Town of Durham, Maine

General Assistance

General Assistance

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Durham General Assistance Administrator

Contact Information:

The General Assistance program provides Durham residents with assistance for basic needs such as rent, food, non-food, medication, fuel, utilities and other essential services. All assistance is granted in voucher form and no cash assistance is granted.

What should I bring to the interview?

Applicants must provide proof of identification for themselves and all household members (i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate, social security card, etc.). Proof of all household income must also be provided. Income and financial resources are not limited to net wages from jobs. Additional income sources include:

  • Cash on hand
  • Income tax refunds
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Child support benefits
  • TANF benefits
  • Social Security Benefits
  • SSI / SSDI disability benefits
  • Checking / savings
  • Veteran’s pensions
  • Rental income
  • Loans
  • Worker’s compensation
  • Savings bonds
  • Trust fund annuities
  • Life insurance policies
  • Retirement accounts
  • School loans
  • Financial resources
  • Car / recreational vehicles
  • Real estate holdings

Eligibility

  • With the exception of first-time applicants, anyone applying for General Assistance must document their use of income. Current receipts showing how income has been spent are required. Only receipts for basic necessities are considered allowed expenses, which include but are not limited to: food, rent, utilities, oil, medication and work-related expenses.
  • If payment of a utility bill is requested, the applicant must provide the entire bill or disconnect notice. Bills are only paid if they are in the applicant’s name.
  • Individuals may be able to receive General Assistance while receiving other forms of public assistance, such as federal food stamps, SSI and TANF. First-time applications may take up to 45 minutes. It is recommended that you apply for assistance during the morning hours.

What is not covered?

Items not considered basic necessities:

  • Phone bill
  • Cable television
  • Mail orders
  • Vehicle payments
  • Credit card debts
  • Furniture
  • Loan payments
  • Cigarettes
  • Alcohol
  • Vacation costs
  • Pet care costs
  • Legal fees
  • Late fees
  • Key deposits
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Comprehensive Guides to Memory Care & Assisted Living Facilities in Maine

Finding the right care facility can be an overwhelming process for families. Recognizing this, we’ve created two comprehensive, user-friendly guides to help caregivers and families in Maine make informed decisions when choosing either a memory care or assisted living facility.

Our guides offer objective, up-to-date information on facilities tailored to the needs of older adults with progressive cognitive disorders, as well as those requiring assisted living support. These communities, managed by skilled professionals, ensure a safe and nurturing environment for seniors in various stages of life.

Explore our invaluable resources here:

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.

How often can I apply for assistance?

Generally, general assistance is determined for a one to thirty day 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.

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.

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 to which the administrator referred them.

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, LP Gas, electricity, food, personal 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 assistance administrator.

What are the eligibility requirements?

General Assistance is available to anyone in the state who is in need at that time, however, income must fall below the overall maximum level of assistance for the household size based on the local General Assistance ordinance and the applicants income must be less than what is needed to pay for basic necessities.

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.

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Additional Services

Local Food Banks/Pantries

LACO (Lisbon Area Cristian Outreach)

  • Located at rear entrance of MTM Center, School Street (next to the United Methodist Church), Lisbon Falls
  • Hours of operation: The food pantry and clothing bank are open Wednesdays, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Saturdays 7:00 am to 10:00 am.
  • (The clothing bank is closed on the second Wednesday of each month)

North Pownal United Methodist Church

  • Food pantry hours of operation: Wednesdays 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Open to all in need.

Maine Coast Hunger Prevention Program

  • Located at 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick

Hours of operation:

  • Soup Kitchen - Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Food pantry - Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Additional Services

Community Concepts

Since 1965, Community Concepts, Inc. has offered a variety of housing, economic development and social services for the communities of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties. These services support both the basic needs of low income families and promote self-sufficiency.  Questions? 1-800-866-5588

Resume Bulider 

Resources available for people experiencing homelessness who are looking for employment. Our resource helps people who are experiencing homelessness learn about the common roadblocks to employment and ways to overcome them. You can view it here

Storage Units

We could all use a little space from time to time - sometimes literally. Maybe you have a basement or garage that’s full of items that still spark joy, but are taking up way too much room. Or perhaps you’re moving into a new place, but it doesn’t have quite the storage you need for seasonal items or sports gear. Whatever the reason, renting a self-storage unit is a flexible, affordable, and convenient solution. https://www.storageunits.com/self-storage/

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