Subdivision 1. Vendor payment. (a) Effective July 1, 1997, when a county is required to provide assistance to a participant in vendor form for shelter costs and utilities under this chapter or chapter 256D, the cost of utilities for a given family may be assumed to be:
(1) the average of the actual monthly cost of utilities for that family for the prior 12 months at the family's current residence, if applicable;
(2) the monthly plan amount, if any, set by the local utilities for that family at the family's current residence; or
(3) the estimated monthly utility costs for the dwelling in which the family currently resides.
(b) For purposes of this section, "utility" means any of the following: municipal water and sewer service; electric, gas, or heating fuel service; or wood, if that is the heating source.
(c) In any instance where a vendor payment for rent is directed to a landlord not legally entitled to the payment, the county social services agency shall immediately institute proceedings to collect the amount of the vendored rent payment, which shall be considered a debt under section 270A.03, subdivision 5.
Subd. 2. Vendor payment notification. (a) When a county agency is required to provide assistance to a participant in vendor payment form for shelter costs or utilities under subdivision 1, and the participant does not give the agency the information needed to pay the vendor, the county agency shall notify the participant of the intent to terminate assistance by mail at least ten days before the effective date of the adverse action.
(b) The notice of action shall include a request for information about:
(1) the amount of the participant's shelter costs or utilities;
(2) the due date of the shelter costs or utilities; and
(3) the name and address of the landlord, contract for deed holder, mortgage company, and utility vendor.
(c) If the participant fails to provide the requested information by the effective date of the adverse action, the county must terminate the MFIP grant. If the applicant or participant verifies they do not have shelter costs or utility obligations, the county shall not terminate assistance if the assistance unit is otherwise eligible.
Subd. 3. Discontinuing vendor payments due to dispute with landlord. The county agency shall discontinue vendor payments for shelter costs imposed under this chapter when the vendor payment interferes with the participant's right to withhold rent due to a dispute with the participant's landlord in accordance with federal, state, or local housing laws.
1997 c 85 art 1 s 29; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 78; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 10 s 66; 2013 c 107 art 4 s 16
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 245 - 267 — Public Welfare And Related Activities
Chapter 256J — Minnesota Family Investment Program
Section 256J.01 — Establishing Minnesota Family Investment Program.
Section 256J.02 — Federal Tanf Block Grant.
Section 256J.021 — Separate State Program For Use Of State Money.
Section 256J.06 — Community Involvement.
Section 256J.08 — Definitions.
Section 256J.09 — Applying For Assistance.
Section 256J.10 — Mfip Eligibility Requirements.
Section 256J.11 — Citizenship.
Section 256J.12 — Minnesota Residence.
Section 256J.13 — Minor Child In Assistance Unit; Physical Presence.
Section 256J.14 — Eligibility For Parenting Or Pregnant Minors.
Section 256J.15 — Other Eligibility Conditions.
Section 256J.21 — Income Limitations.
Section 256J.24 — Family Composition; Assistance Standards; Exit Level.
Section 256J.26 — Persons Ineligible; Vendor Payments.
Section 256J.28 — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Section 256J.30 — Applicant And Participant Requirements And Responsibilities.
Section 256J.31 — Applicant And Participant Rights; County Agency Duty.
Section 256J.315 — County And Tribal Cooperation.
Section 256J.32 — Documenting, Verifying, And Recertifying Eligibility.
Section 256J.33 — Prospective And Retrospective Mfip Eligibility.
Section 256J.34 — Calculating Assistance Payments.
Section 256J.35 — Amount Of Assistance Payment.
Section 256J.351 — Housing Assistance Grants; Forecasted Program.
Section 256J.36 — Allocation For Unmet Need Of Other Household Members.
Section 256J.37 — Treatment Of Income And Lump Sums.
Section 256J.39 — Payment Provisions; Vendor Payments.
Section 256J.395 — Vendor Payment Of Shelter Costs And Utilities.
Section 256J.396 — Support From Parents Of Minor Caregivers Living Apart.
Section 256J.40 — Fair Hearings.
Section 256J.415 — Notice Of 12 Months Of Tanf Assistance Remaining.
Section 256J.42 — 60-month Time Limit; Exemptions.
Section 256J.425 — Hardship Extensions.
Section 256J.45 — Orientation.
Section 256J.49 — Employment And Training Services; Definitions.
Section 256J.50 — County Duties.
Section 256J.51 — Employment And Training Service Provider Appeal.
Section 256J.515 — Overview Of Employment And Training Services.
Section 256J.521 — Assessment; Employment Plans.
Section 256J.53 — Postsecondary Education As Approved Work Activity.
Section 256J.531 — Basic Education; English As A Second Language.
Section 256J.54 — Minor Parents; Employment Plan.
Section 256J.545 — Family Violence Waiver Criteria.
Section 256J.55 — Participant Requirements, Rights, And Expectations.
Section 256J.561 — Universal Participation Required.
Section 256J.57 — Good Cause Exemption From Sanction.
Section 256J.575 — Family Stabilization Services.
Section 256J.61 — Reporting Requirements.
Section 256J.621 — Work Participation Cash Benefits.
Section 256J.626 — Mfip Consolidated Fund.
Section 256J.645 — Indian Tribe Mfip Employment Services.
Section 256J.66 — On-the-job Training.
Section 256J.67 — Community Work Experience.
Section 256J.68 — Injury Protection For Work Experience Participants.
Section 256J.69 — Grant Diversion.
Section 256J.72 — Nondisplacement In Work Activities.
Section 256J.74 — Relationship To Other Programs.
Section 256J.75 — County Of Financial Responsibility Policies.
Section 256J.751 — County Performance Management.
Section 256J.77 — Aging Of Cash Benefits.
Section 256J.78 — Tanf Demonstration Projects Or Waiver From Federal Rules And Regulations.