Getting Public Assistance

INTRODUCTION:

Public assistance programs are programs that can help you make ends meet. There are programs for health insurance, food, income and housing. You have to apply for each program, and you have to be eligible. All these programs require you to be "low-income" (poor). These programs can cover your family if you are eligible. If your child is on her own, she may be apply to apply for herself. Different agencies run different programs. Here are some you might qualify for.

MaineCare
Food Programs
Social Security/Disability
General Assistance
TANF/ASPIRE

MAINECARE:

Have you ever heard of Medicaid? In Maine, it is called Mainecare. It is a health insurance program that should cost you nothing or very little. Mainecare will pay for your child doctor's visits, dental care, prescriptions, counseling, transportation, eye exams, and other medical services. Your child can get Mainecare even if he is living on your own. You may also be eligible as well.

For more information about who is eligible for Mainecare: Maine's Medical Assistance Programs: Who's Covered and Who's Not?

For Mainecare patients under 21 years old, services and benefits under EPSDT apply to you. A person under 18 may may also be eligible for Mainecare coverage under the Katie Beckett Waiver Program.

To learn more about Mainecare, Maine Equal Justice Partners has written a Guide to MaineCare.

To apply, contact DHHS at 1-800-321-5557 or visit a local office. To find the office closest to you, click here.

Get a MaineCare Application (pdf)

Tips When Applying for MaineCare (Maine Equal Justice)

For Transportation agencies, see Transportation Agencies Covered by MaineCare

FOOD PROGRAMS:

Food Stamps act as cash to help you buy food. You get an electronic card with a monthly amount on it, and can use it at stores. Go to the Maine Equal Justice Project website to read The Food Stamp Program: An Overview for more information. This will answer many questions you may have about how to qualify for food stamps, who can be in a household, and more.

If your children are living with you and your family yets Food Stamps, your child's employment income cannot be counted by DHHS - IF - your child is 17 or younger and still in school, being home schooled or getting a GED. This means that DHHS should not ask for your child's paystubs. Child support does count. It is important to know what income cannot b e counted because the amount of food stamps your family will get depends upon how much money is in your family's household. If DHHS counts your child's earnings, your familyl will probably be getting less Food Stamps than itshould.

Your child can apply for Food Stamps even if she is under 18 if she is living with someone who is acting as her parent.

You apply for Food Stamps at your local DHHS Office. To find the office closest to you, click here. or call 1 -800-452-1926

Your child may be eligible for the school breakfast and lunch program. You should talk to the school's guidance counselor or principal to find out if the school has a breakfast or lunch program and if your children are eligible. The state Department of Education supervises these programs. You can contact the State at: http://www.state.me.us/education/sfs/homepage.htm

You may also have also heard of Food Banks. These are places that will give you food. To see if there are any food banks near you, click here: Food Programs: The Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources maintains a list of most locally-operated food programs in the State.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS BASED ON DISABILITY

If your child has a disability that keeps him from working or doing well in school, he may qualify for social security benefits or SSI. He will get a monthly benefit and Mainecare. Depending on how old your child is, he may need a rep payee. This is someone who controls your child's benefit. It must be used for your child and an accounting must be provided to Social Security. If you misspend your child's benefits, a new rep payee can be appointed. Your child may be able to be his own rep payee.

You apply at the Social Security Office - for contact information, click here.

The process takes a long time. Your child will probably be denied at first. You should file for reconsideration if he is. If your child is denied again, you should appeal. An attorney can represent you on behalf of your child, Contact Us or the VLP. Do everything in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If Social Security made the wrong decision by denying your child, he will get a "lump sum" if you win the hearing. A lump sum can be a lot of money - it is all the benefits your child should have gotten since he was denied, and it is given to your child at one time.

If you or your child's other parent is disabled and receives social security benefits, your child should get a "child's benefit." This a monthly check that Social Security sends to your child through a rep payee. That money is to be used for your child's benefit. Your child is eligible until 18 years old or if still in school until 19. If you are on SSI, your child will not receive a child's benefit. The amount of the benefit depends on the amount of your social security disability check.

GENERAL ASSISTANCE (GA):

General Assistance is a support program for low income people. It is run by each town or city in Maine. It can help with rent, utilities, food vouchers, medical expenses, clothing, and personal and household items (like shampoo, toothpaste, laundry supplies, toilet paper, lightbulbs, etc.) Your family must be financially eligible. This means your household must not have more money in a month than the guidelines will let you have. If you are applying for a second time, you have to show the Town that you spent your money on "basic needs." You should bring receipts to prove this. "Basic needs" are things like rent, food, medication, transportation, electricity, and heat. It does not include pet food, cigarettes, cable, etc.

Your child may apply for General Assistance if she lives on her own. There are certain living conditions your child must meet to get benefits. If you child is under 25 years old, the Town can contact you or your child's spouse (if married) and ask you or your child's spouse to pay the Town back for the GA your child received. They should only do this if you have the money to pay. The Town cannot refuse to let your child apply.

To apply, go to the Town Office and fill out an application. You must get a written decision. If you are denied, you only have 5 business days to appeal. You have a right to be represented by an attorney - Contact PTLA if you are denied and you believe you should not have been.

More information about GA

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF)

TANF is welfare for families with children under 18. It is a monthly benefit to help you make ends meet. You must be low income in order to receive TANF. If your children live with you, you may receive TANF. If your child has a baby of her own and lives with you, your child can apply for TANF for herself and her baby. If your child is pregnant or a parent and does not live with you, she may be able to get TANF as long as she meets certain housing conditions,

Maine's welfare to work program is called ASPIRE. When you receive TANF, you sign a contract that states the services DHHS will give you (child care, transportation, clothing for uniforms) and the work or schooling you have to do. If your child is on TANF for herself or himself and his/her baby and is under 20 years old and has not finished high school, she or he will have to be in ASPIRE and take courses to get a high school diploma. If the ASPIRE contract isn't followed, a sanction will be imposed. This means the TANF check will be reduced.

More information about TANF and ASPIRE

To apply, contact you local DHHS office or call 1 -800-452-1926. If you are sanctioned or denied TANF, contact us.