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.

[PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4310

  • Basic necessities: means food, potable water, clothing, shelter, fuel, electricity, nonelective medical services as recommended by a physician, nonprescription drugs, telephone where it is necessary for medical reasons and any other commodity or service determined essential by the overseer in accordance with the municipality's ordinance and this chapter. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
  • Eligible person: means a person who is qualified to receive general assistance from a municipality according to standards of eligibility determined by the municipal officers whether or not that person has applied for general assistance. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
  • Emergency: means any life threatening situation or a situation beyond the control of the individual which, if not alleviated immediately, could reasonably be expected to pose a threat to the health or safety of a person. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
  • Need: means the condition whereby a person's income, money, property, credit, assets or other resources available to provide basic necessities for the individual and the individual's family are less than the maximum levels of assistance established by the municipality. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
  • Overseer: means an official designated by a municipality to administer a general assistance program. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
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.

[PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]

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.

[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §199 (COR).]

4. Limitations. In no case:
A. May the authorization of benefits under this section exceed 30 days; and [PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]
B. May there be further authorization of benefits to the applicant until there has been full verification confirming the applicant’s eligibility. [PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]

[PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 9, §U7 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. OO, §9 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §24 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §199 (COR).