiver (EW/CADI/BI/DD), you may qualify for environmental accessibility adaptations like ramps, grab bars, or bathroom changes. Ask your case manager. Source: Waiver home mods policy (DHS).
• State home repair loans: Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) offers low- or no-interest home repair loans through local lenders for essential health/safety fixes (roof, furnace, accessibility). Source: MHFA Home Improvement Programs.
• Weatherization: Free energy-saving repairs for eligible households (insulation, sealing). Source: Weatherization Assistance (Dept. of Commerce).
• USDA Section 504 Home Repair: Grants/loans for very low-income rural homeowners to remove health/safety hazards; seniors 62+ may qualify for grants. Source: USDA Section 504.

Table: Housing and repair options

Reality checks:

• Many rental programs have waiting lists. Get on lists early and keep your contact info updated so you don’t miss your spot.
• For home repairs, lenders need proof of income and ownership. Work with a trusted counselor (Senior LinkAge Line can refer you).

---

Utilities, heat, and phone/internet

• Energy Assistance Program (EAP): Helps pay heat and electricity bills and fixes heating emergencies. Apply online or with a local provider. Source: EAP (Commerce).
• Weatherization Assistance: See above; often follows after EAP. Source: Weatherization (Commerce).
• Cold Weather Rule: Protects Minnesota residents from utility disconnection during the cold months if you set up a payment plan with your utility. Source: Cold Weather Rule (PUC).
• Minnesota Relay and Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program: Free/low-cost specialized phone equipment and relay services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech disabled, or deafblind. Source: Minnesota Relay, TED Program.
• Lifeline: Federal discount on phone or internet for qualifying households. Source: Lifeline (FCC).

Tip: Call your utility’s customer service early if you fall behind. Ask about medical necessity flags (for oxygen, dialysis, etc.) and company-specific hardship funds.

---

Food and nutrition

• SNAP: Monthly grocery help on an EBT card (works like a debit card). Apply: MNbenefits.
• Senior Nutrition/Meals: Congregate dining, home-delivered meals (“Meals on Wheels”), and nutrition counseling funded by the Minnesota Board on Aging and local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Call Senior LinkAge Line to find local providers.
• Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP): Coupons for fresh produce from approved farmers markets for eligible older adults. Source: SFMNP (MN Dept. of Agriculture).

Reality check: If you can’t cook regularly, tell your assessor or worker. You may qualify for home-delivered meals or chore services to help with grocery shopping.

---

Transportation and mobility

• Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT): Rides to covered medical appointments if you’re on Medical Assistance. Book through your health plan or county/tribe. Source: DHS: NEMT overview.
• Metro Mobility (Twin Cities paratransit): Door-to-door shared rides for riders who can’t use fixed-route buses due to disability. Source: Metro Mobility.
• Transit Link (suburban/rural): Shared-ride service in areas without regular bus routes (Twin Cities metro suburbs). Source: Transit Link.
• Reduced Transit Fares: People with disabilities or Medicare cards may qualify for reduced fares on Metro Transit. Source: Reduced Fares (Metro Transit).
• Disabled parking permits/plates: Apply through Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) with your health care provider’s certification. Source: DVS disability plates/placards.

Table: Transportation options

Tip: If you use a wheelchair, tell the ride service when booking. Ask about wait times and return-ride policies for longer appointments.

---

Assistive technology and communication

• STAR Program (System of Technology to Achieve Results): Minnesota’s statewide assistive technology program. Try devices, borrow equipment, find reuse programs, and get information on funding. Source: Minnesota STAR Program.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Your health plan or waiver may cover wheelchairs, walkers, communication devices, and more. Work with your doctor and an approved vendor.
• Minnesota Relay and TED: See Utilities section for relay and adaptive phone equipment links.

Tip: If insurance denies a device, ask your clinician for a stronger medical necessity note and appeal. The STAR Program can suggest funding alternatives.

---

Health care and consumer protections

• Medicare help and plan reviews: The Senior LinkAge Line provides free, unbiased counseling on Medicare plans, Part D drug coverage, and appeals. Source: Senior LinkAge Line.
• Assisted living and nursing homes:
  • Minnesota requires licensing for assisted living providers. You can look up providers and inspection reports. Source: Assisted Living Licensure (MDH).
  • Problems with care? Contact the Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC). Source: OHFC (MDH).
• Insulin affordability: The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act provides emergency and continuing access to affordable insulin for eligible Minnesotans. Source: Minnesota Board of Pharmacy – Insulin Program.
• Consumer protection and scams: The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office helps with elder fraud, medical billing, and consumer complaints. Source: MN Attorney General – Consumer Protection.
• Civil rights and disability discrimination: File a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights if you face discrimination in housing, services, or public places. Source: MN Department of Human Rights.

---

Work, money management, and taxes

• Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD): Lets disabled Minnesotans who work keep Medical Assistance, with a monthly premium. Source: MA-EPD (DHS).
• ABLE accounts (MN ABLE): Tax-advantaged savings for people with disabilities without losing SSI/MA due to asset limits (up to program limits). Source: Minnesota ABLE Plan.
• Property tax help:
  • Homestead Credit Refund and Renter’s Property Tax Refund (Form M1PR): Refunds for homeowners and renters. Source: MN Department of Revenue – Property Tax Refund.
  • Senior Citizens’ Property Tax Deferral: Lowers the amount you pay now by deferring part of your property tax if eligible. Source: Senior Tax Deferral (MN Revenue).
  • Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Exclusion: Property tax exclusion for qualifying disabled veterans and surviving spouses. Source: Disabled Veterans Homestead (MN Revenue).
• Free tax help: AARP Tax-Aide and other sites offer free tax preparation for seniors. Find sites via 211 or AARP. Source: AARP Tax-Aide.

Reality check: Benefits that protect savings (like ABLE) have specific rules. Before moving money, talk with Disability Hub MN or an elder law attorney.

---

Inclusive supports: groups that may need tailored help

LGBTQ+ seniors

• Rainbow Health – Aging Services: Care navigation, support groups, and training with focus on LGBTQ+ older adults. Source: Rainbow Health – Aging.
• SAGE National resources: Advocacy and guides for LGBTQ+ elders; Minnesota providers often partner with SAGE training. Source: SAGE USA.
• Tip: If you’ve faced bias, ask for LGBTQ+-affirming providers through Senior LinkAge Line or Rainbow Health.

Veteran seniors

• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA): State benefits, Minnesota Veterans Homes, and emergency assistance. Source: MDVA, Veterans Homes.
• County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs): Your first stop to apply for VA benefits and Aid & Attendance. Source: Find your CVSO.
• VA Aid & Attendance and Housebound benefits: Extra money if you need regular help or are housebound. Source: VA Aid & Attendance.

Tribal resources (American Indian/Native elders)

• Contact your Tribal Elder Services; many tribes run Title VI Elderly Nutrition, transportation, and caregiver support.
• Minnesota Indian Affairs Council: Tribal government contacts statewide. Source: MIAC.
• Indian Health Service – Bemidji Area: Health services and referrals. Source: IHS Bemidji Area.
• DHS American Indian programs provide coordination with waivers and MA. Ask your tribal human services office or county.

Tip: If you are enrolled tribal member living off-reservation, you can still use county services and may be able to connect with tribal programs.

Rural seniors and families

• Transportation may be limited. Ask about volunteer driver programs through your AAA and faith/community groups. Call Senior LinkAge Line or 211.
• Telehealth: Many health plans cover telehealth visits. Ask your clinic what you need (smartphone, tablet, or landline options).
• Broadband and internet: Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development tracks options and grants. Source: Office of Broadband Development (DEED). For discounts, check Lifeline (FCC).
• Home-delivered services: Ask your assessor about expanded meal delivery, grocery drop-off, and mobile clinics in your county.

---

Applying: step-by-step

1. Health coverage (MA/Medicare help)
   • If you need Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, go to MNsure or call your county/tribe.
   • For Medicare cost help (MSP, Extra Help) or plan reviews, call Senior LinkAge Line.
2. Cash and food
   • Apply for SNAP, MSA, and MSA Housing Assistance at MNbenefits.
   • If you have no food today, call 211 for local food shelves and meal sites.
3. Long-term care and home supports
   • Request a MnCHOICES assessment through your county/tribe: Find local office.
4. Housing
   • Ask your worker about Housing Support and MSA Housing Assistance.
   • Get on local Section 8/Public Housing waitlists: Find PHAs (HUD MN).
5. Utilities
   • Apply for Energy Assistance: EAP (Commerce).
   • Ask your utility about the Cold Weather Rule: PUC Cold Weather Rule.
6. Keep copies
   • Save screenshots and letters. If something is denied, you have the right to appeal: DHS Appeals.

---

Resources by region (Area Agencies on Aging)

These regional agencies plan and fund senior services, including meals, caregiver support, and local information lines.

You can also call the statewide Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 for a warm handoff to your AAA.

---

Frequently asked questions (Minnesota-specific)

Q: How do I start services to get help at home?

• Call your county or tribal human services office and request a MnCHOICES assessment. This is the gateway to Elderly Waiver, Alternative Care, and other in-home supports. Contact your local office to schedule an assessment.

Q: Can Medicaid (Medical Assistance) pay for assisted living?

• Medical Assistance can cover assisted living care services through the Elderly Waiver, but it does not pay room and board. Ask about MSA Housing Assistance or Housing Support to help with housing costs. See DHS resources for Elderly Waiver and Housing Support.

Q: Is there help with insulin costs in Minnesota?

• Yes. The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act helps eligible Minnesotans with emergency and ongoing insulin access. Start with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy’s Insulin Program information.

Q: Where can I get help reviewing my Medicare plan?

• Contact the Senior LinkAge Line—Minnesota’s official, unbiased Medicare counseling service—at 1-800-333-2433 or visit the Senior LinkAge Line website for free plan reviews.

Q: Can family members be paid caregivers?

• Sometimes. Certain Minnesota programs may allow a family member to be paid, depending on program rules and the relationship. Ask during your MnCHOICES assessment and review current CFSS and waiver policies.

Q: How do I get a disabled parking placard?

• Have your health care provider complete the disability application and submit it to Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). See DVS guidance for disability plates and placards, including forms and instructions.

Q: How do I get rides to medical appointments?

• If you have Medical Assistance, call your health plan or county/tribe to arrange Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). In the Twin Cities, if you cannot use regular buses due to a disability, apply for Metro Mobility. See DHS Transportation for details.

Q: What if my application is denied or my benefits are cut?

• You can appeal. Deadlines are short—read your notice and act quickly. Start with DHS Appeals and consider contacting Legal Aid through LawHelpMN for help with the appeal.

Q: How do I find an assisted living or nursing home and check its record?

• UUse Minnesota Department of Health directories and licensing pages to search providers and review compliance histories. For concerns or complaints, contact the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care and OHFC (MDH).

Q: Is there help with winter utility bills?

• Yes. Apply for the
• Energy Assistance Program: EAP (Commerce). You also have protections under the Minnesota  Cold Weather Rule (PUC).

Q: Where can I get legal help for disability benefits or long-term care issues?

• Contact Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid/Disability Law Center or use the statewide portal at
• LawHelpMN for free or low-cost legal assistance.

Q: Can I get fresh produce coupons as a senior?

• Check the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). Availability and distribution vary by county—see the Minnesota Department of Agriculture SFMNP (MN Dept. of Agriculture) for current program information.

---

At-a-glance program directory (bookmark this)

---

Reality checks, warnings, and tips

• Beware of fees: State help is free. If someone asks for money to file for SNAP, MSA, or MA, it’s a red flag. Call your county or Attorney General Consumer Protection.
• Keep addresses updated: If you move, tell Social Security, your health plan, and county/tribe right away so you don’t miss letters or lose benefits.
• Save paperwork: Keep a folder with copies of applications, approvals, and appeal letters. Bring it to appointments.
• Hospital discharge planning: Before you leave the hospital or rehab, ask to speak with the discharge planner about waivers, home health, and equipment needs.

---

Sources

All links in this guide point to official government and established organizations, including:

• Minnesota Department of Human Services: mn.gov/dhs
• Minnesota Board on Aging/Senior LinkAge Line: mn.gov/board-on-aging and Senior LinkAge Line
• Minnesota Department of Health: health.state.mn.us
• Minnesota Department of Commerce (Energy/Telecom): mn.gov/commerce
• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency: mnhousing.gov
• Minnesota Public Utilities Commission: mn.gov/puc
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs: mn.gov/mdva
• Minnesota Indian Affairs Council: mn.gov/indian-affairs
• Social Security Administration: ssa.gov
• U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development: rd.usda.gov
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Minnesota: hud.gov/states/minnesota

---

Disclaimer

Program rules, dollar amounts, and eligibility can change. This guide is for general information. Always confirm details with the official agency, your county or tribal human services office, Senior LinkAge Line, or Disability Hub MN before you apply or act on information.

---

About This Guide

by the GrantsForSeniors.org Editorial Team

The GrantsForSeniors.org editorial team has been building benefit and assistance resources for seniors nationwide since 2020. We research programs across all 50 states by reviewing government websites, checking agency updates, and gathering information from available sources.

Our Commitment to You:

• Experience & Expertise: The information in this guide is compiled and reviewed by a team with experience in senior services and financial aid programs. We are committed to sharing our knowledge to help you find the support you need.
• Authority & Trust: We rely on verified sources, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and official program websites, to ensure the accuracy of our content. Our goal is to be a trusted authority you can rely on for credible information.
• Clarity & Accessibility: We understand that seeking financial assistance can be challenging. This guide is designed to be clear and easy to understand, breaking down complex topics into actionable steps.

While we work hard to provide the most accurate information available, please note that program details and eligibility requirements can change. We recommend always checking with the official program source or agency website for the most current information, as we are not official agencies but rather compile available information.

• Last Updated: August 2025
• Sources Verified: August 2025
• Next Review: February 2026

If you find outdated information, discover new resources, or have questions, please contact us at info@grantsforseniors.org. We’re here to help seniors find resources that can make a real difference in their daily lives.