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COVID-19 Stimulus Checks & Public Benefits Eligibility in Maine

Posted and up-to-date on 4/29/2020 Introduction Many people who will get a stimulus check under the CARES Act may also receive public benefits. You may be worried about whether getting a stimulus check will change your eligibility for public benefits.
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Maine Public Benefits & COVID-19 FAQ

Posted and up-to-date on 12/15/2020 I need MaineCare, TANF, and/or SNAP (food stamps), where do I go to apply? These services are run through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
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Rights of Maine Renters: Heat and Utility Charges for Common Areas

If you live in an apartment building, you may find out that you are paying for heat, lights, or other utilities for "common areas." This includes, for example, hallways, basements, or a common hot water heater or furnace. It is illegal for your landlord to make you pay those costs alone. For example, the hall lights should not be hooked up to your… More
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Rights of Maine Renters: Cable TV, Dishes, and Antennas

If I live in an apartment building, can my landlord stop me from getting cable TV, a satellite dish or an antenna? Generally, no. Your landlord can only refuse to allow these installations if they have "good cause" to deny that particular company. "Good cause" could be:
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What happens if I am charged with a crime in Maine? Can I get a lawyer?

How do I know if my legal issue is "criminal?" In Maine there are three basic kinds of “charges” for “offenses against the state.”
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Do you owe $500 or more to your electric company?

If you're more than $500 in debt on your electric bill, this program may be able to help you. You pay just your current monthly electric bill, each month and on time. For each month that you pay your current bill, your electric utility company will wipe out 1/12 of what you owe them on your back bill. Learn about how to enroll!
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Fair Employment for Immigrants

Are you being treated fairly on the job - and when looking for a job? Were you treated differently because of:
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My Maine Connection: Online Benefits Application Tool

Maine DHHS is offering this online tool My Maine Connection as another way to apply for benefits.  You may still apply in person, if you prefer, or over the phone (in programs that allow phone applications).  But this is now the most streamlined way to apply. 
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Will Getting A Big Tax Refund Make Me Lose My Benefits?

This year, you won’t have to worry about losing your benefits if you get a big tax refund. Starting in 2011, any tax refunds you get will not affect most public benefits, or how much you get! Under the law passed in December 2010:
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Heating Assistance News

LIHEAP funding continues to be lower than in previous years. This will mean that more households will be turning to local heating assistance programs after their LIHEAP money runs out.  Here is a summary of the programs we know about - followed by information about how to access local programs.