LEWISTON — About 50 immigrant families seeking asylum in Maine will lose state-funded food stamp and Temporary Assistance to Needy Family benefits in December, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. About $260,000 in temporary funding for the benefits, which help 128 individuals statewide, including children, has been depleted, DHHS spokesman John […]
welfare
Posted inMaine, sj-web
New welfare work requirements start in October
AUGUSTA — Big changes are on the horizon for many low-income Maine residents as Gov. Paul LePage’s administration plans to move forward next month with new rules that will require food stamp users to have a job and some welfare recipients to be drug-tested to continue receiving benefits. The Republican governor, whose efforts to overhaul […]
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Posted inLetters
J. Mailey: Other issues besides welfare
After many discussions with voters, I have come to the conclusion that most people believe the November election is only about welfare in Maine. Nothing could be further from the truth. This election is about bringing good-paying jobs to Maine; not welfare. This election is about taking care of the elderly in Maine; not welfare. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Food stamp changes to have slight effect on Maine LIHEAP
WASHINGTON — Cuts to the nation’s food stamp program enacted this year are only affecting four states, far from the sweeping overhaul that Republicans had pushed, an Associated Press review has found. As a result, it’s unclear whether the law will realize the estimated $8.6 billion in savings over 10 years that the GOP had […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Cutler unveils welfare reform proposal
AUGUSTA — Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler joined the campaign debate on welfare reform Wednesday with a plan that calls for public assistance recipients to repay some of the benefits they receive and for the state to provide cash incentives for recipients who complete their high school education or ensure the educational success of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Drug testing opponents speak at DHHS hearing
AUGUSTA — Opponents of a proposed rule that would require drug tests for convicted drug felons seeking cash assistance from the state argued Monday that the rule is unfair and could exacerbate a family’s efforts to right itself. No one spoke in favor of the proposed rule during a brief public hearing Monday afternoon at […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine files countersuit in general assistance battle
AUGUSTA — The Department of Health and Human Services has shot back at the Maine Municipal Association and the cities of Portland and Westbrook with a counterclaim in a fledgling legal battle that involves a new state initiative to bar undocumented aliens from receiving General Assistance benefits. Filed Monday in U.S. District Court, the lawsuit […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage wants drug testing for TANF recipients
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced Wednesday that his administration will begin requiring people convicted of drug felonies to take drug tests as a condition of applying for or receiving cash benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The launch of mandated drug-testing comes after the Department of Health and Human Services bolstered […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Paul Ryan pitches plan to combine anti-poverty plans into one aid package
See also: LePage wants to impose work requirement for food stamps WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Ryan proposed a new plan Thursday to merge up to 11 anti-poverty programs into a single grant program for states that he said would allow more flexibility to help lift people out of poverty. Programs that would be merged include […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Two Maine asylum seekers join General Assistance suit against state
AUGUSTA — Two women seeking asylum in Maine are asking to join a lawsuit against Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration regarding general assistance aid. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine and Maine Equal Justice Partners said on Thursday that they have a complaint on behalf of the immigrants. The lawsuit filed by the Maine […]