How to Get Public Assistance

Public assistance programs are programs that can help you make ends meet if you can't afford to do it on your own.  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).

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Although most of these programs cover adults and their families, some of them will apply to you even though you are not 18 years old. Different agencies run different programs.  Here are some you might qualify for.

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

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 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 doctor's visits, dental care, prescriptions, counseling, transportation, eye exams, and other medical services.  You can get MaineCare even if you are living on your own. 

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

If you are under 21 years old, You may be eligible for MaineCare coverage under the Katie Beckett Waiver Program.

To learn more about Medicaid, 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 (Bureau of Family Independence )

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 family gets Food Stamps and you live at home and work, your paychecks cannot be counted by DHHS IF you are 17 or younger and still in school, being home schooled or getting your GED.  This means that DHHS should not ask for your paystubs and should act like you have no money.  This is important because the amount of food stamps your family will get depends upon how much money is in the household.  If DHHS counts your income, you will probably be getting less Food Stamps than you should. You can apply for food stamps if you are living on your own, even if you are not 18.

You apply for Food Stamps at your local DHHS Office.  You can go to the office closest to you or call 1-800-452-1926

If you are in school, you may be eligible for the school breakfast and lunch program.  You should talk to your guidance counselor or principal to find out if the school has a breakfast or lunch program and if you are eligible.  The state Department of Education supervises these programs.  You can contact them through their website.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS BASED ON DISABILITY

If you have a disability that keeps you from working or doing well in school, you may qualify for social security benefits or SSI.  If you get SSI, you receive a monthly check to help you make ends meet. You will also get MaineCare. 

You apply at the Social Security Office.

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

As someone under 18, Social Security may ask you for a representative payee, or "rep payee."  A rep payee is an adult or agency that manages your money.  This means the social security check will be sent to your rep payee.  Your rep payee must then spend it on your behalf.  She must also keep an accounting of how your money was spent.  If you think your rep payee is not spending your money correctly, you can contact the Social Security office to make a complaint and ask for a new rep payee.  You may not need a rep payee even if you are under 18, if  you are a parent and you can manage your money, like pay bills, or you can prove to Social Security that you can manage your money.

If your parent is disabled and receives social security benefits, you should get a "child's benefit."  This a monthly check that Social Security sends to your rep payee.  That money is to be used for your benefit.  You are eligible until you are 18 years old or, if you are still in school, until you turn 19.

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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.) You must be financially eligible. This means you 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.

Even though you are not 18, you can apply for General Assistance if you are pregnant or have a child of your own.  You must apply in writing and get a written decision from the Town.  If the Town will not let you apply, Contact us.  The Town cannot threaten to have your baby taken away from you just because you are applying for GA. There are special rules that apply to you because of your age.

If you are pregnant or have a child of your own and are not married, you are eligible for GA if:

• You are living with your parents or adult relative or
• You are living in a foster home or other adult-supervised home or
• Both your parents have died or you don't know where either one is or
• Neither parent  will let you live with them or
• DHHS has stated that it would be physically or emotionally dangerous to you or your baby to live with either parent or
• You have not lived with either parent for at least one year before your baby was born or
• You have other "good cause."

You may also be able to apply even if you are not a parent.  But, if you are under 25 years old, the Town can contact your parents or your husband or wife (if you are married) and ask them to pay it back for the GA you get.  They should only do this if your parents or spouse have the money to pay. The Town cannot refuse to let you apply.  You can still apply and still get GA.  If they do, contact us or PTLA.

You apply by going to the Town Office and filling 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 us or PTLA if you are denied and you believe you should not have been.

For more information about GA, read General Assistance in Maine from Pine Tree Legal Assistance.

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 you live with your parent or legal guardian, she may receive TANF for you.  You can apply for TANF on your own, only if you are in the third trimester of pregnancy or you have a child of your own who lives with you. There are special rules that apply to you because of your age.

You are eligible for TANF if:

• You are living with your parents or adult relative or
• You are living in a foster home or other adult-supervised home or
• Both your parents have died or you don't know where either one is or
• Neither parent  will let you live with them or
• DHHS has stated that it would be physically or emotionally dangerous to you or your baby to live with either parent or
• You have not lived with either parent for at least one year before your baby was born or
• You have other "good cause."

Maine's welfare to work program is called ASPIRE. 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 you are under 20 years old and have not finished high school, you will have to be in ASPIRE and take courses to get your high school diploma.  If you do not follow the contract, you can be sanctioned.  This means your TANF check will be reduced. 

For more information about TANF and ASPIRE, read Understanding ASPIRE - TANF from Maine Equal Justice.

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