This bill amends the 1974 State Supplemental Income Act in the following ways.
1. It replaces provisions of law that currently provide that payments to couples, both of whom receive the supplement, are 150% of the benefit for an individual with provisions of law providing that payments to the couples are 200% of the benefit for an individual.
2. It requires that the standard used to determine need is the current annual budget at the lower level of living for an individual as most recently determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Portland, Maine, or budgets consistent with such a budget taking into account budget variances by living arrangements permitted pursuant to Title XVI of the United States Social Security Act.
3. It establishes that, in determining any increase according to the United States Consumer Price Index, consideration must be given to the goal of reaching, within a reasonable time, a benefit level equal to or consistent with the current budget at the lower level of living for an individual, rather than a retired couple, established by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Portland, Maine.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 840, SP 373: 22.3271, 22.3272, 22.3273