Financial & Health Care Assistance

Carlton County’s Financial Assistance Department is responsible for administering public assistance programs that are funded by Federal, State, and County dollars. Financial Assistance workers are responsible for ensuring accurate determination of benefits as well as timely issuance of benefits to eligible Carlton County citizens.

Eligibility for some programs start on the date the county agency receives a completed application or healthcare request. Some medical programs can provide coverage going back 3 months in the past but others may start on the day you apply or future months. Therefore it is important to apply for assistance as soon as you think you may need help.

SNAP Benefits and the Federal Government Shut Down

SNAP participants will receive their March benefits via an adjusted early staggered issuance. This will help reduce the amount of time SNAP households have to wait between receiving February benefits, which were issued early, and March benefits. March benefits will be issued as follows:

• Cases ending in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 will receive their food benefits on March 4.

• Cases ending in the numbers 7, 8 and 9 will receive their food benefits on March 5.

• Cases ending in the numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3 will receive their food benefits on March 6.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on  race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including  gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil  rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, America Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through  the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence  Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email.