The Department of Health and Human Services says low-income Mainers will see a boost in food benefits and quicker access to the general assistance program to help deal with job losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Maine has received additional federal funding from the Supplemental Nutrition program, commonly known as food stamps, to provide over $11 million in additional benefits this month. DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew says the agency also has changed the process for applications for the local and state- funded general assistance program.
“That means that they can more quickly pay for housing, food and electricity costs and that is funded by the state and we can afford to pay for that.”
Lambrew says all of the programs involved have seen a surge in applications and the additional aid will continue for several months or until the expiration of the Governor’s executive order directing the increases.
“We’ve had a surge in applications given what has been going on in the economy, and we have taken these actions for a period of time either through the end of the declaration by the governor, or for several months.”
