U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has lashed out at Gov. Paul LePage for reducing the number of people on food stamps the wrong way. Vilsack told The Huffington Post on Wednesday that the LePage administration has simply kicked people out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program without doing enough to help them achieve financial independence. “I […]
food stamps
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
More Americans using food stamps, at a higher cost
Wendee Crofoot lost her job as a fundraiser for a nonprofit in 2011. After exhausting her savings and giving up her Mountain View, California, apartment she ended up working part-time as a restaurant cashier. The low pay qualified her for food stamps,so she signed up. “It wasn’t something I imagined would ever happen,” said Crofoot, […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine
Poliquin says bill would close federal loophole keep terrorists from food stamps
LEWISTON — Maine’s 2nd District U.S. congressman said Thursday he wants to make sure those convicted of federal terrorism crimes are not allowed to receive welfare benefits after they have served their prison sentences. U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, said current law allows some categories of terrorist criminals to apply for and receive benefits […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
USDA says Maine is too slow to process SNAP applications
AUGUSTA — The United States Department of Agriculture says Maine is the slowest state in the country at processing applications for food stamps. Officials with the USDA sent a letter to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 7 that says data for the first six months of this year show the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine to try another soda, candy ban for food stamps
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said Monday that it has asked the federal government to allow it to ban the purchase of soda and candy with food stamps. It’s a longstanding goal of the Republican governor that is virtually assured to fail: States can’t regulate purchases under the federal and state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine has fewest residents on SNAP since 2009
AUGUSTA — Maine health and human services officials say the number of state residents enrolled in the food stamps program has dropped below 200,000 for the first time in more than six years. The state Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Family Independence says 199,157 people were enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, […]
Posted inMaine
Paul LePage wants to limit SNAP recipients to $5,000 in assets
Poll: Should Maine deny food stamps to applicants with more than $5,000 in assets? AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has announced new rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. LePage’s administration said any person applying for SNAP benefits would be ineligible if they had more than $5,000 in personal assets. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poll: Should Maine deny food stamps to applicants with more than $5,000 in assets?
Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced a new rule that any person applying for SNAP benefits would be ineligible if they had more than $5,000 in personal assets. But advocates for the poor said Wednesday the proposal wasn’t real welfare reform but more of the same from Gov. Paul LePage’s administration. Should Maine deny […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Rumford man pleads guilty to water-dumping scam
RUMFORD — A Rumford man pleaded guilty Monday in Rumford District Court to scamming state benefits by returning dumped water bottles for deposit. Richard J. Maloy, 49, of Waldo Street, was convicted of trafficking in benefits, fined $200 by Justice Nancy Carlson and ordered to pay $20.94 restitution by Aug. 3 to the Maine Department […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Work waiver for some food stamp users passes Maine House
AUGUSTA — Maine’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives backed a bill Wednesday to waive work requirements for some food stamp recipients, but the measure doesn’t appear to have enough support to survive a near certain veto from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Since October, healthy adults without children have had to work at least 20 hours a week, […]