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, go to:
Guide to
MaineCare. (from Maine Equal Justice and Consumers for Affordable Health Care)
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)
Need help with understanding MaineCare or other health coverage options? Call
Consumers for Affordable Health Care Helpline: 1-800-965-7476.
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. Contact the state for more information.
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.
