By Alex Carter

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sometimes called “food stamps,” is the country’s largest anti-hunger program and helps about one in seven Maine families afford their groceries every month. The federal government pays for SNAP, but states are in charge of distributing SNAP benefits to their constituents and running the program.

Everyone deserves enough to eat, no matter their income or immigration status. Unfortunately, many anti-immigrant lawmakers have used  their platform to justify larger cuts to essential programs. Last summer, Congress and the Trump Administration passed a federal budget bill (H.R.1) that tightens SNAP eligibility for some immigrants who used to be able to get the benefit.

Image credit: USDA

Thankfully, the State of Maine has chosen for many years to pay for SNAP for some immigrants who do not qualify for federal support.  Here is a breakdown of SNAP eligibility rules, as of April 2026:

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These groups are eligible for federal SNAP:

  • U.S. citizens
  • Lawful permanent residents or green-card holders (not subject to the five-year bar) 
  • Cuban and Haitian entrants
  • People living in the U.S. under the Compact of Free Association (“COFA migrants”)

These groups are eligible for state SNAP, if they have a hardship.* (This  is not a complete list. If you have questions about your SNAP eligibility, contact Maine Equal Justice: maineequaljustice.org/contact-us/.

  • Refugees
  • Asylees
  • Asylum seekers with a pending application for asylum
  • Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders 
  • Lawful permanent residents without a prior humanitarian status (subject to five-year bar)
  • Certain survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking
  • Parolees
  • Individuals with temporary protected status
  • North American indigenous people born in Canada
  • Individuals eligible for Federal SNAP prior to July 4, 2025

*A hardship is defined as at least one of the following:

  • Elderly (age 65+)
  • Disabled (as defined by the Social Security Administration)
  • Experiencing domestic violence (or the direct impacts of domestic violence)
  • Waiting for work authorization
  • Have work authorization but are unemployed or lost a job

People who are undocumented, or who do not have permission to remain in the U.S., are not eligible for SNAP. However children born in the United States may be eligible for food assistance, even if parents are not, based on immigration status. 

State SNAP benefits work like federal benefits. Households are screened for eligibility when they apply, or when they submit a 6-month re-certification. The biggest difference between state and federal SNAP is that once you start working, you cannot get state-funded SNAP benefits anymore (even if your income is still low enough to qualify). 

If you or someone you know loses SNAP because of your immigration status, make sure the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has your most up-to-date immigration and employment information. This is especially important if you have adjusted your status and received a green card since your last re-certification. 

Important reminders for non-citizen families:

  • Only the person  who will be receiving SNAP needs to share immigration status. For example, if a parent is applying for their child but not for themselves, only the child’s immigration status must be shared.
  • In mixed-status households, if someone loses eligibility for SNAP due to federal changes, that doesn’t mean all members of the family will lose their benefits. However, the amount will be reduced. 
  • As of the time this article was published, Maine does not share personally identifying information from SNAP participants for the purposes of immigration enforcement. The only time a DHHS employee is required to notify federal immigration authorities is when they  see a deportation notice, which you are not required to share.
  • Humanitarian immigrants, including refugees and asylees, that adjust their status and obtain green cards are not subject to the five-year bar. This means that once a refugee or asylee gets their green card, they are again eligible for federal SNAP and do not need to meet the state hardship exceptions to keep their benefits.    
  • Maine DHHS does not make house calls and will not come to your home unannounced. 

Maine residents interested in applying for SNAP food assistance can click here.