food stamps

Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree have accused the Trump administration of targeting hungry people as it threatens to cut off some SNAP funding to about 20 left-leaning states. But the Trump administration says it needs personal data on all SNAP recipients nationwide to root out fraud and waste in the food stamps program.

Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she is negotiating with a bipartisan group on a potential compromise to end the government shutdown, although any deal would have to be endorsed by Democratic and Republican leaders.

The state money, plus $250,000 from a foundation, aims to boost food pantries and other programs as 170,000 Maine residents face the loss of SNAP or food stamp benefits.

An official with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services said this is the single largest electronic fraud incident to hit the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

So far this week, about 300 households have lost approximately $76,000 in benefits. That figure may rise, however. And the state officials say federal rules prohibit them from replacing stolen benefits.

Republicans are looking to cut nearly $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — formerly known as food stamps — in part by requiring states to share the costs of paying out benefits.

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…

The Trump Administration has finalized new rules that state officials say would make more than one-thousand Mainers ineligible for food assistance,…

The Trump administration has finalized a rule to limit food stamp benefits for single able-bodied adults who can't show that they work more than 20 hours a week, though legal challenges are possible.

Officials from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services say more than 44,000 Mainers would lose food assistance under a rule change proposed by…