Last summer, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services publicly touted plans to use more than $3 million in unspent federal welfare funds in an “innovative” way that would direct more money to services for elderly and disabled Mainers. The transfer, Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said at the time, represented a “reprioritizing […]
welfare
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Some skeptical as backers of asylum seeker welfare prep suit
PORTLAND — As defenders of welfare for asylum seekers in Maine get ready for a legal challenge against new rules, advocacy groups are divided about whether the effort can succeed. The state Department of Health and Human Services has released new rules that only immigrants who meet a federal law’s definition of “lawfully present,” or […]
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DHHS implements new rule on reissuing lost EBT cards
When a client of the Office for Family Independence asks for an EBT card replacement for the fifth time in 12 months, the office will ask for a reason. The previous four replacement requests will be granted automatically, according to a DHHS statement issued Wednesday. If the client does not respond to the request for information, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
DHHS says Mainers made more money after going off food stamps
AUGUSTA — Making a moral case for Gov. Paul LePage’s welfare agenda, his administration released a report on Wednesday that touted income gains for people culled from Maine’s food stamp rolls. It revolves around the Republican governor’s 2014 move to reinstate federal work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents between the ages of 18 and 49. To receive food […]
Posted inMaine
Maine welfare reform bill brings tighter scrutiny and stronger penalties
AUGUSTA — In an end-of-session compromise, a pair of Lewiston-Auburn state senators, a Democrat and a Republican, advanced legislation that tightens oversight and increases penalties for welfare recipients who abuse the system. Prior to Friday, the legislation, first offered by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, and aimed at limiting purchases made with electronic benefit transfer cards […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative committee splits on welfare reforms
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers split along party lines repeatedly Thursday as they debated and voted on a series of bills aimed at reforming the state’s welfare system. Democrats on the Health and Human Services Committee expressed outrage over proposals by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services that would spend some of more than $110 million […]
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Maine Democrats and Republicans poised for new clash on welfare reform
AUGUSTA — Maine Republican and Democratic lawmakers are poised to clash Wednesday over a package of bills aimed at tightening welfare spending and increasing scrutiny for those on the state’s benefits system. Republicans say one measure, offered by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, will be little more than a paper tiger if it’s amended as Libby […]
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Reform proposal available that would fix welfare system
Mainers know welfare is broken. They have seen with their own eyes that the system is susceptible to fraud and abuse. Meanwhile, they see that its successes at lifting Mainers out of poverty are too few and far between. The ranks of Mainers, including children, who live in extreme poverty are growing. Homelessness continues to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats’ welfare plan bans funds to buy lottery tickets, alcohol
AUGUSTA — Legislative Democrats released a welfare reform agenda on Thursday, mixing proposals to ban using cash assistance to buy lottery tickets with other changes aimed at increasing accountability and transitioning recipients to work. It puts Democrats in a difficult place: Republicans said the plan was an election-year ploy to capitalize on a popular conservative argument […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage says Maine will privatize ASPIRE program
FARMINGDALE — Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday during his weekly town meeting tour that he is moving forward with the privatization of the state’s ASPIRE program because Maine is failing to meet federal work requirements for the program’s participants. The move would eliminate about 70 state jobs. ASPIRE is a welfare-to-work program that is linked […]