An Act To Modernize The State Supplement To Supplemental Security Income By Removing Marriage Disincentives

LD 840 modernizes Maine's state supplement to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by removing a disincentive for marriage. It changes the benefit calculation for married couples from 150% to 200% of the individual benefit rate, meaning couples will now receive the same total as two single individuals. The bill also updates the standard for determining need to use the U.S. Department of Labor's budget for an individual (not a couple) in Portland, Maine, and adjusts annual cost-of-living increases to aim for a benefit level matching this individual budget. This directly affects Maine residents who receive the state supplemental income benefit for blindness, disability, or age.