An Act to Update the State Supplement to Supplemental Security
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0834
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: TIPPING, OSHER
Amends: 22 MRSA §3273, 22 MRSA §3274-A

Legislative Document
No. 834
S.P. 366
In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Update the State Supplement to Supplemental Security 
Income
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative OSHER of Orono and
Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, INGWERSEN of York, MOORE of Washington, 
Representative: ROEDER of Bangor.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3273, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1985, c. 770, §3, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Combined benefits.  The department shall take action, as necessary, to assure 
ensure that, within the limits of available funds, a state supplemental income benefit, when 
combined with a federal supplemental security income benefit, shall consist consists of 
such amounts that the sum shall must:
A.  Increase the minimum monthly federal payment standard, in addition to that 
established pursuant to federal law, by an amount of at least $8 $65 per month for an 
individual and $12 per month for an amount per couple that is consistent with the 
amount provided to an individual pursuant to this paragraph and to a couple under 
section 3271, subsection 2;
A-1.  Annually, beginning October 1, 2026, increase the minimum monthly federal 
payment standard, in addition to that established pursuant to federal law, by an amount 
at least equal to the amount in paragraph A multiplied by the cumulative percentage 
effect on the federal payment standard of federal cost-of-living adjustments;
B.  For an individual who resides in an adult foster home or boarding home, having a 
contract with the department for the provision of services to eligible residents, or 
nursing home, as defined in section 1812‑A, in addition to the benefits provided herein 
under paragraphs A and C, provide sufficient income to allow the individual for 
personal needs an amount equal to at least $30 a month 3 times the state supplemental 
income benefit calculated pursuant to paragraphs A and A-1, plus an amount sufficient 
to meet the monthly per resident payment rate as established by the department of the 
adult foster home or boarding home in which the individual resides; and
C.  For a beneficiary who resides in a living arrangement which that meets a living 
arrangement classification established by the department, but who does not reside in 
an adult foster home or boarding home, in addition to the minimum federal payment 
level as adjusted pursuant to paragraph paragraphs A and A-1, provide, based on such 
living arrangement classification, an amount not to exceed $42 per month for an 
individual and $63 per month for an amount per couple that is consistent with the 
amount provided to an individual pursuant to this paragraph and to a couple under 
section 3271, subsection 2.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3273, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1979, c. 563, §3, is further 
amended to read:
4.   Expenditures.  Appropriations available for benefits provided in subsection 1 shall 
must be budgeted and authorized for expenditure by the department in a priority sequence. 
First, the available appropriation shall must be budgeted and expended to increase the 
minimum monthly federal payment, as specified in subsection 1, paragraph A.  Second, the 
available appropriation must be budgeted and expended to increase the minimum monthly 
federal payment, as specified in subsection 1, paragraph A-1. Third, any balance of the 
appropriation remaining after such budgeting, shall must be budgeted and expended to 
provide an individual sufficient income for personal needs, in accordance with subsection 
1, paragraph B, and to meet the monthly per resident payment rate for adult foster and 
boarding home care as provided in subsection 1, paragraph B and subsection 3. Finally, 
any balance of the appropriations remaining after such budgeting shall must be budgeted 
and expended to provide benefits related to variations by living arrangements as provided 
in subsection 1, paragraph C.
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §3273, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 790, §3, is 
amended to read:
A.  It is the declared intent of this Act that, if it is proposed that benefits provided 
pursuant to subsection 1 are to be increased on any future date, that such proposal shall 
must recommend, and implementation of such increases shall must provide, that the 
benefits pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph paragraphs A, A-1 and B, shall must be 
increased, and the benefits pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph B, shall be increased, 
rather than increasing benefits pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph C.
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §3274-A, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 563, §4, is amended to read:
§3274-A.  Personal needs of nursing home residents
In administering this chapter, the department shall ensure that eligible individuals 
residing in nursing homes, as defined in section 1812‑A, shall have at least $30 a month 
for personal needs a monthly amount for personal needs equal to at least 3 times the amount 
of the state supplemental income benefit calculated pursuant to section 3273, subsection 1, 
paragraphs A and A-1.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the 1974 State Supplemental Income Act in the following ways.
1.  It changes the minimum state supplemental income benefit from $8 per month for 
an individual and $12 per month for a couple to $65 per month for an individual and an 
amount per couple that is consistent with the amount provided to an individual and to a 
couple under current law, which requires benefits for a couple to be 150% of the benefit 
for an individual, making the new amount $97.50 per month for a couple.
2.  It provides that, starting October 1, 2026, the state supplemental income benefit 
must be annually increased by the cost-of-living adjustment to the federal payment 
standard.
3. It provides that, in the priority sequence by which the Department of Health and 
Human Services must budget and authorize for expenditure appropriations available for 
benefits, the cost-of-living adjustment must have priority immediately after the minimum 
payment.
4.  It updates the declared intent of the Act to provide that, if it is proposed that benefits 
provided are to be increased on any future date, cost-of-living adjustments be included in 
the benefits to be increased rather than increasing the benefits provided to a beneficiary 
who resides in certain living arrangements.
5.  It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that eligible 
individuals residing in nursing homes have a monthly amount for personal needs equal to 
at least 3 times the amount of the state supplemental income benefit.