Frequently Asked Questions
Questions received at llaflin@fchn.org may be posted below.
General Assistance/Fuel Assistance
FAQs > General Assistance/Fuel Assistance > Question
Q: How can I get General Assistance from my local town office?
The information below will explain how to apply for and what to bring with you when requesting general assistance.
What is general assistance?
General Assistance is money provided by towns to individuals who are struggling financially in their community and need assistance to help them get back on their feet. Individual towns may have general assistance funds, but amounts and availability varies by town.
How do I qualify for general assistance?
Your household income must meet income guidelines for your household size. Also, your income must be less than what you need to pay for the basic necessities of food, shelter, heating, electricity, and personal supplies. Every time you re-apply, you will have to show that you are doing everything you have been you have been asked to do to reduce your need for assistance. If you have been working, but quit your job without a good reason or were let go, you are automatically ineligible for 120 days from the date that you quit or were let go. If you need general assistance, make sure that your request is for help with current bills. General assistance does not usually pay for back bills. If you receive a disconnect notice or an eviction notice do not wait until the last day to apply for general assistance. If you do not fill out the entire application or provide enough information when you apply for general assistance, you will not qualify for assistance. You will be responsible to provide missing information before your application is reviewed.
How do I apply for general assistance?
Go to your local town office and ask for an application.
What do I need to bring with me when applying for general assistance?Completed application
Most recent bills and/or other proof of expenses (such as rent/mortgage (eviction notice if applying for help with rent), CMP disconnect notice (if applying for help with your power bill), heating fuel, medical expenses, etc.)
Verification and proof regarding your household income (including everyone living with you)
Doctor’s statement if you are ill, disabled, or mot able to work.
What happens after I apply for general assistance?
Within 24 hours after you apply for general assistance the town manager will give you a written decision explaining if you are or are not eligible for assistance and the reason why. Any assistance granted will be in the form of a voucher payable to a specific vendor only.
You should be aware that if you receive general assistance, you are required to repay the town when you become financially able to do so. If you have applied for Social Security Income (SSI), the town manager will ask you to sign an agreement form that will result in the town being paid back for all of the general assistance issued to you after you applied for Social Security Income. Refusal to sign the form denies your eligibility for general assistance. The money to repay the town is taken from your Social Security Income. Repeat applicants are expected to provide all receipts of money spent in the last 30 days. Also, any past recipient must have completed all the previously required steps of eligibility, such as benefits, assets, and work/education.
Where are the local town offices located in Greater Franklin County?
Avon: Phone: (207) 639-5326, 60 Mt. Blue Pond Rd., Avon, Hours: 12-5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. 8-12 p.m. Saturday.
Carrabassett Valley: Phone: (207) 235-2645, 1001 Carriage Rd., Carrabassett Valley, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-4 p.m.
Carthage: Phone: (207) 562-8874, 728 Storer Hill Rd., Carthage, Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1-6 p.m. and Wednesday 9-2 p.m.
Chesterville: Phone: (207) 778-2433, 409 Dutch Gap Rd., Chesterville, Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday 7-9 p.m.
Dixfield: Phone: (207) 562-8151, PO Box 808, 46 Main St., Dixfield, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-4 p.m.
Farmington: Phone: (207) 778-6538, 153 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington, Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5 p.m.
Industry: Phone: (207) 778-5050, 1033 Industry Rd., Industry, Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12-7 p.m.
Jay: Phone (207) 897-6785, 99 Main St., Jay, Hours: Monday and Tuesday 8-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday 8-5 p.m.
Kingfield: Phone: (207) 265-4637, 38 School St., Kingfield, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Livermore Falls: Phone: (207) 897-3321, 2 Main St., Livermore Falls, Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-4 p.m.
Livermore: Phone: (207) 897-3207, 10 Crash Rd. Livermore, Hours: Monday 8-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday 9-4 p.m.
New Portland: Phone: (207) 628-4441, PO Box 564, 8 Bennett Hill Rd., New Portland, Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9-11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday 3-5 p.m.
New Sharon: (207) 778-4046, PO Box 7, 47 Main St., New Sharon, Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2-6 p.m. Saturday 10-2 p.m.
New Vineyard: Phone: (207) 652-2222, PO Box 262, 20 Lake St., New Vineyard, Hours: Monday and Friday 1-6 p.m. Thursday 10:30-5 p.m.
Phillips: Phone: (207) 639-2880, PO Box 96, 1368 Rangeley Rd., Phillips, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-12 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m.
Rangeley: Phone: (207) 864-3326, PO Box 1070, 15 School St., Rangeley, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-4 p.m.
Stratton/Eustis: Phone: (207) 246-4011, PO Box 154, Main St., Stratton
Strong: Phone: (207) 684-4005, PO Box 34, 83 Church Hill Rd., Strong
Temple: Phone: (207) 778-6680, 245 Temple Rd., Hours: Monday 3-5 p.m. and 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday 9-11 a.m.
Vienna: Phone: (207) 239-2087, Rt. 41 West Vienna, Open by appointment only.
Weld: Phone: (207) 585-2348, 78 Dixfield Rd., Weld, Hours: Monday and Tuesday 8-1 p.m. Thursday 3-6 p.m.
Wilton: Phone: (207) 645-4961, PO Box 541, Weld Rd., Wilton, Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9-5 p.m.
Religious Organizations
Local churches and other religious organizations may have funds available for emergency needs. Contact a local church or religious organization in your community.
Carrabassett Valley
Interfaith Chapel: Phone: (207) 864-3795
Sugarloaf Area Christian Ministry: Phone: (207) 237-2304
Dixfield
Carthage Union Church: Phone: (207) 585-2749
Carthage Seventh Day Adventist: Phone: (207) 562-4677
Dixfield Church of the Nazarene: Phone: (207) 562-7828
Dryden
Dryden United Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 645-3526
East Dixfield
East Dixfield Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 645-4359
East Wilton
East Wilton Union Church: Phone: (207) 645-4297
Farmington
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Phone: (207) 778-2093
Fairbanks Union Church: Phone: (207) 778-4038
Farmington Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 778-4705
Farmington Worship Group: Phone: (207) 778-9945 or 778-0731
Henderson Memorial Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 778-2163
Jehovah’s Witness: Phone: (207) 778-3217 or 778-4610
Mt. Blue Assembly of God: Phone: (207) 778-4249
New Hope Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 778-6393
Old South First Congregational Church UCC: Phone: (207) 778-0424
Seventh-Day Adventist: Phone: (207) 779-0749
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church: Phone: (207) 778-2778 or 778-4773
Temple Shalom Tsafon: Phone: (207) 786-4201
Trinity United Methodist Church: Phone: (207) 778-3921
Farmington Falls
Church of Christ: Phone: (207) 778-2093
Church of the Nazarene: Phone: (207) 778-2210
Friends of Jesus Christ: Phone: (207) 778-2700
Industry
Shorey Chapel: Phone: (207) 474-7383
West Mills Community Church: Phone: (207) 696-5496
Jay
Beans Corner Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 645-2925
Jay Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 897-6110
Jay Regular Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 645-3081
Saint Rose of Lima: Phone: (207) 897-2173
Jay Seventh-Day Adventist Church: Phone: (207) 897-7140
Kingfield
Kingfield First Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 265-4732
Western Mountains Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 265-2408
Livermore Falls
Livermore Falls Church of the Nazarene: Phone: (207) 897-2301
Eaton United Methodist Church: Phone: (207) 897-3063
Emmanuel Assembly of God: Phone: (207) 897-5400
Livermore Falls First Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 897-3063
North Livermore Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 897-5377
New Sharon
New Sharon Congregational Church UCC: Phone: (207) 778-2517
New Vineyard
Kingdom Life Ministries (Open Bible Baptist Church): Phone: (207) 778-9065
Mt. View Bible Church: Phone: (207) 652-2267 or 652-2088
Oquossoc
Our Lady of the Lakes Roman Catholic Church: Phone: (207) 864-3795
Phillips
Lighthouse Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 639-3237
Reeds Mills Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 639-4357
Phillips Shared Ministry: Phone: (207) 639-2201
Rangeley
Church of the Good Shepherd: Phone: (207) 864-3381
Rangeley Congregational Church: Phone: (207) 864-5996
Rangeley Free Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 864-5251
St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Mission: Phone: (207) 864-3795 or 246-3277
Starks
Starks Church of Christ: Phone: (207) 696-5496
Stratton
St. John’s Catholic Mission: Phone: (207) 864-3795
Strong
Strong Church of the Nazarene: Phone: (207) 684-3281
Living Waters Assembly of God: Phone: (207) 684-3743
Strong United Methodist Church: Phone: (207) 684-36818
Temple
Temple Friends (Quakers): Phone: (207) 778-3168 or 778-2522
Weld
Weld Congregational Church: Phone: (207) 585-2399
Wilton
Calvary Hill Baptist Church: Phone: (207) 645-2343
Wilton First Congregational Church: Phone: (207) 645-2535
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: Phone: (207) 645-2639
Wilton United Methodist Church: Phone: (2070 645-4885
For more information about general assistance please contact your local town office or each religious organization to see what they can provide you.
