More than 500,000 Mainers are expected to receive $300 checks from the state government through the mail.

Funded straight out of Maine’s rainy-day piggy bank, the “affordability checks” are being sent automatically to people who meet two conditions: They filed their 2025 state taxes and earned below a certain income threshold.

Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services spokesperson Sharon Huntley said that as of Thursday, the state had already sent 367,211 checks out of an expected 514,000.

Here’s how to make sure you’re one of those 514,000.

I DIDN’T FILE STATE TAXES. CAN I STILL GET MY CHECK?

If you file a return by Oct. 15, yes.

Thousands of Mainers who are on Social Security or other benefits may not have filed state income taxes because they would not ordinarily need to; ordinarily, government-provided income is not taxable. (This $300 check may be subject to federal income tax.)

Those Mainers are therefore not eligible for a check. If that’s you, there’s no $300 in the mail for you — yet.

Even if you file a state tax return on the deadline, Oct. 15, you should receive an affordability check within two weeks, said Huntley, the DAFS spokesperson.

WHAT ARE THOSE INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?

For a person filing their taxes individually, the cutoff is $50,000 earned in 2025.

For a head of household, it’s $75,000.

A married couple filing jointly who earned under $100,000 in 2025 would also be eligible. Two separate checks, one to each spouse, will be sent if the couple qualifies.

When Gov. Janet Mills proposed the $300 affordability checks originally, the income threshold was higher — $75,000 for an individual filer and $150,000 for married joint-filers. State lawmakers reduced the limit to rein in spending.

I HAVEN’T GOTTEN MY CHECK. WHEN IS IT COMING?

You can use this form on the state’s website for an update on the status of your check. Have your Social Security number ready.

For further questions, reach out to Maine Revenue Services’ affordability payment helpline at (207) 624-9924.

MY DOG ATE MY CHECK. CAN I GET A NEW ONE?

Hey, it’s all right. Happens to the best of us.

This is another job for the Maine Revenue Services’ affordability check helpline. Call them at (207) 624-9924 to begin the reissuing process.

The state also answers other frequently asked questions on the affordability check landing page.