Age-Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec
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Legal & Finance
Free Legal Help for Maine’s Seniors
This program provides free, high quality legal services to Maine’s socially and economically eligible adults ages 60 and over. The site contains links to other organizations which may also be able to help you.
Helpline: 1-800-750-5353 | https://www.mainelse.org
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Maine Attorney General's Consumer Protection Site
The Attorney General's Office offers this on-line information in order to provide Maine consumers and businesses with resources to address their needs, as an informed consumer is the first step toward the prevention of consumer fraud. This site will alert you to current consumer issues and concerns.
This organization provides free civil legal aid in Maine to help individuals in their ability to meet basic human needs or to enforce basic human rights, including access to housing, food, income, safety, education, and healthcare. The office serving Sagadahoc County is located in Lewiston.
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Contact: 207-774-8211 | http://ptla.org/
​AARP Foundation Tax-Aid Program
IRS-trained Tax-Aid volunteers provide free, quality assistance in filing taxes for low- to moderate-income residents, especially those age 50 and older.
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Contact: 1-888-227-7669, 207-443-5141 or 207-443-4937
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CA$H Maine is a statewide coalition working to help empower Maine individuals and families to achieve long-term financial stability, offering free tax preparation to qualified filers during tax season and information about programs that can increase income, reduce debt, and build savings.
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State Property Tax Deferral Program
The State of Maine offers a tax deferral program if property taxes become too big a financial burden, threatening a person's ability to remain in their home as they age. The towns are reimbursed by the State of Maine and the State recovers the tax amounts when the property is sold or becomes part of an estate. Your first stop should be at the Town Office/City Hall as they may be able to offer local assistance.
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The State Tax Deferral Program is a lifeline loan program that can cover the annual property tax bills for Maine people who are ages 65 and older or are permanently disabled and who cannot afford to pay them on their own. The loan program allows Maine’s most vulnerable community members to age in place and ensures that property taxes are still delivered to municipalities, requiring repayment of the loan once the property is sold or becomes part of an estate.
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Maine residents over the age of 65 who are eligible for a homestead exemption may be eligible to have their property tax bill stabilized. Maine Revenue Services has posted guidance and application forms for the property tax stabilization law (LD 290). Those materials can be found here.
Additionally, MMA’s Legal Service Department has posted an overview of the law on the Association’s website: www.memun.org. (Scroll down the page to find the article on the tax stabilization law.) The application is also available at your Town Hall.