Protection from loss of benefits

It is the intent of the Legislature that any claim paid under this chapter shall supplement any benefits paid under aid to the aged, blind and disabled or any program which succeeds or supplants it. The Department of Health and Human Services shall take any such action as may be necessary to assure that recipients of aid to the aged, blind and disabled shall continue to receive as high a percentage of their current assistance as may be possible. To carry out this legislative directive, the department shall utilize all the state funds expected to be saved by a reduction in benefits of recipients of aid to the aged, blind and disabled resulting from this chapter to raise the standards of aid to the aged, blind and disabled at a total cost in state funds equivalent to the savings in state funds which would be expected as a result of this chapter. [PL 1987, c. 516, §§3, 6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).] Benefits received under this chapter may not be included as income for purposes of any state or municipally administered public benefit program except for general assistance under Title 22, chapter 1161 , unless used for basic necessities as defined in Title 22, section 4301, subsection 1 . Benefits received under this chapter may be considered for purposes of determining eligibility for abatement under section 841, subsection 2 . [PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. OO, §13 (AMD).] These benefits do not duplicate and shall not reduce the amount of any individual's payment under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program because those payments are insufficient to meet the total amount of money determined to be needed for housing in accordance with the state standard of need under that program. [PL 1987, c. 516, §§3, 6 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §34 (AMD).]