To be eligible for a CSG, a person must meet all of these criteria:

• Be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA).
• Be assessed for HHA, PCA or HCN services.
• Be able to direct and purchase their own care and supports or have a family member, legal
  representative or other authorized representative direct and purchase their care and supports on their
  behalf.
• Have a functional limitation that requires ongoing supports to live in the community.
• Live in a home setting.
• Not receive services through:
  • MA managed care (except Special Needs BasicCare)
  • A home and community-based waiver
  • Family Support Grant
  • Alternative Care
  • MA home care services (HHA, HCN or PCA).

The county or tribal agency will assess the person’s needs and help develop their CSG service plan. The plan:

• Identifies the supports the person needs
• Outlines how CSG will pay for those supports
• Describes the method for documenting the person’s expenses.

CSG participants must:

• Arrange for purchasing their goods and services.
• Document all CSG expenditures.
• Hire a fiscal support entity to help with employer obligations, billing and payment functions.

The county or tribal agency approves the plan and ensures that all costs are within the person’s CSG budget.

The grant amount is based on the person’s home care assessment and rating, available program funding and
state budget caps. Individuals can obtain an estimate of their grant from their county or tribal CSG coordinator.
In state fiscal year 2018, an average of 2,629 participants per month received an average monthly grant of $938.

A Consumer Support Grant participant may purchase a variety of supports that are included in their person-centered, county approved plan. All goods and services must:

• Relate to the person’s functional limitations.
• Help them live in their own home.
• Be over and above the cost of supporting a person without a disability.

County or tribal agencies may customize the Consumer Support Grant program within state guidelines to fit the needs of their residents. People should contact their local agency for more information.

Examples of allowable expense categories may include:

• Companionship services
• Chore services
• Family counseling
• Home or vehicle modifications
• Nutrition services, home-delivered meals
• Respite care
• Home health aide or personal care-like services
• Home care nursing services
• Specialized equipment
• Transportation

People must use all other available sources of payment before using the Consumer Support Grant.

 Administrative Consumer Support Grant Process

Step 1: Read the Consumer Support Grant Guidelines/Expenditures    

Step 2: Review the Consumer Support Grant Orientation Video on the Carver County Website located under Departments>Health and Human Services> Home and Community Based Care>Consumer Support Grant

Step 3: You must choose a Financial Management Services Provider to manage the Consumer Support Grant funds. If you are renewing the grant and already have a Financial Management Services Provider in place, you do not need to choose a new one. If this is your first year on the grant or you wish to switch FMS providers, please refer to the Financial Management Service Provider Information list. Please refer to the Consumer Support Grant Guidelines/Expenditures for more information regarding Financial Management Services. When developing the CSG Expenditure plan, the FMS will assist you in determining applicable taxes and fees. 

Step 4: Read and sign the following forms and return to the Carver County Health and Human Services CSG Review Team for approval:

• Carver County Administrative Consumer Support Grant Participation Agreement indicating you have read the CSG Guidelines/Expenditures and have reviewed the CSG Orientation Video
• Consumer Support Grant Statement of Informed Consent
• Consumer Support Grant Release From Liability
• Release of Information for the Financial Management Services Provider and Carver County

Step 5: Fill out the Carver County Health and Human Services Consumer Support Grant Expenditure Plan and return to the Carver County Health and Human Services CSG Review Team for approval. Please refer to Consumer Support Grant Expenditure Plan Instructions. You will need your monthly grant amount and grant date span from the Administrative Consumer Support Grant Introduction Letter. The expenditure plan will include the allowable categories you choose to include in your grant.

Step 6: Fill out the Consumer Support Grant Narrative Plan. Please refer to the Consumer Support Grant Narrative Plan Instructions. Your narrative plan is a more detailed description of what you have listed on your Expenditure plan. For example: If you are using Informal supports such as Paid Parent Staffing, please describe what you will be working on with your child and what areas your child needs assistance in. Please refer to the MNChoices assessment for more detail if needed.

Step 7: Fill out your Health and Safety Plan. It is a tool that can be used by you or any staff to refer to when taking care of your child or family member. **** Note: The age of the individual should be considered for areas needing supervision.  (When supports are necessary due to age of the client, no explanation is required.)

Note:  Alternative Treatment Forms are needed for diets, therapies, etc.  Please refer to the Consumer Support Grant Guidelines/Expenditures for specifics. Additional Supporting Documentation may be needed for assistive technology or equipment.  Please refer to Consumer Support Grant Guidelines/Expenditures for specifics.

Completed paperwork can be mailed to:

Carver County Health and Human Services

Attn: HCBC HHS CSG Review Team

602 East Fourth Street

Chaska, MN 55318

OR

you can send to our email: HHSCSGReviewTeam@co.carver.mn.us

OR

You can place completed paperwork in the Social Services drop box located in the parking lot of our 602 East Fourth Street address Attention: HCBC HHS CSG Review Team

Please contact us at 952-361-1092 or email us at HHSCSGReviewTeam@co.carver.mn.us if you have any questions.