Government Benefits in Maine

Where Maine residents apply for SNAP, Medicaid, home energy assistance, and unemployment insurance, plus every nationwide program available to everyone.

4 Maine Programs

How This Works

SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, and unemployment insurance are all administered at the state level, so each state runs its own application portal and sets some of its own rules — including, for Medicaid, whether the state expanded eligibility to more adults under the Affordable Care Act, and for unemployment insurance, the maximum weekly benefit and how long you can collect it. The cards below link you straight to Maine's official application system for each program. Exact SNAP/Medicaid income limits change with annual poverty-guideline updates, so we intentionally don't publish a specific number for those — the portal will show your exact cutoff for your household size. Unemployment insurance figures below are official published caps from the U.S. Department of Labor, current as of January 2026.

Food Supplement Program (SNAP)

ME Dept. of Health & Human Services

The portal also screens for MaineCare (Medicaid) and other DHHS programs.

Apply on My Maine Connection ↗

MaineCare (Medicaid)

Medicaid Expanded

ME Dept. of Health & Human Services

Maine expanded Medicaid, so adults without dependent children can qualify based on income alone.

Apply for MaineCare ↗

LIHEAP (Home Energy Assistance)

MaineHousing

Administered through community action agencies statewide.

Find Your Local LIHEAP Provider ↗

Unemployment Insurance

Has Waiting Week

ME Dept. of Labor

Max Weekly

$623 (up to $1,090 with dependents)

Min Weekly

$108

Max Duration

up to 26 weeks

Dependency allowances can significantly raise your weekly amount.

File a Claim ↗

Looking for more programs available to Maine residents?

Maine residents also qualify for every nationwide program on our full benefits tool — WIC, Lifeline phone/internet discounts, ACA health insurance subsidies, SSI, SSDI, Section 8, VA disability compensation, TANF, Pell Grants, Head Start, and unemployment insurance.

See All 16 Programs →