SNAP and food help for older adults in Maine

SNAP for older adults

SNAP (also called the Food Supplement program) is run by the Office for Family Independence (OFI) at Maine DHHS. Benefits come on an EBT card.

Rules that matter if you are 60 or older

• Income: Gross household income up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Some households over this limit can still qualify, so apply if you are close.
• Medical costs: If you are 60 or older or disabled, OFI can deduct medical costs you pay yourself. Keep proof, such as insurance premium statements, pharmacy receipts for over-the-counter medicine, bills for glasses or hearing aids, bills that show what you owe after insurance, and records of mileage and lodging for medical travel.
• Work rules: The general SNAP work rules apply to people 16 to 59, so they do not apply to you after 60.
• Reporting: You approve for 12 months at a time. A six-month report is needed only if someone in the home has job earnings, or if someone 18 to 59 does not have a disabling condition. A home where everyone is 60 or older with no earnings does not need it.

How to apply for SNAP

1. Apply:
   • Online: MyMaineConnection.gov.
   • Phone: 1-855-797-4357 (interpreters available).
   • Mail: Office for Family Independence, 114 Corn Shop Lane, Farmington, ME 04938.
   • Email: [email protected]. Fax: (207) 778-8429.
   • In person: a DHHS regional office.
2. Interview: Everyone has an interview, by phone or in person. It takes about 30 minutes.
3. Send proof when asked. You have 10 days.
4. Decision: OFI has 30 days to decide. New members get an EBT card in 5 to 7 days after approval.

After you are approved

• Renewal: Every 12 months, with a renewal form, proof and usually an interview.
• Using your card: It works in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. To use it in another state, call OFI at 1-855-797-4357, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. If your benefits are stolen, call 1-800-477-7428.
• If you are denied: You can send more information within 30 days to change the decision, or ask for an administrative hearing within 30 days of the denial. Your letter explains how.

Maine Senior FarmShare

Run by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, with more than 60 farms in all 16 counties.

Who qualifies

• You live in Maine and are 60 or older (55 or older for Native Americans).
• Adults with a disability who live in housing mainly for older people, where group meals are served, may also qualify.
• Your household's yearly gross income is at or below:

What you get

A free share worth $50 of local fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs and honey during the growing season. You choose one farm or one farmers' market for the year. You can pick any participating farm, not just one in your county.

How to sign up

• Farm share: Enroll online through the program's eEnrollment. You need an email address, but it can be a helper's. If neither of you has email, you can ask for a waiver.
• Farmers' market: Sign up in person at the information booth of a participating market, starting the first week of June.
• When: Enrollment opens each spring. Sign up for email alerts on the program's web page, or call to check the date.
• Getting help (proxy): A relative, friend, neighbor, housing staff member or caseworker can apply, shop, pick up or receive deliveries for you. Sign the Proxy Designation Form first. Send it to [email protected] or Maine Senior FarmShare Program, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04443.
• Questions: Senior FarmShare, (207) 287-3491, or your Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771 (TTY Maine Relay 711).

Monthly senior food box (Commodity Supplemental Food Program)

Older adults with low income can get a monthly box of shelf-stable food such as grains, proteins and canned fruits and vegetables. Local agencies give out the boxes, so contact the one for your county. Call 207-287-7513 to find it.

Senior meals

Maine's five Area Agencies on Aging can help you find group meals and home-delivered meals. Call 1-877-353-3771 and choose your county.

Common mistakes

• Not listing medical costs on your SNAP application. They can raise your benefit.
• Missing FarmShare sign-up. You must enroll each year when it opens in spring.
• Choosing two farms. You can enroll with only one farm or market a year.
• Not using a helper. If getting to a farm is hard, a proxy can pick up for you.

Free help

• Area Agencies on Aging (ADRC): 1-877-353-3771.
• OFI: 1-855-797-4357.

See all benefits in Maine.

Phone numbers: Free help lines for Maine agencies

Check what you may qualify for