Visit us at our headquarters in the East Side of Saint Paul, or at our offices in Minneapolis, Willmar, and Austin.
Office hours. Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Saturday-Sunday: Closed - Click here for holiday closure dates
Visit us at our headquarters in the East Side of Saint Paul, or at our offices in Minneapolis, Willmar, and Austin.
Office hours. Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Saturday-Sunday: Closed - Click here for holiday closure dates
In these difficult times, many hard-working Minnesotans have trouble finding a job or sufficient financial income to support their families. Programs like SNAP and P-EBT, help CLUES to connect our community with resources that provide aid to keep families healthy.
CLUES can help you or your family apply for financial assistance through SNAP (food stamps). SNAP is a federal program that provides funds to individuals and families in need to purchase food each month. Even if you are not a US Citizen, you may qualify if you have US-born children.
To make an appointment for SNAP enrollment assistance, contact:
In the Twin Cities: Perla Montoya - 651-379-4270 - PMontoya@clues.org
In Austin: Martha Gonzalez - 507-722-1614 - mgonzalez@clues.org
SNAP benefits come on an electronic benefits transfer card (EBT card). The EBT card works just like a debit card. It lets you buy food from most grocery stores and even some farmer’s markets. You cannot use an EBT card to buy non-food items or hot ready-to-eat food. Alcohol, tobacco, pet food, or medications are not allowed. Your income, expenses, and the number of people in your household determine your monthly benefit amount.
If you lost your job because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you should be eligible for SNAP if you meet the eligibility criteria. If you are receiving unemployment benefits, that income counts toward the income eligibility limit. Since unemployment benefits are about half of what you normally earned, many Minnesotans would normally find themselves under the income limit for SNAP while they are unemployed.
The additional weekly $600 in unemployment payments from the federal CARES Act counts as income. Households receiving this benefit are only eligible for SNAP if their total income is less than the income limit listed above.
CLUES can help you apply for SNAP! Our bilingual staff makes the process easy for you and your family.
The USDA has approved Minnesota’s P-EBT plan for school-aged children for the 2021 – 2022 school year. There have been some changes for this school year, so if you have any questions about your case, contact the P-EBT hotline at 651-431-4608 or 800-657-3698, or fill out the P-EBT help form here: https://pebthelp.state.mn.us. The P-EBT hotline is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the latest information, check the DHS P-EBT webpage
For the 2021 – 2022 school year, students will be eligible for P-EBT benefits if:
AND one or both of the following:
There are two ways an absence can be because of a COVID-19 impact:
The first round of benefits was issued in late December to a small number of families whose children attend schools where the entire school closed or shifted to remote learning for at least five consecutive days in September, October, or November.
Future rounds of P-EBT benefits will include families whose children have to stay home because of quarantine for individual students, groups of students, or entire classrooms. The first round of these payments should be issued onto P-EBT cards in February.
You will receive $7.10 per day for each school day missed due to a COVID-19 Impact.
Benefits will be added to your existing card from the previous school year for most families. Newly eligible students will receive new cards in the mail.
To order a new card, you will need to call EBT Customer Service at 888-997-2227. When it asks for your card number, press 2 to speak to a representative.
If you have any questions about your case, contact the P-EBT hotline at 651-431-4608 or 800-657-3698, or fill out the P-EBT help form here: https://pebthelp.state.mn.us. The P-EBT hotline is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the latest information, check the DHS P-EBT webpage
Check the flyer to see if your child is eligible for the benefits.
Canasta Familiar is a free food distribution program held every Monday at CLUES St. Paul and every Wednesday at CLUES Minneapolis offices.
Each week, Canasta Familiar receives donations that include fresh produce (fruits and vegetables), meat, and other non-perishable items. Foods vary according to availability.
Families can choose their food and select the items that are most appropriate for their home. There is a limit of one basket per family. Read the full program guidelines here.
For information on Canasta Familiar, contact:
Janelle Calvo-Nieto
651-379-4256
JCalvo@clues.org
CLUES is a nonprofit public charity recognized as tax exempt by the IRS under section 501(c)(3). CLUES tax ID: 41-1386986. Our Donor Privacy Policy can be found here.
