Income Assistance
Maine Resources
Business Enterprise Program - MDOL Rehab - The Business Enterprise Program provides a unique opportunity for blind residents of Maine that are looking to start a self-employed business. This program gives blind individuals priority approval for operating “Vending Facilities” (such as vending machines or simple cafe-fare) on state, federal, and municipal lands. People are referred to this program through Vocational Rehabilitation, and must be active with Voc Rehab before qualifying.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation - Voc Rehab is a program that assists people with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities to get, and maintain, a job. Voc Rehab can also provide funding and/or assistance with obtaining a higher education and with starting your own small business.
Finance Authority of Maine - FAME’s mission is to “provide financial solutions that help Maine people achieve their business and higher educational goals.” They connect people with funding, resources, and support.
HOPE Program | Department of Health and Human Services - This resource isn’t specifically for people with disabilities, but it may be of value to you if you are a parent who is trying to obtain a higher level of education within the state of Maine. Additional resources are available for you if you fit this criteria.
Maine AgrAbility - Maine’s chapter of the AgrAbility Program. The Maine AgrAbility Project is “dedicated to helping farmers, fishermen, and forest workers work safely and more productively”. Maine AgrAbility also provides adaptive tools to help make agricultural workers jobs easier.
Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services - The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services is a state program which receives a majority of its funding from the federal government. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services offers assistance to individuals with disabilities in three different categories: Blind & Visually Impaired; Vocational Rehabilitation; and Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & Late Deafened.
Regional Resources
Massachusetts
Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) - Provides cash assistance to pregnant individuals, families with children, and certain caregivers. It also offers employment support and access to MassHealth (Medicaid).
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) - Offers cash benefits to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and children cared for by non-relatives. Recipients may also qualify for MassHealth coverage.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Assists low-income individuals and families in purchasing nutritious food. Administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
New Hampshire
Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) - Encompasses several programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), providing cash assistance to eligible families with children. Benefits are typically limited to 60 months.
State Supplement Program (SSP) - Provides cash assistance to elderly adults and individuals who are physically disabled, mentally disabled, or legally blind. Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on income, resources, and living arrangements.
Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) - Offers cash assistance to individuals aged 18–64 who are physically or mentally disabled.
Vermont
Vermont Health Connect Subsidies - Provides state-funded premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions for residents earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. These supplements enhance affordability beyond federal assistance. Verywell Health
National Resources
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - SSI is a federal income assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It provides monthly cash payments to individuals who are aged (65+), blind, or disabled, and who have limited income and resources. The purpose is to help cover basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. SSI eligibility is based on financial need rather than work history. Individuals who qualify for SSI often automatically qualify for Medicaid and sometimes other assistance programs like SNAP.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) - SSDI also provides monthly income, but it is based on a person's work history and payroll tax contributions. It is intended for individuals who have a disability that prevents them from working and is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Unlike SSI, SSDI is not means-tested, though recipients must have worked and paid into Social Security for a required number of years. SSDI beneficiaries often qualify for Medicare after a two-year waiting period.