The lawmakers in Maine are aware of how cold it may be in the Pine Tree State as well as how expensive heating costs will be this winter due to record-high energy rates.
To help the people of Maine in managing their winter heating costs, they have announced the creation of two new initiatives.
Emergency Winter Energy Relief Plan in Maine
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced on Wednesday that it will give 13,000 elderly families who qualify $500 one-time payments.
State citizens 65 and older with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level will receive the benefits the week of December 12, 2022.
Other qualifications include having reported a heat cost in September 2022 and having received a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment.
The $6.6 million initiative, which promotes older citizens’ health and safety since they are more likely to become ill during the winter because of insufficient heating, will be funded using already-existing state funding.
The $500 payouts come after two rounds of assistance for qualifying families in Maine with heating costs. Nearly 15,000 households that take part in SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Parents as Scholars, or Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE) received $1,000 in grants from the DHHS in November.
Nearly 13,000 low-income families with kids received a similar batch of $800 heating assistance payments in March.
How Much Maine Residents Will Receive?
Gov. Janet Mills of Maine introduced the Emergency Winter Energy Relief Plan on Wednesday, a collection of short-term initiatives aimed at ensuring that families and low-income citizens of Maine can keep warm and safe this winter.
A $450 payment would be sent to eligible households in Maine under this plan to help with the expense of home heating and emergency gasoline.
Moreover, the full Maine Legislature was scheduled to examine the plan on Wednesday. It also suggests putting aside more funds for programs that provide emergency housing and energy assistance.
The measure must receive a two-thirds majority vote in order to become law immediately, allowing cheques to be mailed the next month.
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