Public Assistance Information for Montana AmeriCorps Members
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You
may or may not
be eligible for public assistance in Montana.
Eligibility
is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Remember
…
Eligibility can be dependent on things like…
•
Age & ability
•
Expenses
•
Assets (car, home, etc.)
•
$$ in bank accounts
•
Additional Income (like a part-time job
outside of your service)
Eligibility is impacted by your stream of service
•
Example:
AmeriCorps
State & National
members
may apply for SNAP
after
their term of service has
begun, but
VISTA
members must apply
before
their
service start date
Montana DPHHS Public Assistance Programs
S
N
A
P
How to Apply:
•
Apply Online:
apply.mt.gov
•
Call the Public Assistance Helpline:
1-888-706-1535
•
Visit your local Office of Public Assistance
See locations here:
dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/OfficeofPublicAssistance
•
for a PDF application
•
Need more assistance? Visit
https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/p
ublic-benefits
Information:
•
dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/SNAP
•
Benefits
can
be used for:
Groceries
Plants/seeds to grow food
•
Benefits
cannot
be used for:
Nonfood items (cosmetics, paper products,
etc.)
Alcohol or tobacco
Vitamins or medicines
Hot foods
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How to Apply
:
•
Call LIEAP Number:
1-833-317-1080
•
Contact an Eligibility Office
See locations here:
dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance/lieapoffices
•
Need more assistance? Visit
https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/public-
benefits
Information
:
•
dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance
•
If you receive benefits from SNAP,
TANF, or Supplemental Security
Income, you
may
automatically
qualify for LIEAP
Applying as an AmeriCorps Member
•
Your Living Allowance/any payments from your
program are
not considered income
for SNAP,
LIEAP, or TANF eligibility
•
Ask your program staff for a
Proof of Service
letter
to bring when you apply
•
Need more assistance? Visit
https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/public-benefits
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Montana Medicaid
Apply here:
apply.mt.gov/
Montana Medicaid Guide:
dphhs.mt.gov/assets/hrd/MedicaidMemberGuide2020.pdf
General Information:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/montanahealthcareprograms/memb
erservices
For more information and to determine eligibility, contact:
Public Assistance Help Line:
1-888-706-1535
Your local Office of Public Assistance:
dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/OfficeofPublicAssistance
Need more assistance? Visit
https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/public-benefits
•
Federal Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal-state
partnership. State-specific
information will be most useful
General Information:
www.medicaid.gov/
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AmeriCorps offers childcare benefits to active, full-time
members who qualify
•
More information:
https://americorpschildcare.com/index.cfm
•
Montana Childcare Providers:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/childcareprovidersdashboard
Not all providers at this link qualify as AmeriCorps
Childcare providers
Community Resources
•
Community Gardens
Some have public plots that community members
can harvest food from, or offer volunteers food in
exchange for service
•
Thrift stores
Some local thrift stores offer financial or in-store
assistance to eligible individuals (E.g., vouchers to
purchase winter clothes at the thrift store)
•
Farmers Markets
Many accept SNAP benefits
•
Local Food Banks
Food and sometimes toiletries available
•
Local libraries
Provide free internet, community gatherings,
& more
Must prove residency to obtain
free
library
card (
Lease or utility bill in your name is common
documentation; ask library for guidance)
•
Local Credit Unions
Many offer free financial literacy
education/programs
•
Local United Way
Works to advance the common good in
communities across the world
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!
Objective of this PPT is to bring awareness of public assistance to members and provide information.
Learn about public assistance programs available in Montana for AmeriCorps members, including SNAP, LIEAP, TANF, and WIC. Find out how to apply and what benefits these programs offer. Eligibility is case-by-case and depends on various factors such as income, expenses, and assets.
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Presentation Transcript
Public Assistance Information for Public Assistance Information for Montana AmeriCorps Members Montana AmeriCorps Members Updated 7/2022 Updated 7/2022
Remember You may or may not be eligible for public assistance in Montana. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility can be dependent on things like Eligibility is impacted by your stream of service Age & ability Expenses Assets (car, home, etc.) $$ in bank accounts Additional Income (like a part-time job outside of your service) Example: AmeriCorps State & National members may apply for SNAP after their term of service has begun, but VISTA members must apply before their service start date
Montana DPHHS Public Assistance Programs SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program LIEAP Low-Income Energy Assistance Program Provides food & nutrition assistance to eligible people Offers energy bill & weatherization assistance for eligible renters & homeowners Funds delivered to an assigned Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) debit card Energy bill assistance available October 1 April 30 Weatherization assistance available anytime TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children Offers healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition tips, and connection to community resources for eligible parents and pregnant women Provides a monthly cash benefit to eligible families to assist with basic ongoing needs
SNAP SNAP How to Apply: Apply Online: apply.mt.gov Call the Public Assistance Helpline: 1-888-706-1535 Visit your local Office of Public Assistance See locations here: dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/OfficeofPublicAssistance Information: dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/SNAP Benefits can be used for: Groceries Plants/seeds to grow food Benefits cannot be used for: Nonfood items (cosmetics, paper products, etc.) Alcohol or tobacco Vitamins or medicines Hot foods Email for a PDF application Need more assistance? Visit https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/p ublic-benefits
LIEAP LIEAP How to Apply: Call LIEAP Number: 1-833-317-1080 Information: dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance If you receive benefits from SNAP, TANF, or Supplemental Security Income, you may automatically qualify for LIEAP Contact an Eligibility Office See locations here: dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance/lieapoffices Need more assistance? Visit https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/public- benefits
Applying as an AmeriCorps Member Your Living Allowance/any payments from your program are not considered income for SNAP, LIEAP, or TANF eligibility Ask your program staff for a Proof of Service letter to bring when you apply Need more assistance? Visit https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/public-benefits
Medicaid Medicaid healthcare benefits for income-eligible Montanans Montana Medicaid Federal Medicaid Apply here: apply.mt.gov/ Medicaid is a federal-state partnership. State-specific information will be most useful Montana Medicaid Guide: dphhs.mt.gov/assets/hrd/MedicaidMemberGuide2020.pdf General Information: https://dphhs.mt.gov/montanahealthcareprograms/memb erservices For more information and to determine eligibility, contact: Public Assistance Help Line: General Information: www.medicaid.gov/ 1-888-706-1535 Your local Office of Public Assistance: dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/OfficeofPublicAssistance Need more assistance? Visit https://www.montanalawhelp.org/issues/public-benefits
Child Care for AmeriCorps Members Child Care for AmeriCorps Members AmeriCorps offers childcare benefits to active, full-time members who qualify More information: https://americorpschildcare.com/index.cfm Montana Childcare Providers: https://dphhs.mt.gov/childcareprovidersdashboard Not all providers at this link qualify as AmeriCorps Childcare providers
Community Resources Community Gardens Some have public plots that community members can harvest food from, or offer volunteers food in exchange for service Local libraries Provide free internet, community gatherings, & more Must prove residency to obtain free library card (Lease or utility bill in your name is common documentation; ask library for guidance) Thrift stores Some local thrift stores offer financial or in-store assistance to eligible individuals (E.g., vouchers to purchase winter clothes at the thrift store) Local Credit Unions Many offer free financial literacy education/programs Farmers Markets Many accept SNAP benefits Local United Way Works to advance the common good in communities across the world Local Food Banks Food and sometimes toiletries available
Questions? Questions? THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
