Income, household size, and deductible expenses are the determining factors in a household’s eligibility. Eligibility for the SNAP program is determined by income. The majority of low-income households are eligible regardless of whether or not their household has children, receive TANF, or receive disability. Many working households receive benefits. 

The OFI will look at a household’s gross income, which is a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made and a household’s net income, which is the net income minus deductions. The main determinant is net income. Current USDA income eligibility guidelines are available to view here.

A ‘household’ is everyone you live with who you regularly buy food and prepare meals with. You do not have to be related to other members of your household (i.e. roommates) nor do you have to be in the same SNAP household if you shop and cook meals separately.

View gross income (total monthly household income before taxes, including job, self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker's comp, unemployment, and pension income) and net income (a household's gross income minus deductions. SNAP benefit amounts are based on a household's net income) eligibility for various household sizes here.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s Maine SNAP Benefits Estimator is a helpful resource regarding your specific household’s likely benefit allocation.

A note from PTLA and MCHPP: Eligibility for SNAP can be complicated. We cannot guarantee the result from this calculator will be the amount of SNAP benefits you get, if you are eligible. But it can help you understand how those calculations work, and get an idea of what SNAP benefits you may be eligible for.

You can use your SNAP benefits through your Pine Tree Card (also called an EBT Card) to buy food at local stores and participating online retailers.

In an emergency, a new SNAP household can get help by the end of the day you file your application.

If you are in an ‘emergency’, tell DHHS when you apply and ask for “expedited” benefits. Your household is in an “emergency” if:

• Your gross (before taxes) monthly income is less than $150, and liquid assets are $100 or less

• Your gross monthly income and liquid assets are less than your monthly rent/mortgage and utilities,

• 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.

Maine households can apply for SNAP many ways!

• Apply for benefits through My Maine Connection

• Mail, email, or fax a paper application to: 

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

  • Email: Farmington.DHHS@Maine.gov

  • Fax: 207-778-8429

• Visit your local DHHS office and apply in person. 

• Call your local DHHS office and apply over the phone

MCHPP also offers SNAP application assistance either in-person or by phone.

• In-person assistance is available: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11am-3pm.

• Schedule an appointment based on current availability.

• If you have a quick question regarding the application process or recertification, you can call 207-725-2716 x308.

When submitting your application, you will be asked to provide additional  documentation to show proof of income and proof of Maine residency.

• If you are employed, provide a copy of your last two paycheck stubs. 

• If you are unemployed, you may provide a screenshot of your checking account or your last two pay stubs if recently laid off.

• If you receive other forms of income (Social Security Benefits, Unemployment, SSI, Veteran’s Benefits) you should submit documentation confirming your information.

Any unspent SNAP dollars roll over month to month. However, benefits are removed from the EBT card after 9 months of inactivity, so make sure to use your card every now and then to purchase items.