Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) is the state's welfare reform program. It helps families and pregnant women who have low income go to work and move toward financial stability. The program provides employment services and income assistance. The Diversionary Work Program (DWP) helps parents go to work quickly. The  Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)  helps families with children meet their basic needs, while helping parents move to financial stability through work. Parents are expected to work, and are supported in working with both cash and food assistance. Most families have a lifetime limit of 60 months on MFIP. When families first apply for cash assistance, they usually start in the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). It is a four-month program that helps parents go to work right away rather than enroll in MFIP. Eligibility MFIP is for families with children and pregnant women. To qualify, your family must: Meet an initial income test Meet an initial asset limit of $10,000 Provide needed verification. Asset and vehicle limits You may own up to $10,000 in assets and qualify for MFIP. Your worker can tell you what property is counted toward the limit. We do not count one vehicle per member of the assistance unit who is 16 years old or older. We do count additional vehicles as part of the $10,000 asset limit. Your worker can give you more information. Lifetime limit Cash and Food Assistance:  Most parents with minor children only get cash help for a total of 60 months. Cash and food benefits are issued automatically through an  Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card (DHS-6315) (PDF) . Benefits change depending on your income. You are better off working when you are on MFIP. When you get a job, the first $65 you earn does not count. After that, half of the rest of your earnings do not count in deciding the amount of your benefits. Example : If you are a single parent of two children and are not working and you meet all program requirements, you will get $991 a month in combined cash and food benefits. If you find a full-time job that pays $9.50 an hour, you will earn $1,634 a month. With that income, you would still receive MFIP food benefits and those benefits plus your earnings would total about $1,939 a month. That is about $948 more each month than the benefits you get when not working. Fax # :  218-283-7013