The two main things that decide if you can get help are how many people live in your home and how much money you make. Eligibility is determined by how many people live in your home and household income. You might qualify even if you work, don’t have children, or already receive disability benefits.

OFI looks at your net income, which is the money you have left over after "deductions" are taken out of your pay. This includes personal deductions like rent, mortgage payments, heating bills, or childcare.

Net income is the most important factor. Even if you think you make too much money, your high monthly bills (like housing) might bring your "net income" low enough to qualify you for SNAP.

How to Check if You Qualify
You don’t have to guess! You can find out quickly by using a Pre-Screening Tool. This is a short list of questions that tells you if you are likely to get benefits.

• Check online: Visit the My Maine Connection website.

• Check with us: You can also use the pre-screening tool right here on the MCHPP website.

View income eligibility information based on household size here.

For SNAP, a ‘household’ isn't just the people who live under your roof. It is everyone you live with who you usually shop for food and cook meals with.

• Roommates: If you have a roommate but you buy and cook your own food separately, you are two separate households. You can each apply on your own.

• Family: Usually, if you live with a spouse or your children (under age 22), the state considers you one household even if you cook separately.

Because every family’s bills are different, the amount of SNAP you get varies. You can use Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s Maine SNAP Benefits Estimator to get a “best guess” for your family.

A quick note: SNAP rules can be complicated! This calculator is a great tool to help you understand how the math works, but it isn't a promise. Only the Maine DHHS can give you a final answer on your benefits after you apply.

You can use your SNAP benefits through your Pine Tree Card (also called an EBT Card) to buy food at local stores, participating online retailers, and Farmers’ Markets across the state.

The Maine Harvest Bucks program offers bonuses to people using their EBT cards at participating farmers’ markets, CSA farms, and farms stands

In an emergency, you might be able to get SNAP benefits by the end of the day you apply. This is called "Expedited SNAP."

You may qualify for emergency help if:

• Your household has less than $150 in monthly before tax income and $100 or less in the bank.

• Your monthly housing and utility bills are more than the money you have coming in.

• You are a migrant farmworker household with less than $100 in liquid assets, and you got all of your income for the month before you applied for SNAP from a job you no longer have, and you don’t expect to get more than $25 from any new source of income for at least the next 10 days.

Tip: If you are in an emergency, tell the DHHS office immediately when you apply and ask for "Expedited" help.

Maine households can apply for SNAP many ways!

• Online: Use the My Maine Connection website.

• Paper: You can mail, email, or fax a paper form to the Farmington DHHS office

  • Mail: 

    • Office for Family Independence, 114 Corn Shop Lane, Farmington, ME 04938 

• Email: Farmington.DHHS@Maine.gov

• Fax: 207-778-8429

• By Phone: Call your local DHHS office and apply over the phone

• In-Person: Visit your local DHHS office and apply in person. 

Need a hand? MCHPP offers free help with the paperwork! You can schedule an appointment or call us with quick questions at 207-725-2716 x 308.

To finish your application, you must show "proof" of your income and Maine residency. Usually, this means:

• If you have a job: Copies of your last four week’s paystubs.

• If you don’t have a job: Written notice of termination and stubs for any income received this month.

• Other Income: Proof of Social Security, Unemployment, or Veteran’s Benefits.

Address: Something that shows you live in Maine (like a utility bill or lease).

No! If you don’t use all your SNAP money this month, it "rolls over" to next month. However, if you don't use your card at all for 9 months, the money will be removed. Try to use your card at least once every few months.

ABAWDs are individuals aged 18–64 without a disability determination who do not have children under the age of 14 at home and must follow "work rules" to keep their benefits. To stay eligible, you usually need to do one of these:

• Work a paid job for 80 hours per month.

• Volunteer every month, volunteer hours are based on the amount of benefits you receive.

• A combination of working for pay and volunteering

• Participate in a work training program.

Who is Exempt from Work Requirements?

You do not have to meet the 80-hour rule if you are:

• Pregnant

• Caring for a child under the age of 6 or someone who is disabled

• Anyone in the household is under the age of 14

• In a treatment program for drugs or alcohol

• Unable to work because of a mental or physical limitation

• A student enrolled at least part time in school, but college students have other eligibility rules, learn more here.

Maine Equal Justice offers a helpful chart about who’s exempt from work requirements, check it out here.