Publications

Maine has expanded MaineCare (Medicaid) to cover all adults between the ages 19 and 64 and whose income is below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. Use this calculator to see if you can get help.

2019 poverty and hardship data for Maine released today by the Census Bureau show that Mainers were already facing hardships, and more recent data reflect an even harsher reality. While the 2019 data show a slight reduction in official poverty rates in the state (10.9% of Mainers experiencing poverty in 2019, compared to 11.6% for 2018), we are in a completely different world now. More recent data reflect our reality: Mainers are suffering from a pandemic and a recession that show no signs of abating soon, and the need for relief from Washington is urgent.

If you are an immigrant and not yet a naturalized citizen, you are eligible to receive a rebate check if you meet the income criteria (adjusted gross income less than $99,000 if you are single or $198,000 if you are a married couple) and meet other criteria. 

Congratulations to the August Winners of the Stimulus Story Contest! Submit your own story at maineequaljustice.org

Congratulations to the October Winners of the Stimulus Story Contest! The story contest has ended, for now. Thank you to all who participated!

This report illustrates the ways in which SNAP is a key tool for low-income Mainers to construct a path out of poverty and toward a more financially secure future.

Nearly one in eight Maine children is growing up poor with an average household income of less than $12,000 a year. One out of every five is food insecure, living in families that worry whether they will have enough to eat. Child poverty weighs all of us down — it challenges our schools, our health care system, our communities, and our economy.

Across Maine, immigrants are building new lives for their families and strengthening our communities. From Madawaska to Kittery and Lewiston to Millbridge, immigrants who have made their home here are making our state stronger.

Join with Maine Equal Justice to move DHHS towards real change. Together we can push for a vision where people’s experiences and dignity are at the center of DHHS practice. Many reforms can also help DHHS to be more efficient and effective with stronger oversight of critical anti-poverty programs.

Information about TANF benefits for minors who are parents