|
General
Information
| Office Hours: |
Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
| Office
Telephone: |
207-865-4743
ext. 120
|
| Emergency During Non-Business Hours: |
207-865-4800 (Police Department) |
| Fax: |
207-865-0929 |
| Mailing
address: |
30 Main
Street, Freeport, Maine 04032 |
| General Assistance Administrator: |
Johanna
Hanselman |
|
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Overview of Services:
The Towns of Yarmouth and Freeport have established a
District Office for the administration of general assistance.
This office is located in Freeport's town hall. General Assistance
Program assists residents of Freeport and Yarmouth with basic
necessities, such as:
- rent/mortgage
- fuel
- utilities
- non-elective medical services
- telephone when medically necessary
- necessary work-related expenses
- clothing
- personal supplies and food.
This program continues to be a safety net for the most
needy. The State reimburses municipalities 50% of the expenditures for
this program.
General Assistance has developed into a program that
makes recipients more accountable and encourages self-reliance. A
person applying for this assistance is required to utilize all
available resources, i.e. TANF, food stamps, Medicaid, fuel assistance,
subsidized daycare, etc. With overall maximum levels of assistance
being quite low, it is critical to network with local and area
resources to access all available assistance.
Additionally, financial assistance is awarded annually
for help with medical and other expenses. This money is generated
through various trust funds held by each town and provides financial
assistance with items such as:
- hospital expenses
- prescription drugs
- physician visits and dental emergencies.
Applications for these funds are available through this
office and residents are eligible based on financial need.
Assistance is also offered with completing Maine State
Property Tax and Rent Refund forms. Forms for this program are
available at the Town Office and the application must be completed and
submitted by December 31st.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply for general
assistance?
What do I need to do to qualify for
general assistance?
What can general assistance assist with?
Can the town help me to secure housing?
What is workfare?
What do I need to do to be eligible for
future assistance?
What would cause me to be ineligible or
disqualified from the program?
How often can I apply for assistance?
What if I disagree with the decision of
the administrator?
How can I apply for general
assistance?
People wishing to apply for assistance should call the administrator to
schedule an appointment Each person needs to complete an application in
order to determine eligibility.
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What do I need to do to qualify for
general assistance?|
Each applicant is responsible for providing the general assistance
administrator with information necessary to determine eligibility. This
includes information verifying members of the household. documentation
of all sources of income received by the household (salary, child
support, workers compensation benefits, unemployment, SSI, SSDI, social
security, as well as any money received from family members, tax
returns, etc.). Additionally, applicants need to provide documentation
of their expenses for basic necessities (these include housing, heat,
electricity, water, sewer, food, phone when medically necessary,
prescriptions, etc.) and work related expenses (child care expenses,
transportation to work). The administrator will make a determination of
eligibility based on the overall maximums allowed by the State and the
municipality. Clients will receive a decision sheet showing whether or
not they are eligible for assistance and what they will need to do to
be eligible for future assistance. If there is a household member who
is available to work, the administrator will schedule a workfare
assignment which may need to be completed prior to the issuance of any
assistance.
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What can general assistance assist
with?
The town will grant assistance to eligible applicants for basic
necessities according to the maximum levels for specific types of
assistance. Basic necessities include housing, heat, electricity, food,
utilities, personal care and household supplies, and other basic
necessities when they are deemed essential to an applicant's or
recipient's health and safety by the general administrator.
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Can the town help me to secure
housing?
The town does not own any housing of its own but usually recommends
that those interested in affordable housing contact the Freeport
Housing Trust (865-1486), Coastal Management (797-3688) as well as
checking the local papers.
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What is workfare?
Each applicant and any member of the household who is capable of
working may be required to perform work for the municipality, including
work for a non-profit organization, as a condition of receiving
assistance. As part of the municipal work program, the municipality can
require recipients to participate in training, education, or
rehabilitative programs that will assist the recipient in securing
employment.
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What do I need to do to be eligible
for future assistance?
At the time an applicant receives a decision on their application, the
administrator will inform them of their responsibilities for being
eligible in the future. Once applying for general assistance all
clients, regardless of whether or not they received any benefits, are
responsible for showing that they have done all they can to prevent
needing general assistance again. This includes providing documentation
(receipts) of all their spending over the past thirty days (or longer
if they are seeking assistance with back due bills). Again, the amount
of income from all sources received by the household must be provided.
Additionally, the applicant must show that they have utilized all
potential resources the administrator referred them to.
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What would cause me to be ineligible
or disqualified from the program?
General assistance is a program that encourages clients
to do all they can to prevent needing future assistance. An applicant
may be found ineligible to receive general assistance if they: misspend
their money on items that are not considered basic necessities (this
will count as money that is still available to the household and will
affect the amount of eligibility); if a client forfeits a benefit, this
benefit will not be replaced; if a client quits a job without just
cause, they are disqualified from receiving assistance for a 120 day
period.; for failing to perform or complete a workfare assignment; for
willfully making a false representation about their eligibility; for
not providing or permitting the administrator to gather the necessary
verification and documentation as required; as well as others.
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How often can I apply for assistance?
Generally, general assistance is determined for a one month period
only. If an applicant needs to apply for general assistance again, they
are responsible for making sure they have met the requirements of the
program for eligibility.
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What if I disagree with the decision
of the administrator?
If you disagree with the decision, applicants should discuss the matter
with the administrator. All applicants have the right to request a Fair
Hearing which would provide the applicant with a Board composed of
individuals not involved in the decision to decide whether you are
eligible for assistance. If you would like a Fair Hearing, you must
request a hearing in writing within 5 working days of when you receive
your decision.
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