Financial Support

Todd County provides the state and federally mandated child support services and collects over $3 million each year for the families we serve.  

Our Services Include:

1. Enforcement of your order – Collection and distributing payments.
2. Locating absent parents.
3. Establishment of paternity.
4. Establishment of court orders for child support.
5. Review and modification of orders

Services we cannot provide:

1. Assistance in getting or changing visitation or custody.
2. Collection of non-child support debts.
3. Establishment or modification of spousal maintenance (alimony) orders.
4. We cannot provide legal advice.
5. Assistance in obtaining a Divorce.

If you need help with any of these issues you may want to contact a private attorney.

Information is Available :

You may call our offices for general information at 320-732-4511 or the State Office of Child Support at 800-657-3954. You can download an application at “Child Support Publications page” and then click on “forms”. You can apply for services online with Minnesota Child Support Services

Parents with a child support case in Minnesota can get up-to-date payment and account information 24 hours a day through the Payment Information Line at 800-657-3512 or 651-215-5630 (metro). They can also get information about payments, balances and what is happening on their case through a secure Minnesota Child Support Online.

Visit the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  We recommend reading the brochure “Understanding Child Support: A Handbook for Parents (DHS–3393)” found at “Child Support Publications page“ and click on brochures.

Minnesota Child Support Parenting Time Calendar Tool, this tool to helps parents, attorneys, and child support professionals count the number of court-ordered overnights each parent has with their children when parents don’t live together.

Minnesota Child Support Guidelines Calculator

Enter the average number of overnights generated by this tool on line 15b of the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines Calculator found at https://childsupportcalculator.dhs.state.mn.us, to get an estimate on the amount of child support the court may order on a case.

If there are multiple children with different parenting time schedules, complete separate calendars to count the number of overnights for each child. Enter the results for each child on line 15b of the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines Calculator.

The court system has an excellent public site with a section on Self-Help for child support, custody, and visitation matters at www.mncourts.gov click on “forms” in the upper left corner.

Todd County will provide for burial of indigent persons when such persons are the financial responsibility of Todd County, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 256.935, 261.035 and 261.04. State law requires counties to provide burials for residents of the County who are otherwise unable to pay the cost of a funeral and disposition of their remains. The County will only pay for the basic funeral and burial expenses. The County will also pursue recovery of the cost of the County Burial to the greatest extent allowable by law.

• County Paid Burial Policy
• County Paid Burial Application

Provides short-term help for qualifying people faced with an unexpected emergency expense, such as an eviction, utility disconnect, or foreclosure. If you meet the program requirements, Emergency Assistance can only be issued once in a 12-month period.

Applications

• Apply in-person. Applications can be submitted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Emergency Assistance typically requires a face-to-face interview.
• Apply online: ApplyMN is a simple, secure Web application that connects you with state and county services to help meet your and your family’s basic needs.
• Print an application and mail to or drop off our office at 212 2nd Avenue South, Long Prairie, MN 56347.

If you have questions you may contact Todd County Health and Human Services at 320-732-4500.

2023-2024 ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Energy Assistance is a program that is designed to assist income eligible households with the cost of energy/heating their homes. Everyone deserves affordable, continuous, and safe home energy services. If you encounter issues with home heating and/or electricity, we can help you with bill payment assistance, crisis benefits, and furnace repair/replacements.

Low-income household water assistance crisis program is available for all eligible EAP households who have one of the following situations:

• Currently shutoff with connected water services
• Scheduled water disconnection
• Past due billing

Eligibility Information

• Renters and homeowners are eligible.
• Assets such as the home are not considered in determining eligibility.
• Grants range from $200 to $1,400, based on household size, income, & fuel cost.

Eligibility guidelines are revised yearly.

2022-2023 Maximum EAP Income Guidelines

For more information or to request an application call Todd County Energy Assistance

320-732-4516 or Toll Free 1-888-838-4066 or 218-894-6300

Office hours Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Or view the MN Commerce Department website where you can apply online, print an application or request an application by mail.

Applications can be mailed or dropped off at the following locations.

Todd County Health and Human Services
212 2^nd Ave S
Long Prairie MN 56347

Todd County Health and Human Services
200 1^st St NE
Suite 1
Staples MN 56479

AFTER HOURS HEATING EMERGENCY CONTACT

TODD COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

320-732-2157 OR TOLL-FREE 1-800-794-5733

Todd County actively pursues and investigates suspected fraudulent activity. Receipt of benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; Food Support), Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, and Child Care may be based upon who is living in the home and the income and/or assets of all or some of the household residents.

If a person intentionally gives false information or conceals facts about their situation in order to receive or increase their benefits, they may be subject to prosecution or administrative action. This could result in felony level charges, sentencing, and disqualification from receiving more program benefits. Selling or trading EBT benefits (Cash Assistance or SNAP) is also fraud.

To make a report of suspected fraud or abuse of public assistance programs call the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-627-9977 or call us directly at 320-732-4500. You may request to remain anonymous.

MNsure:

MNsure is a new 1-stop health insurance marketplace where Minnesotans can compare and choose coverage from multiple insurance companies, and see if they qualify for a low-cost or free plan. MNsure is the new way of applying for Medical Assistance and other types of health care coverage.

For information or to apply for MNsure:

• Call the MNsure Contact Center toll-free 1-855-3-MNSURE (1-855-366-7873)
• Visit www.mnsure.org.

If you are 65 or over, certified disabled through Social Security Administration, or are receiving Medicare, please contact us at 320-732-4500 or print an application and mail to or drop off our office at 212 2nd Avenue South, Long Prairie, MN 56347.

Long-Term Care  (LTC) Services

LTC services include:

• Skilled nursing facility care you receive when you reside in a nursing facility.
• Services covered by any home and community-based waiver programs, such as Elderly Waiver (EW) program.

Elderly Waiver (EW) – The EW program funds home and community-based services for people age 65 and older who are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) and require the level of care provided in a nursing home but choose to live in the community.

Alternative Care (AC) – The AC program is a state-funded cost-sharing program that supports certain home- and community-based services for eligible Minnesotans age 65 and older. This program provides home- and community-based services to prevent and delay transitions to nursing facility level of care. The program prevents the impoverishment of eligible seniors and shares the cost of care with clients by maximizing use of their own resources. It is administered by counties and tribal health agencies.

Asset Assessment – An Asset Assessment is a list of all assets owned by a married couple on a certain date. A county worker uses the information to decide the amount of assets a person’s spouse can keep. The amount of assets will not count toward the asset limit for the person applying for Medical Assistance payment of long-term care (LTC) services. LTC services include nursing home care and services through the Elderly Waiver (EW) or Alternative Care (AC) program

Applications

• Apply in-person. Applications can be provided and submitted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm
• Print an application and mail to or drop off our office at 212 2nd Avenue South, Long Prairie, MN 56347.

To contact our Long Term Care Unit for more information please call 320-732-4500.

Resources

• MA for Persons Entering or Residing in a LTC facility DHS-2908
• Information about Alternative Care
• Seniors Can Get Help Paying for Services to Stay in Their Homes DHS-2988
• Information about Elderly Waiver
• Nursing Facility Level of Care DHS-3361
• Help Protect People Who Are Frail Or Vulnerable DHS-2754
• Adult Protective Services Unit
• How to Complete a Minnesota Heath Care Renewal

Cash Programs

Diversionary Work Program (DWP) – DWP is a four-month program that provides services and supports to eligible families to help them move immediately to work rather than go on public assistance. The four months of DWP do not count towards the 60-month lifetime limit for the MFIP program, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

General Assistance (GA) – GA helps Minnesotans with little or no income meet their basic needs. It offers a small monthly cash grant to people with serious illnesses, disabilities, or other issues that limit their ability to work. GA is “interim aid” to help while other sources of income are put in place.

Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) – MFIP is Minnesota’s program that assists low-income families with children to economic stability through work. The MFIP grant includes a cash grant, food assistance, and employment services. Parents must meet work rules immediately or their MFIP grant will be reduced.

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) – MSA provides monthly cash support to help meet basic living expenses, such as clothing, utilities, housing, or special medical diets. It is mainly for people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Applications

• Apply in-person. Applications can be submitted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Certain Cash Assistance programs (MFIP and DWP, both family cash programs) typically require a face-to-face interview, unless you have been on one of those cash programs in the past 12 months. Those interviews are offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Interviews for other cash programs can be conducted as a scheduled interview over the telephone.
• Apply online: ApplyMN is a simple, secure Web application that connects you with state and county services to help meet your and your family’s basic needs.
• Print an application and mail to or drop off our office at 212 2nd Avenue South, Long Prairie, MN 56347

If you have questions you may contact Todd County Health and Human Services at 320-732-4500 or 1-888-838-4066.

Purpose

The SNAP (Food Support) program is a county-run, federal program that helps Minnesotans with low incomes get the food they need for sound nutrition and well-balanced meals. The program issues electronic SNAP benefits that can help stretch your food budget. It is not intended to meet all of your food budget needs.

The amount of SNAP benefits your household can get is based on the income, expenses and the number of people in your household.

Applications

• Apply in-person. Applications can be provided and submitted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Interviews for SNAP can also be conducted as a scheduled interview over the telephone.
• Apply online: ApplyMN is a simple, secure Web application that connects you with state and county services to help meet your and your family’s basic needs.
• Print an application and mail to or drop off our office at 212 2nd Avenue South, Long Prairie, MN 56347.

If you have questions you may contact Todd County Health and Human Services at 320-732-4500.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call 866-632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 202-690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the  Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339; or 800-845-6136 (Spanish). For any other information dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, persons should either contact the USDA SNAP Hotline Number at 800-221-5689, which is also in Spanish or call the State Information/Hotline Numbers (click the link for a listing of hotline numbers by State); found online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/contact_info/hotlines.htm.  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”