welfare
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PublishedMarch 1, 2019
Maine to triple benefits for some food assistance recipients
The monthly benefits for certain working families that also receive food assistance increase this month.
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PublishedFebruary 20, 2019
Mills administration will increase supplemental food stamp benefit for working Mainers
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.
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PublishedFebruary 5, 2019
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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PublishedJanuary 14, 2019
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.
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PublishedJanuary 7, 2019
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.
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PublishedSeptember 24, 2018
Our View: Homelessness is a statewide problem, not a local one
The failure of Maine's government to address drug abuse and mental illness creates an unfair burden for Portland taxpayers.
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PublishedAugust 31, 2018
Our View: Changes to national rules on food stamps will only add to hunger
Visiting an Auburn food bank, Rep. Bruce Poliquin pushes a work mandate that's already left Mainers worse off.
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PublishedJune 28, 2018
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.
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PublishedFebruary 14, 2018
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.
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PublishedAugust 6, 2017
Commentary: TANF worked, but reforms are sorely needed
Work requirements have eroded and states have found ways to game the system.