Resource Manual

· Government Benefits and Other Assistance ·

Every year millions of Americans lose their jobs or fall on hard economic times through no fault of their own. The federal and state governments have several programs to make sure your basic needs are met. Each program has strict eligibility requirements. If you qualify, you have a basic legal right to receive benefits from these programs.

Following are government benefit programs that you may be eligible for. Contact the appropriate agency to see if you qualify for a particular program. You have the right to apply for public assistance. You can apply even if the agency worker says he/she doesn't think you qualify.

Note: Legal Aid puts out a booklet, "A Guide to Public Assistance Programs" that describes all of these programs in detail. Remember, programs change often. Legal aid can tell you about the most current rules.

You can apply for public assistance by contacting your local, county, human services office. You can do this by writing, calling or visiting in person. The human services office must:

provide eligibility information for each program;

let you apply for benefits; and

explain how to appeal a denial of benefits.

When you apply, you should bring with you the following:

Social Security number

proof of income

list of real/personal property

title cards for cars

insurance papers

birth certificates

information about your job

financial needs information.

Contact: Minnesota Department of Human Services at .

· Job Separations and Refusals ·

Even though you may have enough wages to establish an Unemployment Insurance Benefit Account, the reason why you lost your job could disqualify you from receiving those benefits. Some reasons are:

Labor Disputes - If you have left employment because you are participating in a strike or are a member of a striking union at the establishment where you were employed you are disqualified from receiving benefits during the strike and through the week in which the strike ends. Participation includes the failure or refusal to accept and perform available and customary work at the establishment where you were employed.

Examples of labor dispute disqualifications:

you are a member of a striking union, or are in your probationary period prior to joining the striking union
.you are honoring the picket lines of a different striking union involving your employer.

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