Page 377

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 377 of 739

of state supplementation to the Supplemental Security Income Program provided for by the Social Security Act and state law. The commissioner may delegate any powers and authority to any deputy, assistant, investigator or supervisor, who shall have, within the scope of the power and authority so delegated, all of the power and authority of the Commissioner of Social Services. The [commissioner shall establish a standard of need based on the cost of living in this state] standard of need for the temporary family assistance program [and the state- administered general assistance program] shall be fifty-five per cent of the federal poverty level. The commissioner shall make a reinvestigation, at least every twelve months, of all cases receiving aid from the state, except that such reinvestigation may be conducted every twenty-four months for recipients of assistance to the elderly or disabled with stable circumstances, and shall maintain all case records of the several programs administered by the Department of Social Services so that such records show, at all times, full information with respect to eligibility of the applicant or recipient. In the determination of need under any public assistance program, such income or earnings shall be disregarded as federal law requires, and such income or earnings may be disregarded as federal law permits. In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall disregard from income (1) Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to a veteran, as defined under section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran, and (2) any tax refund or advance payment with respect to a refundable credit to the same extent such refund or advance payment would be disregarded under 26 USC 6409 in any federal program or state or local program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. The commissioner shall encourage and promulgate such incentive earning programs as are permitted by federal law and regulations. (b) On July 1, 2007, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall increase the payment standards over those of the previous fiscal year under [the temporary family assistance program and] the state-