MAINE

This is an unofficial benefits estimator and not an application. No personal data is collected or stored. Actual amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, location, eligibility criteria, and recent data updates at the time of application.

Maine Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

In Maine, the aim of TANF is to provide temporary cash assistance to eligible low-income families with children while they work toward self-sufficiency.

Apart from cash aid, benefits include child care, housing and transportation assistance, “employment support”, among others.

Maine has a 60-month lifetime limit for receiving TANF, with some exceptions for the elderly, disabled persons, and children under age 18.

How much TANF can I get in Maine?

Maine offers the poorest families a maximum of $895 per month for a family of three. In addition to cash aid, eligible families may also get a housing supplement through Maine’s rent relief program.

Applications for Maine TANF can now be made online through My Maine Connection  or in person at your local DHHS office .

Families who are otherwise eligible for the TANF program who seek one-time, short-term assistance while searching for a job may apply for Alternative Aid Assistance instead of TANF.

For assistance, please call
(855) 797-4357

Eviction Prevention Program (EPP)

This is a pilot program that opened in October 2024 and will run through October 2026.

In addition to cash aid, families earning less than 60% of local area median income and paying no more than 125% of fair market rents for the area in which they live may be eligible for Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), Maine’s first rent relief program, of up to $800 per month. ¹

To appy for EPP, contact your local Community Action Agency  (CAA), as they run the program locally on a first-come, first-served basis.

Quality Housing Coalition
(207) 274-1240

Maine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Maine SNAP aims to help low-income Maine residents buy an adequate supply of nutritious food. The program serves families with children, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless as well as those who are already on welfare.

Most families in Maine with gross income up to 185% of the federal poverty level qualify for food assistance. Those who are on welfare, unemployed and homeless are also eligible.

Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) between the ages of 18—64 can receive SNAP for only 3 months in a 3-year period if they do not meet certain work requirements.

What is the income limit for SNAP in Maine?

How do I apply for food stamps in Maine?

To receive food supplement benefits, go to My Maine Connection , the DHHS website where you can screen for eligibility and apply for public benefit programs online, including TANF and child care subsidy.

Maine SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer-EBT, provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children who lose access to free or reduced-price school meals during school summer vacation.

Each eligible child (ages 6 – 16) will get a one-time $120 benefit to buy groceries — that’s $40 per month for June, July, and August. The benefits will be added to an existing Pine Tree Card or a newly issued EBT card.

If you’re not sure if you need to apply or will get SUN Bucks automatically, use this eligibility screener  to find out.

SUN Bucks Maine Hotline
(855) 797-4357

Maine Free School Lunch Program

Maine’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally-subsidized meal program that provides free or discounted school meals to eligible children from families with incomes that fall below certain “poverty guidelines”.

Before the pandemic, Maine students were eligible for free or reduced breakfasts and lunches if their household income is 130% (free) or 185% (reduced) of the federal poverty guidelines.

For two years during the pandemic, federal waivers allowed every Maine student to receive free school meals, regardless of family income.

Are school lunches still free in Maine?

Yes, Maine was one of the first states to pass legislation providing free school lunches to all students post pandemic-era — a policy that has been adopted in a handful of other states. ²

In fact, Maine public schools are now required to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of how much money their family makes.

Maine Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Maine WIC is a short-term intervention program designed to improve the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children. It does this by providing nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services, at no cost, to families who qualify.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for WIC:

1. Live in Maine.
2. Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old.
3. Have a household income less than 185% of the poverty threshold.
4. Have a nutritional need or risk.

What is the income limit for WIC in Maine?

To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants’ income must be less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty level. That’s about $4,109 per month for a family of three.

How much does WIC pay per month in Maine?

Children ages 1—4 will now receive $26 per month, while pregnant and postpartum women receive $47 per month, and breastfeeding women receive $52 per month.

How do I apply for WIC in Maine?

To apply for WIC, contact your nearest WIC office  serving your area. You will be asked to provide proper ID, proof of residence and information about your household income to help determine your eligibility.

MaineCare

MaineCare — formerly known as Medicaid, is a health care coverage for eligible Mainers who couldn’t afford to pay for medical care. MaineCare pays all of the cost for many services. For some services, you may need to co-pay for part of the cost.

MaineCare covers essential health care needs, including visits to your doctor, prescription drugs, treatment for mental health needs and substance abuse disorder, surgery, emergency care, and more.

Who is eligible for MaineCare?

As Maine has expanded its Medicaid, eligibility now includes children ages 0-18, pregnant women, and adults up to age 64 with family income up to 138% of FPL. Children and pregnant women are eligible at higher income levels.

How do I apply for MaineCare for my child?

To see if you or your child is eligible for MaineCare, go to CoverME.gov  or call (855) 797-4357 if you prefer to enroll by phone.

How long does it take to get approved for MaineCare?

It usually takes DHHS a couple weeks to make a decision. If it takes them longer than 45 days, you may be able to get temporary coverage.

Maine Cub Care

Cub Care is the name for Maine’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that provides health coverage for children under age 19 who are over the income limit for MaineCare.

MaineCare and Cub Care provide the same health coverage — the only difference is the low monthly cost for Cub Care. While MaineCare is free, the cost for Cub Care is between $8 and $64 per month based on income level.

All services that are covered by MaineCare are also covered by Cub Care, such as:

• Doctor visits
• Medications
• Behavioral health services
• Inpatient and outpatient hospital visits
• X-rays and labs
• Transportation to MaineCare covered services

If household income is over the limit for MaineCare or Cub Care (CHIP), children with severe disabilities may qualify for full MaineCare coverage through the Katie Beckett Program.

Katie Beckett Program

Children under age 19 with serious health conditions who are over the income level for free MaineCare may get MaineCare coverage through the Katie Beckett  program.

There is no income limit to Katie Beckett eligibility and children enrolled in Katie Beckett pay a low-cost premium for health coverage.

What is the income limit for Cub Care (CHIP)?

Cub Care covers children who live in families with income at or below 213% of the federal poverty level or about $56,765 for a family of three to qualify.

How do I apply for Cub Care for my child?

To apply for Cub Care, go to CoverME.gov  or call (855) 797-4357 if you prefer to enroll by phone or speak with an eligibility specialist.

Maine Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP)

Maine Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) provides child care subsidy for eligible families in Maine who need help paying for child care. It is also available for families where the adult(s) are retired and are the legal guardian of a child.

The subsidy amount varies based on the your gross monthly income, family size, and type and cost of care AND since it is a subsidy, you may be required to pay a portion of child care costs on a sliding scale. This copay is waived for families under 30% of state median income.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Maine?

Starting July 1, 2024 , the income limit for CCAP will increase from 85% to 125% of the state’s median income, expanding access to child care assistance for more families.

Families with gross income less than or equal to 125% of the State Median Income (SMI) are eligible to apply for subsidy. For example, income eligibility limit for a family of three is at or below $10,331 a month.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Maine?

Complete a signed CCSP Application  along with a copy of all required documentation and return it to the address stated in the application.

For additional information or questions, call
Office of Child & Family Services
(877) 680-5866

Maine Section 8 Program

Maine’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rental assistance to income-eligible  tenants by subsidizing a portion of their monthly rents and paying it directly to their landlords.

Eligible participants are free to choose any housing of their choice, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments and are expected to pay no more than 30% of their income for rent.

To apply for Maine Section 8, check the link provided below to see if the county you live in is currently open and accepting new applications.

Apply online at
https://www.affordablehousing.com/mainecwl 

For questions or assistance, call
(866) 357-4853

Maine Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Maine HEAP provides assistance to low income households for their energy bills — primarily to help pay winter home heating bills for those who qualify.

HEAP is targeted to low and very low income Maine homeowners and renters with incomes that fall within the income eligibility guidelines.

Eligible households may receive a one-time credit of up to $1,012. Households with the elderly or disabled or a young child under age 5 are given priority consideration.

What is the income limit for HEAP in Maine?

HEAP serves those with a household income of no more than 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). That’s about $4,959 per month for a family of three.

Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP)

Households who are already enrolled in LIHEAP, will be automatically enrolled in the state’s Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP) program. If qualified for LIAP, you will receive a credit on the bill you receive from your electric utility based on your income and electricity usage.

How do I apply for HEAP in Maine?

Applications for the HEAP Program are handled by your local Community Action Agency. To apply for HEAP, contact the Community Action Agency that serves your county .

Applications for HEAP will open on August 1, 2025, and will remain available until funds are exhausted or until May 29, 2026, whichever comes first.

Maine Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Maine LIHWAP is a temporary emergency program designed to help low-income households and families who have fallen behind on their water and wastewater bills.

Households eligible for LIHWAP benefits will have a one-time credit applied to their water utilities account. It covers unpaid bill balances, property liens for water utility non-payment and bills for customers facing a disconnection notice.

How do I get help with my water bill in Maine?

If you are in danger of falling behind on your water bills and need help, you need to submit a completed application along with copies of the documents listed here  to:

Maine Housing, Energy & Housing Services
26 Edison Drive
Augusta, ME 04330

Maine Unemployment Insurance

Maine Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary weekly financial assistance to eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’ and must have:

1. at least $7,193 in total wages during the base period (the oldest 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters), and
2. at least $2,398 in 2 of the last four quarters.

If your total base-period wages were $7,500, but only one quarter had $2,500 or more in earnings, you would not qualify since Maine requires at least $2,398 to be earned in two separate quarters.

How much unemployment benefits can I get in Maine?

Depending on how much you have earned in your base period, you may receive up to $623 per week for a maximum of 623 weeks of unemployment benefits per year.

In addition, you can receive an additional $25 per week per dependent, capped at 75% of your weekly benefit amount.

How do I apply for unemployment in Maine?

To file a new claim, click here  or if you’ve filed a new claim or reopened a claim in the past two weeks, click here . If you wish to file by phone, call the Unemployment Claims Center at (800) 593-7660.

Maine State Grant Program

Maine State Grant Program is a need-based program that provides grants to undergraduate students in Maine who complete the FAFSA no later than the May 1 deadline.

Because this is a need-based grant, your Student Aid Index (SAI) must not exceed 10,000 to meet the maximum SAI requirement set for each year.

The award amount is up to $2,500 per year for a full-time student. If you are enrolled less than full-time, you may be eligible for a pro-rated amount.

However, funds are limited so you are encouraged to apply early.

Maine Parents as Scholars (PaS)

Parents as Scholars (PaS) is a TANF program that helps low-income parents who are enrolled in two or four-year college studies with:

• up to $3,500 for tuition costs per academic year,
• monthly cash benefits equal to TANF cash benefits, and
• support services including child-care, transportation reimbursement, car repairs, book and supplies.

Parents as Scholars participants must be enrolled for 12 credits each semester, spend at least 20 hours per week in the program and maintain a GPA of 2.0.

Parents may apply for the PaS Program at the time of application for TANF, or any time while receiving TANF benefits.

Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE)

Another program offered by DHHS to assist low-income Maine families pursue training and education beyond high school is the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment  or the HOPE Program.

Whether you are seeking a short-term training certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree, the HOPE Program has the tools and resources to help you.

The HOPE and PaS Programs offer support in covering many of the costs related to training and education — up to $6,000 for tuition costs per academic year.

The HOPE program is for parents or caretakers who earn less than 225% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or about $3,966 per month for a two-person household. ³

Along with financial support, a core component of both the HOPE and PaS programs is Pathway Navigator services provided by Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG).

Your JMG Pathway Navigator will help you problem-solve both academic and personal obstacles that may get in your way as you pursue your credential.

More information about the Pathway Navigator program is available on the JMG website  or call (207) 620-7180.

Maine Earned Income Tax Credit

Maine has officially become the 22^nd state with a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), leaving behind Hawaii, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia as the only six states that offer credit with no refundable portion.

For years, Maine’s EITC remains one of the smallest in the nation at 12 percent. The recent EITC expansion increased the state EITC from 12 percent to 25 percent for earners with children.

For filers who are 18 to 24 years of age with no qualifying children, the credit is set at 50 percent.

How much is Maine Earned Income Credit?

Can I get a refund if I owe no tax?

If your Maine EITC is $2,012 and you owe $1,000 in state income tax, the credit cancels your tax bill and you receive the remaining $1,012 as a refund as illustrated in the table below:

How do I claim the Maine EIC?

To claim the credit, file Form 1040ME, Schedule A, and the Worksheet for Earned Income Tax Credit. Maine tax forms are available here .