Maine § 4310. - Emergency benefits prior to full verification

§ 4310.. Emergency benefits prior to full verification

Whenever an eligible person becomes an applicant for general assistance and states to the administrator that the applicant is in an emergency situation and requires immediate assistance to meet basic necessities, the overseer shall, pending verification, issue to the applicant either personally or by mail, as soon as possible but in no event later than 24 hours after application, sufficient benefits to provide the basic necessities needed immediately by the applicant, as long as the following conditions are met.   [PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §24 (AMD).]

1.  Probability of eligibility for assistance after full verification.  As a result of the initial interview with the applicant, the overseer shall have determined that the applicant will probably be eligible for assistance after full verification is completed.

2.  Documentation.  Where possible, the applicant shall submit to the overseer at the time of the initial interview, adequate documentation to verify that there is a need for immediate assistance.

3.  Information obtained.  When adequate documentation is not available at the time of the initial application, the overseer may contact at least one other person for the purpose of obtaining information to confirm the applicant's statements about the applicant's need for immediate assistance.

4.  Limitations.  Benefits are limited as follows.

A. The authorization of benefits under this section may not exceed 30 days.   [PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. II, §2 (RPR).]

B. Until there has been full verification confirming the applicant's eligibility, further benefits may not be authorized.   [PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. II, §2 (RPR).]

C. The authorization of benefits under this section may not exceed levels of assistance established in section 4308.   [PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. II, §2 (NEW).]