How state lawmakers are trying fill gaps left by federal changes to food assistance

By: Eesha Pendharkar

Outlets: Maine Morning Star

Published: March 5, 2026

Words: 1,278

Last Updated: 5 days, 17 hours ago

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When Kasey McBlais, a single mother of two, renewed her federal food assistance benefits for the year, she found the monthly amount inexplicably reduced from $600 to $359.

She was already on a tight budget and spending money out-of-pocket for groceries, especially during the months she did not receive child support. Although nothing about her income, mortgage or any other bills changed, she now has to look for ways to make cuts and rely heavily …

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