The monthly amount for those who work 30 hours per week, or 20 hours if they have a small child, will jump from $15 to $50, paid for with federal funds that went unspent by the LePage administration.
welfare
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine sees many welfare fraud claims, but few prosecutions
The attorney general’s office doesn’t have figures on which cases have been prosecuted so far.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Mainers to get food stamps early so shutdown won’t leave them without February benefits
About one in seven Maine families relies on food stamps, including many households with elderly or disabled residents.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine DHHS starts rulemaking process on public assistance for asylum seekers
Gov. Janet Mills does not plan to change rules proposed by the LePage administration after a court decision forcing the state to restore benefits it had been denying.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Maine watchdog calls for more transparency of welfare spending
The state’s human services agency didn’t provide any written documentation about its decision-making process, says the director of the legislative watchdog office.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Bipartisan bill to expand education program for low-income Mainers draws support
The legislation sponsored by Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon would leverage federal funds to expand an under-used program known as Parents as Scholars.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime
Westbrook brothers plead not guilty to welfare fraud
They are accused of using a Portland grocery store owned by the older brother to defraud the government in a cash-back scheme involving welfare benefits.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Westbrook brothers charged with plotting welfare fraud at Portland store
Officials say the men schemed to divert tens of thousands of federal benefit dollars at Ahram Halal Market, a small store on Forest Avenue.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Bill would help Portland seek reimbursement for shelter, General Assistance aid
The proposed changes to the residency determination process would make the jurisdiction where a person lived before applying for aid responsible for the costs.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
LePage asking again to ban use of food stamps to buy candy, soda
This is the second time the Maine Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a federal waiver to block the sales.