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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 10 No. 2 |
June 2006 |
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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 10 No. 2 |
June 2006 |
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Important Food Stamp InformationBe sure to read this if you are receiving food stamps and:
Spread the word! Copy and distribute .pdf flier.
- You are between the ages of 18 and 50; and
- Have no children under the age of 18 living with you.
Federal law limits Food Stamp benefits to people between the ages of 18 and 50 with no minor children at home to 3-months in a 36-month period. For the last three years, no one in Maine has been affected by this time limit. This is because federal law allows us to “exempt” a certain number of people and we had enough exemptions to cover everyone who would have been affected by the time limit.
Unfortunately, we have now run out of exemptions. Beginning on July 1, 2006 the 3-month time limit will apply in Maine. This means that some people will begin to lose food stamps on October 1st. But, it does not mean that everyone in this group will lose their food stamps. There are still some very important exceptions to the 3-month time limit on food stamp benefits.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 50 without dependents, you can receive food stamps for more than 3-months in a 36-month period if:
- You are working at a job at least an average of 20 hours a week;
- You are earning at least 30 times the federal minimum wage ($154.50 a week);
- You are, or will be, in a training program an average of at least 20 hours a week;
- You are doing volunteer community service for at least 24 hours a month;
- You are a migrant or seasonal farm worker with a contract to begin work in the next 30 days;
- You must take care of a child under 18 even if you are not the parent or step-parent of the child and even if that child is not on food stamps;
- You must take care of an adult who needs help taking care of his or herself;
- You are not able to work 30-hours a week because of a physical or mental health problem (even if you have not been found officially “disabled”);
- You are pregnant;
- You are getting unemployment benefits;
- You are going to school at least half-time and otherwise qualify for food stamps; OR
- You are in a drug or alcohol treatment program.
If you meet any one of the requirements listed above, your food stamps will not be limited to 3-months in a 36-month period.
In addition, the 3-month time limit does not apply in certain geographic areas of the State with high unemployment.
Right now those areas include all of Franklin, Oxford, Piscataquis, Somerset and Washington Counties. Certain towns in other counties are also exempt. A complete list of these geographic areas can be found in the Maine Food Stamp Rules. (Go to 100’s GENERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS/NONFINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY FACTORS. Then go to section 111-7 page 1a. This page is also page 43 if you’re scrolling down.)
This list will change over the next few month. You can ask your food stamp worker if your town is exempt just to be sure.
If you are cut off from food stamps because of the 3-month time limit, you can re-qualify at any time if you meet one of the items listed at numbers 5 through 12 above. To re-qualify under #1-4 above, you must—during a 30-day period—meet one of these tests:
- Work for 80 hours in a 30-day period;
- If self-employed earn at least the federal minimum wage for 80 hours of work ($412);
- Participate in an employment or training program for at least 80 hours (job search programs do not count); OR
- Participate in a volunteer community service program for at least 24 hours.
Respond to DHHS notice—Don’t delay!
If you are receiving food stamps and may be affected by the 3-month time limit, you will get a notice from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) soon. This notice will tell you that your food stamps may end on September 30th. It will list the groups of people who can get food stamps for more than three months and ask you if you are in one of those groups. If you are in one of those groups, send the form back in or call your food stamp worker right away.
For more information call your DHHS food stamp worker.
You can also call Maine Equal Justice toll-free at: 1-866-626-7059.
