The links below will take you to a national legal services "automated documents" website: LawHelp Interactive. There we have created a streamlined interview. It will ask you a few questions about your household make-up and income. When you're done, you will get an estimate of the dollar amount you could receive each month, to help you buy food, if you are otherwise eligible. Read more important details on using the estimator tool.
March 2020 Notice: We have not yet completed annual updates for 2019-2020. We are working to have these completed as soon as possible.
Option 1
Use our "short forms." The document you generate will tell you the information you entered and the estimated amount of food supplements for a household your size.
- For households WITH NO elderly or disabled member (updated for October 2018)
- For households WITH an elderly or disabled member (updated for October 2018)
Option 2
Use our "long forms." You can use the same program to print out a 6-page form that shows all of the calculations used.
- For households WITH NO elderly or disabled member (updated for October 2018)
- For households WITH an elderly or disabled member (updated for October 2018).
What these Estimators do - and don't do.
Two eligibility tests:
- Income, and
- Assets
This calculator will help you to estimate the amount of the monthly food supplement you can get, based on your household size and income. To qualify you may also be subject to an "asset test." Most households are not subject to an asset test. But the asset tests still apply to some households. Read more about how DHHS counts assets for this program.
And there are other non-financial eligibility tests that are too numerous to mention here.
If I think I qualify, how do I apply?
You can apply online at My Maine Connection.
Find more DHHS information here.
If you need help in person or by phone, try contacting your local DHHS office.
What if I'm not sure about some of my answers to the Estimator questions?
More information about food supplement program rules (MEJP website)
Maine Food Supplement Program (DHHS page) - includes link to an application form
The Estimator is just that; it only estimates your benefit amount. If your monthly income and household size are simple to define, the Estimator may come up with the exact amount of your food supplement grant. But in some cases, more complicated rules apply. It may not be clear at first who belongs to the food supplement household or how income should be counted.
For example, if your household includes boarders or unrelated roommates, or your income is from self-employment or seasonal work, you will probably need to consult with a DHHS worker about how the rules apply to you. The full set of Maine's Food Supplement Program rules are published online. If you run into problems or have more questions about your eligibility, contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance.
Some college students can qualify for Food Supplements. Read more.
How does the online Estimator work and how private is it?
When you get to the LawHelp Interactive (LHI) site, if you don't care about saving your information online, choose the "Proceed" button option. Answer the questions. When you get to the end of the interview, you can view a document that repeats your answers and gives you a monthly benefit estimate. You can also print it.
Use the "Sign Up To Save Your Work" option on the LHI site if you want to save your information and come back to it later. You will also be able to view and print your document.
Either way, you are the only one who sees your information. Go to the footer links at the bottom of the LHI site to find their full Privacy Policy.
If you have problems, comments or ideas about how to make these automated forms work better, please let us know by using our feedback form.
Learn more about the national LawHelp Interactive project by going to the site's "Frequently Asked Questions" link in the footer on the LHI site.
Updated October 2018
PTLA #731