Legal Services

Do you need help meeting basic needs?

Maine Equal Justice provides assistance to Mainers who need help to meet basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare.

If you are having trouble making ends meet, you may be able to get MaineCare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance, SNAP (Food Assistance), or other public assistance.

Applying for benefits can be difficult and discouraging. We listen without judging and do whatever we can to solve the problem, whether that means working with DHHS, giving people information and support to solve the problem themselves, or referring people to someone else who can help.

If you have been told that you can’t get benefits like SNAP, MaineCare, TANF, or General Assistance, but you think that you should qualify, please use our Contact Form for quickest assistance. If you are unable to use the form, please call our Legal Aid department directly at (207) 888-9788.

We provide direct legal assistance to people whose incomes are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

How Much Can You Earn?

Incomes that equal 200% of the Federal Poverty Level guidelines for 2020 by household size

Household size Income
1 $25,760
2 $34,840
3 $43,920
4 $53,000
5 $62,080
6 $71,160
7 $80,240
8 $89,320

If you need help with other legal issues, please read “Maine Equal Justice Legal Services” to see if Maine Equal Justice is the right place to call. There are other Maine organizations that help people with legal problems. Please read Legal Aid Resources in Maine for more information.

Learn more about help that is available: