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Changing Administration of Supplemental Security Income Program

SECTION 5.   (A) Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 131B and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 131B. At the discretion of the Social Security Administration, the commissioner shall enter into an agreement with the Social Security Administration, under which the commonwealth may administer the program of state supplementary payments authorized by section 1 of chapter 118A, or the Administration may on behalf of the commonwealth administer the program of state supplementary payments for the blind authorized by section 131. This agreement shall be in the form of and satisfy the requirements for the agreement which, under section 3 of said chapter 118A, the Social Security Administration shall execute for the administration of state supplementary payments for the aged and disabled.

(B) Chapter 118A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out sections 3, 4 and 5 and inserting in place thereof the following 3 sections:-

Section 3. The commissioner of transitional assistance shall enter into an agreement with the Social Security Administration regarding the administration of the program of state supplementary payments authorized by section 1. This agreement shall contain all requirements for, and limitations and qualifications on, state supplementary payments which title XVI or regulations adopted thereunder make necessary. At the option of the commissioner, this agreement may provide for either state or federal administration of the program. Administration of the program by the commonwealth may be delegated to another governmental or private entity.

Section 4. An application to the Social Security Administration for supplemental security income benefits under title XVI shall be also be considered an application for state supplementary payment for the category of assistance for which the application is filed. Eligibility for any category of assistance of an individual or couple shall be determined in accordance with federal law. Unless the commissioner of transitional assistance elects federal administration of the state supplementary payment program, procedures related to notices, appeals and hearings regarding this program shall be determined in accordance with state law.

Section 5. If the commissioner of transitional assistance elects federal administration of state supplementary payments, there shall be advanced from the state treasury to the Social Security Administration each month an amount equal to the estimated payments authorized for that month.
 
 

Summary:
This section allows the Department of Transitional Assistance and the Commission for the Blind to transfer administration of the Supplemental Security Income program from the federal Social Security Administration to the state or a third party.