Money for all: Panel to explore idea of basic income payments for Mainers

A special legislative panel that's set to hold its first meeting Friday will consider the kind of system that other nations and states are trying to combat poverty.

Asylum seekers welcomed to Maine with a ‘beautiful and wonderful’ July Fourth picnic

Despite a political divide over immigration nationally, large numbers of volunteers donate food, services or time to welcome 150-plus recently arrived asylum seekers sheltering in Portland.

Maine House votes to relax welfare restrictions on asylum seekers

The bill, which has gained urgency following the surge of asylum seekers to Portland, provides no money but directs DHHS to offer non-citizens welfare 'within available resources.'

Donald Trump may redefine poverty, cutting Americans from welfare rolls

The possible move would involve changing how inflation is calculated in the "official poverty measure," the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a regulatory filing Monday.

Mills administration ends ‘ineffective policy’ of putting photos on food stamp cards

The policy established under Gov. Paul LePage encouraged participants to have their photos on their benefit cards.

Lawmakers consider bills to reinstate asylum seekers’ access to welfare benefits

Welfare reforms pushed by former Gov. Paul LePage and the Republican-controlled Legislature eight years ago eliminated access to some assistance programs for non-citizens.

Opposition mounts to Trump plan to extend work requirement for SNAP benefits

Jared Golden said he might support the change, as long as it doesn't hurt children or seniors, while Maine's senators and Chellie Pingree oppose it.

Maine to triple food assistance benefits

Food assistance benefits are set to triple in Maine starting in March

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.

Maine sees many welfare fraud claims but few prosecutions