Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides a monthly benefit to help low-income households purchase nutritious food.

If you receive SNAP you may also be eligible to participate in Maine SNAP-Ed or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T)

Resources for the end of the Public Health Emergency

What do I need to do to apply?

Eligibility for SNAP is based on income, assets, expenses and household size. You will need to fill out an application, complete an interview and provide verification of your household’s income, identity, citizenship status, assets and other items depending on your household circumstances.

Temporary Changes to Benefits

In response to COVID-19 and related laws, the Office for Family Independence has made a number of temporary changes to safety net programs including SNAP. Read our Summary of Changes (PDF).

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

Maine is developing a plan to issue P-EBT benefits for the 2022-2023 school year.

Maine has been authorized to issue P-EBT benefits to eligible school aged children for the 2021-2022 school year.

• Benefits for August through November 2021 were issued June 21 - 25 and September 12, 2022.
• Benefits for the remainder of the school year were issued August 29, 2022.
• Benefits for students at nine additional schools were issued December 5, and available December 9, 2022.

To be eligible for this program individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

1. They must attend a school that was closed or had reduced attendance due to COVID-19 for 5 consecutive days.
2. They must have been absent from school or attended remotely due to COVID-19. P-EBT benefits (of $7.10 per day) are only issued for the days school meals were missed due to COVID-19, for students.
3. They must be eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits on the USDA National School Lunch Program meal benefit application.

• Any student attending a Community Eligibility Provision or Special Provision II school are eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits under the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program’s meal benefit application.
• Students receiving SNAP or TANF benefits of at least $1 any month during the school year are eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits under the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program’s meal benefit application.
• Students documented as being part of a family engaged in migrant agricultural work are eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits under the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program’s meal benefit application.
• Students documented as experiencing homelessness are eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits under the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program’s meal benefit application.
• Students in foster care through Maine’s DHHS are eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits under the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program’s meal benefit application.
• Eligible students not meeting any of the conditions above should APPLY FOR FREE/REDUCED PRICE MEAL BENEFITS UNDER THE USDA NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL.
• School breakfast and lunch were available at no cost for all Maine students this past year but universal free lunches in Maine schools do not confer eligibility. Students must be eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits under the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program’s meal benefit application, through one of the methods above.

Maine has, also, been authorized to issue P-EBT benefits to children under age 6 for the 2021-2022 school year.

• These benefits were issued December 5, and available December 9, 2022.

To be eligible for this program, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

1. They must have been under age 6 on September 1, 2021.
2. They must have been receiving SNAP benefits in Maine in a given month (August 2021 through June 2022) to be eligible for P-EBT for that month.
3. They cannot have received P-EBT as a school aged child for any month in the 2021-2022 school year.

The average monthly benefit for children under 6 is about $33 but varies greatly from month to month.  They are based on the average reduction in Child Care Food Program claims for the same month pre-pandemic.  August and June each only count as ½ of a school year month.

Maine has, also, been authorized to issue P-EBT benefits for the summer of 2022.

• These benefits were issued October 17, and November 7, 2022.
• Benefits for students at nine additional schools were issued December 5, and available December 9, 2022.

To be eligible for this program, students must meet all of the following criteria:

1. They must have been eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits during the 2021-2022 school year.  (Students who applied over the summer may have their benefits issued in November.)
2. They must have been enrolled in school in June 2022.

To be eligible for this program, children not yet in school must meet all of the following criteria:

1. They must have been under age 6 on September 1, 2021.
2. They must have been receiving SNAP benefits in Maine in at least one summer month (June, July or August).  (Households who applied in the summer but did not receive a decision until September may have their summer P-EBT benefits issued in November.)
3. They cannot have received P-EBT as a school aged child.

The summer benefit was $391 for school aged children and $390 for children under age 6.

If no benefits are used from a P-EBT Card/Account for 9 months or more the benefits will be expunged or removed.  Once benefits are expunged they cannot be reissued.  Any purchases made with the card will restart the 9 month period.  Call the number on the back of the card to check the P-EBT balance regularly to be sure you are aware of all benefits. 

P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I set up my pin for my P-EBT card?

Call the number on the back of the P-EBT card. You will need to enter the child’s date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security Number (SS#). If the child does not have a SS# or it was not provided to OFI you will need to enter 9999.

How do I check my balance?

You can check the balance by calling the back of the card, (800) 477-7428.  You will need to provide the card number and the card holder's name and date of birth.

If you no longer have the card, you can call (855) 797-4357 to order a replacement card.

Why did I receive multiple cards?

P-EBT cards are issued for each eligible child not on SNAP. If your children were not on SNAP you will receive a P-EBT card for each eligible child.

I didn’t ask for P-EBT and I do not want it. What do I do with the P-EBT card?

Please destroy or simply throw away the card. P-EBT cards are for the individual child. It a prosecutable offense to give the card and/or benefits away.

Other people received P-EBT on their EBT card. Why don’t I have my card(s) or benefits yet?

P-EBT cards can take 14 days or longer to be delivered due to postal delays. If you have not received a card for your eligible child by December 19, 2022, you can contact the Department at P-EBT.DHHS@Maine.gov.

Will P-EBT benefits be issued to the P-EBT card I received last year?

Yes. If your child is eligible for P-EBT for the 2021-2022 school year, they will be issued on the same card. If you need a replacement card you can request one at pinetreecard.com/meebtclient/# or by calling (800) 477-7428.

Do home-schooled children qualify for P-EBT?

No. To qualify, school aged children must be enrolled in a school that offers meals through the USDA National School Lunch Program and be eligible for the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program and be eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits through the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. Households must submit a meal benefit application to establish free/reduced eligibility.

If I got it last year is it automatic this year?

No. To be eligible for the 2021-2022 school year—

• your school aged child would need to be eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits through the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program during the 2021-2022 school year and have missed school meals due to COVID-19; or
• your child under age 6 would need to have been receiving SNAP in Maine.

When will my child get P-EBT?

Most school aged children were issued P-EBT for August through November 2021 June 21 - 25, 2022 and for the remainder of the school year on August 29, 2022. Some had all of their school year benefits issued December 5, 2022 to be available December 9, 2022.

Benefits for children under age 6 were issued in September 6, 2022.

Benefits for the summer were issued October 17, and November 7, 2022 for all children under age 6 and most school aged children. Some school aged children had their summer benefits issued December 5, 2022 to be available December 9, 2022.

Please remember it may take 14 days or longer to receive an EBT or P-EBT card due to postal delays.

Why did my child get a different P-EBT benefit amount than their classmate?

Unlike previous years, each school aged child’s benefit is uniquely calculated based on the number of days they missed school meals due to COVID-19.  Children who had a different number of remote days or excused absences received a different benefit amount.

What are the Monthly benefit amounts for children under age 6?

August 2021                $11.05

September 2021          $25.98

October 2021              $38.22

November 2021          $27.41

December 2021           $29.72

January 2022               $44.36

February 2022             $32.29

March 2022                 $32.91

April 2022                   $38.63

May 2022                    $41.96

June 2022                    $16.78

Summer 2022              $390.00

Can I apply for P-EBT?

Eligibility for P-EBT for school aged children is dependent on being eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits through the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.  Households must submit a meal benefit application to establish free/reduced eligibility.  If your child has not been found eligible for this program, the first step would be to apply for it.  You can apply through your school.  If you believe you may also be eligible for SNAP, you can apply for SNAP at MyMaineConnection.

If your child is eligible for Free/Reduced price meal benefits through the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, is enrolled in an eligible school, and missed school meals due to COVID-19, they are eligible for a benefit of $7.10 for each day missed. If you believe they did not receive the correct amount of P-EBT, you can complete a P-EBT Reconciliation Application.  There are separate Reconciliation Applications for August through November (PDF) or December through June (PDF), and

mail it to

     P-EBT
     Department of Health and Human Services
     Office for Family Independence
     109 Capitol St.
     Augusta, ME 04330-6841

or e-mail it to P-EBT.DHHS@Maine.gov.

Eligibility for P-EBT for children under age 6 is dependent on them having received SNAP for the month in question.  SNAP eligibility cannot be determined retroactively.  However, to avoid missing future potential eligibility, you can apply for SNAP at MyMaineConnection.

Online Purchase Options Available for Maine SNAP Recipients:

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is excited to announce that Maine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients are now be able to purchase eligible food items online at participating retailers using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

How to use your EBT card for online purchases

SNAP benefits can be used at Amazon, BJ's Wholesale Club, Hannaford to go, Shaw's, and Walmart for delivery or curbside pick-up purchases.

• Amazon, BJ's, and Hannaford accept SNAP food benefits only.
• Shaw's and Walmart accept both SNAP and EBT cash benefits.

SNAP recipients will be able to purchase the same food items online as they can in the store. SNAP benefits cannot be used for delivery charges.

• Amazon waives delivery fees on purchases of $35 or more.
• Shoppers can visit their local BJ's, Hannaford, Shaw's or Wal-Mart store online to find out what pick-up or delivery options are available near them.
• Contact your local grocery store to see if they chose curbside pick-up as an option. Any grocer is allowed to purchase wireless EBT equipment which makes curbside pick-up possible.

For more information, please see these FAQs:

• Shopping at Amazon
• Shaw's EBT
• Shopping at Walmart

Information for Retailers

Current SNAP-eligible retailers interested in participating in online EBT purchases should visit the USDA website for more information, including program requirements and instructions for enrollment.

Post-Secondary Student Eligibility

The Office for Family Independence (OFI) has created a Community College Verification Form (PDF) to simplify verifying SNAP eligibility for post-secondary students at community colleges. Community colleges can verify students are enrolled in an associate’s degree or certificate program that is considered a “career or technical education program”, as defined by the federal Carl D. Perkins Act (most certificate and associate degree programs fit the definition), OR a course the community college has determined will make the student more employable. This information has been conveyed to Navigators at community colleges so that they are better able to assist OFI in the fight to reduce hunger. Navigators are campus based staff who assist eligible students throughout their time in school.

USDA Non Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:

1. mail:
   Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
   1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
   Alexandria, VA 22314; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.