Maine Food Stamps Stores Near You

Maine Food Retailers Accepting The Pine Tree EBT Card

Find Maine Food Stamps Stores near you, where Maine Food Stamps recipients of SNAP assistance can buy the food they need using their Maine Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, or The Pine Tree Card.

Use our Helping Americans Find Help™ retailer locator to search by zip code, city, county, address, or store name for Maine Food Stamps Stores near your location.

Also, if you prefer to order your groceries online, use this map to find out which online stores accept EBT SNAP cards in your State.

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We accept EBT cards here!

The Food Stamps EBT card – How to Get One?

Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT card is an automated payment system created by the federal government that is being used for distributing nutrition assistance benefits. The EBT card system facilitates food stamps benefits payments to households and individuals who qualify. Those who meet nutrition assistance and food stamps requirements are approved by the local Maine food stamp office and get the EBT card that can be used in all Maine Food Stamps Retail Stores. In other words, the EBT card helps you get your food stamps without going to the food stamp office or your mailbox.

How Do I Qualify for Food Stamps EBT card?

The first question you are probably asking yourself is: am I eligible to get Food Stamps at this time? To a large extent, you may be able to answer it by following our Maine Food Assistance guide. But keep in mind that your local Maine food stamp office makes the final decision about your food stamps eligibility and the EBT card. In fact, you will be able to find out if you will get the food stamps only after you apply and go through the full application process. The food stamps application process includes an interview and providing all required documents.

Food Stamps or SNAP nutrition assistance is probably the most popular and used assistance government program. On average, about 40 million Americans are getting food stamp benefits each month and buying food at food stamps retail stores. Here is the most recent data we have about how many people in Maine State get Food Stamp (SNAP) Benefits in June to buy food at Maine Authorized Food Stamps Stores.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St.Louis Economic Data

Food Stamps Basic Eligibility Requirements

And unlike most government assistance programs that require extensive proof and verification, the Food Stamps Program (federally known as SNAP) is a federal entitlement program. That means there are enough food stamps for everybody that qualifies under the SNAP eligibility rules.

Three main requirements are ruling your eligibility for the SNAP food stamps benefits:

1. Income Requirements – gross and/or net income limits
2. Resource Requirements – cash at hand limits $2,250/$3,500
3. Work Requirements – able-bodied adults ages 18-49 need to work

Each of the above main food stamps or so-called SNAP eligibility requirements has a long list of specifics and details. But a good starting point is the gross and net income limit that qualifies you for the food stamps or the SNAP benefits.

The Maine food stamp office needs to know the size of your household first. Then it looks at the gross monthly income limits and the net monthly income limits of the household. The SNAP and food stamps qualification income limits are based on the poverty line established each year. In general, the food stamps income limits are adjusted for inflation and increase each year.

Check the latest up to date SNAP Max Income for Food Stamps table. It is published each fiscal year by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and it is called SNAP Income Eligibility Standards.

What is the gross and net income limit that qualifies you for food stamps?

SNAP Max Income for Food Stamps
Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020 

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 Source:  USDA, SNAP Income Eligibility Standards

Keep in mind that the gross monthly income includes earned and unearned income. Earned income is the money you get from working, like your paycheck.

Unearned income includes money you are getting from sources like Cash Assistance Government Program, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance Benefits, etc.

If you are getting child support payments, you must include them in your gross income calculation. Learn more about the SNAP food stamps eligibility on the federal level here.

Other Eligibility Requirements to Get the EBT Card and Food Stamps Benefits

In addition to the three main food stamps eligibility requirements, there are so-called Other Eligibility Requirements. Notably, as a food stamps recipient, you must have a social security number and be a citizen or lawfully present non-citizen.

Different applicant categories have various additional eligibility requirements for getting food stamps benefits in their EBT card account every month.

If you are under the age of 18, pregnant, disabled, or elderly, you may be exempt from the work requirements. All others without dependents can get the food stamps and the EBT card but for a limited time – in a total of 3 months for 36 months. Here, there are exemptions also – like enrolling in a state-approved workforce program or training for a new job.

Also, each state may have additional specific requirements that must be met to qualify for food stamps and get the EBT card. Learn more about Who is eligible for SNAP benefits (Food Stamps) in Maine?

The SNAP or Food Stamps help specific categories of low-income individuals that need food assistance.

How to Apply for Maine Food Stamps and the Pine Tree EBT Card?

To get the EBT Card and use it in the Maine food stamps authorized stores first, you must get approved for food stamps benefits from the Maine food stamp office.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) administers the Food Supplement Program (federally known as SNAP), or the food stamps as it is generally known in Maine and elsewhere.

The Office of Family Independence (OFI) which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides the SNAP food stamps application and conducts interviews. If you need food assistance in the State of Maine you can go directly to the local OFI and complete an interview. You can complete the interview over the phone as well. In such a case, the complete form from the interview will be mailed to you for signature.

Also, you can apply for Maine food stamps benefits online by visiting My Maine Connection Portal –  an online service provided by the Maine DHSS. You have to register and open an account with Maine DHSS. Then you must fill out all the required information online. When your application is complete, the local food stamp office (the OFI) in the county where you live will receive it. Next, you will get an appointment for an interview with an OFI food assistance worker. Once approved for Maine food assistance, the food assistance office will mail you an EBT card. The EBT card can buy you the food you need in all Maine food stamps authorized stores listed on this webpage table.

Keep in mind that during the food stamps application process, you can access online your case information and follow the application process. When approved, you will be able to manage your food stamp benefits online, including reporting any change in your situation and renewing your food assistance benefits. Click here to find the Food Assistance office near you.

Content: Alex Hill, HAFH Team
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Updated Sep 25, 2024

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