Don't show this message again
7 U.S. Code § 2031. Minnesota Family Investment Project
(a) In general
(1)
Subject to paragraph (2), upon written application of the State of Minnesota that complies with this section and sections 6 to 11, 13, 130, and 132 of article 5 of 282 of the 1989 Laws of Minnesota, and after approval of such application by the Secretary in accordance with subsections (b) and (d), the State may implement a family investment demonstration project (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Project”) in parts of the State to determine whether the Project more effectively helps families to become self-supporting and enhances their ability to care for their children than do the supplemental nutrition assistance program and programs under parts A and F [1] of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.]. The State may provide cash payments under the Project, subject to paragraph (2), that replace assistance otherwise available under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.
(2)
The Project may be implemented only in accordance with this section and only if the Secretary of Health and Human Services approves an application submitted by the State permitting the State to include in the Project families who are eligible to receive benefits under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.
(b) Required terms and conditions of ProjectThe application submitted by the State under subsection (a) shall provide an assurance that the Project shall satisfy all of the following requirements:
(1)
Only families may be eligible to receive assistance and services through the Project.
(2)
Participating families, families eligible for or participating in the program authorized under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.] or the supplemental nutrition assistance program that are assigned to and found eligible for the Project, and families required to submit an application for the Project that are found eligible for the Project shall be ineligible to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
(3)
(A)
Subject to the provisions of this paragraph and any reduction imposed under subsection (c)(3) of this section, the value of assistance provided to participating families shall not be less than the aggregate value of the assistance such families could receive under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and part A of title IV of the Social Security Act if such families did not participate in the Project.
(B) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
payments for child care expenses under the Project shall be considered part of the value of assistance provided to participating families with earnings;
(ii)
payments for child care expenses for families without earnings shall not be considered part of the value of assistance provided to participating families or the aggregate value of assistance that such families could have received under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; and
(iii)
any child support payments not assigned to the State under the provisions of part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, less $50 per month, shall be considered part of the aggregate value of assistance participating families would receive if such families did not participate in the Project;
(C) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in subparagraph (A), the State shall—
(i)
identify the sets of characteristics indicative of families that might receive less assistance under the Project;
(ii)
establish a mechanism to determine, for each participating family that has a set of characteristics identified under clause (i) whether such family could receive more assistance, in the aggregate, under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and part A of title IV of the Social Security Act if such family did not participate in the project;
(iii)
increase the amount of assistance provided under the Project to any family that could receive more assistance, in the aggregate, under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and part A of title IV of the Social Security Act if such family did not participate in the Project, so that the assistance provided under the Project to such family is not less than the aggregate amount of assistance such family could receive under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and part A of title IV of the Social Security Act if such family did not participate in the Project; and
(iv)
increase the amount of assistance paid to participating families, if the State or locality imposes a sales tax on food, by the amount needed to compensate for the tax.
This subparagraph shall not be construed to require the State to make the determination under clause (ii) for families that do not have a set of characteristics identified under clause (i).
(D)
(i)
The State shall designate standardized amounts of assistance provided as food assistance under the Project and notify monthly each participating family of such designated amount.
(ii)
The amount of food assistance so designated shall be at least the value of benefits such family could have received under the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the Project had not been implemented. The provisions of this subparagraph shall not require that the State make individual determinations as to the amount of assistance under the Project designated as food assistance.
(iii)
The State shall periodically allow participating families the option to receive such food assistance in the form of benefits.
(E)
(i)
Individuals ineligible for the Project who are members of a household including a participating family shall have their eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program determined and have their benefits calculated and issued following the standards established under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, except as provided differently in this subparagraph.
(ii)
The State agency shall determine such individuals’ eligibility for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the amount of such benefits without regard to the participating family.
(iii)
In computing such individuals’ income for purposes of determining eligibility (under section 2014(c)(1) of this title) and benefits, the State agency shall apply the maximum excess shelter expense deduction specified under section 2014(e) of this title.
(iv)
Such individuals’ monthly allotment shall be the higher of $10 or 75 percent of the amount calculated following the standards of the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the foregoing requirements of this subparagraph, rounded to the nearest lower whole dollar.