The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Robert Correia
Susan C. Tucker
Ellen Story
John P. Fresolo
Christine E. Canavan
Kay Khan
William N. Brownsberger
Matthew C. Patrick
Barbara A. L'Italien
Mark C. Montigny
Bruce J. Ayers
James M. Murphy
Tom Sannicandro
Denise Provost
Martin J. Walsh
David B. Sullivan
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act regarding low income elders and persons with disabilities. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1: Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following words:-
A person who is eligible for assistance under the provisions of this chapter, and who is maintaining his or her own home, shall receive monthly benefits calculated at the same amount of benefits otherwise provided to an assistance unit of the same size available under chapter one hundred and eighteen.
SECTION 2: Said chapter 117A is further amended by inserting after section 10 the following section:-
Section 11: Representation to secure federal disability benefits
To maximize the receipt of federal benefits and to maximize reimbursement of interim assistance paid by the Commonwealth under this chapter, the Department shall enter into a contact with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation for the purpose of providing legal advice and representation to disabled recipients in order for said recipients to secure Supplemental Security Income benefits administered by the Social Security Administrations.
SECTION 3: Chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following section:-
Section 31: Increase federal nutrition benefits for elders and persons with disabilities
To maximize federal food stamp benefits for elder and disabled persons, the department shall screen applicants for and recipients of federal food stamp benefits who are sixty years of age or older or who are disabled for unreimbursed medical expenses which may be allowed as deductions from countable income under federal law in calculating the amount of food stamps for which the applicant or recipient may be eligible. The department shall take reasonable steps to assist said elder and disabled persons to secure the verification necessary to claim said medical deductions when after inquiry such assistance is requested by the applicant or recipient.