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WELFARE IN MAINE

The truths of welfare in Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

Perception: Welfare mothers have more children so they can collect more benefits from the state.

It may happen, but not very often.

The average family receiving cash assistance from the state has 1.7 or 1.8 children, according to state data and a recent survey. The average Maine family also has 1.7 children.

It also would be a questionable financial strategy for a family receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families.

The maximum benefit for a mother and two children is $485 a month in Maine. Adding one child to the family would raise the maximum benefit to $611 a month.

Perception: Maine spends more money on welfare than most other states.

Every state provides aid differently, so comparisons are difficult.

The U.S. Census publishes an annual state-by-state comparison of all government spending on "public welfare." But the total combines programs that provide food and shelter and Medicaid, a government health insurance program that is far larger than the others and therefore drives the state rankings.

In money spent on Medicaid and welfare -- $2.5 billion in 2008 -- Maine ranked 33rd nationwide, according to the U.S. Census.

However, as a percentage of the total annual budget -- 30.5 percent -- Maine ranked second after Tennessee (32.8 percent), it said.

When only state and local spending is compared, Maine ranked 10th in spending per resident -- $671 -- in 2007, according to the Census and a University of Maine analysis.

Perception: Maine is one of the few states that doesn't set any time limit on welfare, so people keep collecting, sometimes for generations.

Nine states, including Maine, allow TANF recipients to get benefits for more than five years as long as they follow the rules, according to the Urban Institute.

Some other states provide waivers for cases to go beyond five years in certain cases, such as a disability, according to Maine officials. Some states also provide benefits to families through separate programs not subject to the same rules and reporting requirements.

Four percent of TANF cases exceed five years, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Most of Maine's long-term cases involve disabilities, according to the state.

The average time spent on TANF is 21 months, and 85 percent of families leave the program within two years, according to the agency.

Perception: Foreign immigrants and out-of-staters come to Maine for its generous welfare rules and benefits.

Far more people who are receiving public assistance leave Maine than come to Maine, according to state data. In August 2009, for example, 412 "cases" moved out and 121 moved in.

Refugees and immigrants receive eight months of federal aid regardless of where in the country they settle. Illegal immigrants are not eligible for any benefits.

In Maine, legal immigrants can receive the same benefits as anyone else. Many states do not provide public assistance to non-citizen immigrants until after five years of residency.

Maine is one of six states to provide food supplements to new, non-citizens, and one of 16 states to provide cash assistance to needy families. Immigrants also are eligible to receive municipal General Assistance.

Perception: Fraud and abuse are rampant in the welfare system

Maine's documented rate of fraud is two-tenths of one percent, compared to a national rate of 4 percent, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Caseworkers and a team of fraud investigators follows up on complaints, including from phone tips (investigators can be reached at 287-2409 and 1-800-442-6003). Most tips do not check out to be actual abuse or fraud, but investigators are not allowed to discuss cases with tipsters.

A parent receiving TANF who does not comply with the work agreement can lose his or her benefits for one month, longer for subsequent offenses. A parent who intentionally deceives a caseworker can lose benefits for one year and may have to repay benefits. Unlike in many others states, Maine does not cut off the children's portion of the cash benefits.