June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Medical assistance tops social service costs
Medical Assistance is the program used by the largest number of people and costing the most, she said.
The average number of people served per month by MA has run 8,188 so far in 2017, compared with an average of 8,506 per month in 2016. Cost per person averaged $923.36 in 2016, but cost figures so far this year are not yet available.
Food support, SNAP, is the next most used program with 3,158 clients a month in 2017, compared with 3,220 in 2016. Monthly cost per client increased from $113.21 to $117.65.
The state sets a goal of people being provided SNAP assistance within 24 hours, five days and 30 days. The state goals for providing service in those specified times are 55 percent, 75 percent and 75 percent, respectively.
Cass served 81 percent of its clients within 24 hours, 89 percent within five days and 98 percent within 30 days. All clients have to be verified for eligibility before receiving the benefit.
The Minnesota Family Investment Program and Diversionary Work Program served 1,149 clients monthly so far in 2017, compared with 1,192 in 2016. Monthly payments per client have risen from $269.33 to $391.38.
The Minnesota Family Investment Program and Diversionary Work Program are designed to help people transition off financial support programs. In Cass, 70 percent of Minnesota Family Investment Program and Diversionary Work Program clients transition off the program and remain off for three years and/or have gained employment of at least 30 hours per week.
The monthly average number of residential group home clients increased 103 in 2016 to 121 in 2017, with monthly costs increasing from $386.61 to $401.25.
There were 76 average monthly clients receiving child care assistance in 2016 and 74 in 2017. Monthly costs for the child care program dropped from $404.22 last year to $257 this year.
An average of five people received emergency assistance in 2016, compared with 6.4 in 2017.
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