Veterans Will Receive Coronavirus Rebate Checks Automatically

Veterans who receive compensation and pension benefit payments will automatically receive their rebate check (“economic impact payment” or “EIP”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and will not be required to file a tax return.

Special thanks to U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins for working with heads of the U.S. Treasury Department, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) in urging them to ensure that certain veterans, individuals with disabilities, and seniors are not required to file a tax return in order to receive a rebate check under the CARES Act.

VA recipients who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have qualifying children under age 17 will need to take an extra step to receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their automatic payment of $1,200.  They should now go to the IRS’s Web page and visit the Non-Filers:  Enter Your Payment Info section to provide their information.  If VA compensation and benefit recipients in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait until later to receive the $500 per qualifying child.

Additional information can be found online here.

Maine Moose Permit Lottery Deadline:  May 14, 2020

Using this online service you will be able to enter into the Maine Moose Permit Lottery.  From the list of lottery applicants, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will administer a chance drawing to select winners for a Maine Moose Hunting Permit.  To hunt moose in Maine, hunters must have one of these special permits.  Note: apprentice licenses may NOT be used by a lottery winner to receive a permit.

Applications must be completed by 11:59 pm (ET) on May 14, 2020.  The Maine Moose Permit Lottery drawing will be held in June 2020.

Who can use this service?

You are eligible to obtain a Maine big game hunting license or will be eligible to obtain a Maine big game hunting license by the opening day of the Moose hunting season.  Applicants under 10 years of age on 9/28/2020 may apply for a bonus point only, but are not eligible to win a permit.  Sub-permittees and alternate sub-permittees must be 10 years of age on or before 9/28/2020.

What will I need?

To complete the application you will need your:

• current hunting license if you are applying with a super pack license;
• personal information (name, address, DOB, etc.);
• sub-permittee information (if applicable); and a
• credit or debit card (Mastercard, Visa, and Discover accepted). Please note that fees are based on residency and the number of chances purchased.

For a complete list of entry and permit fees, click here.

Fish Stocking has Started

Every year, our eight hatcheries produce more than one million brook trout, brown trout, lake trout (togue), splake, rainbow trout, and landlocked salmon.  During the spring and fall, fish are stocked in over 800 Maine lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds.  Stocking helps maintain healthy trout and landlocked salmon populations, provides opportunities to anglers of all abilities, and helps Maine's economy.

Check out the current stocking report or March fishing report to find a fishing spot close to home.  Be sure to review the current Maine fishing laws and rules or use the Fishing Laws Online Angling Tool (FLOAT). 

Before you go fishing, please remember to:

• be safe and prepared - ALWAYS wear a life jacket. It is very early in the season, meaning the water is very cold, and streams and rivers are high with strong currents;
• fish close to home;
• have a plan B and C, so if your first fishing spot is busy, you can try the next spot;
• do not share equipment;
• follow the CDC guidelines for physical distancing;
• do not carpool with non-household members;
• let someone know where you are going, and when you expect to return; and
• if you are exhibiting symptoms or have recently been exposed to COVID-19, please stay home.

COVID-19 Rental Relief Program Summary

The MaineHousing COVID-19 Rental Relief Program is for renters who cannot afford to pay their rent due to circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic.  The Program is designed to provide a one-time payment of up to $500 until the federal relief funds get to the individuals who need them.

The applicant is the renter and the benefit is paid to the landlord. If the landlord agrees to participate in the program, the landlord is postponing the balance of the payment, not forgiving it. In addition the landlord is agreeing not to evict the renter for non-payment of rent during the month in which the rental relief payment is made. 

Eligibility

You may qualify if you are unable to pay your rent due to circumstances related to the coronavirus.  Examples include being laid off, having your place of employment closed, reduced hours of work, having to stay home to care for your children because your daycare or school has closed, or other loss of income due to the pandemic.

You may qualify if you pay market rent and your current monthly income is less than:

• $3,696 for an individual;
• $4,833 for a two person household;
• $5,971 for a three person household; or
• $7,108 for a four or more person household.

If you can afford to pay your rent from income of any sort or from savings or other liquid assets, you are not eligible for this program.

If you live in housing that receives any kind of subsidy, you are not eligible.  Examples of this include: 

• if you receive a Section 8 voucher, live in a Section 8 apartment, or receive rental assistance from the USDA’s Rural Development you are not eligible;
• if you live in a housing development with a mortgage financed by MaineHousing or a federal agency you are not eligible;
• if you live in a development/property using low-income housing tax credits you are not eligible; or
• if you live in public housing you are not eligible.

Application

In order to fill out the Rental Relief Program application you will need a .pdf reader.  Adobe Acrobat offers a free reader software for desktop and mobile devices.

To apply for the COVID-19 Rental Relief Program download and fill out the application here.  Once completed, submit the application to rentrelief@mainehousing.org.