2017 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 40 - Human services
Chapter 40-6 - Public Assistance Act
Section 40-6-27 - Supplemental security income.

§ 40-6-27. Supplemental security income.

(a)(1) The director of the department is hereby authorized to enter into agreements on behalf of the state with the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or other appropriate federal officials, under the supplementary and security income (SSI) program established by title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1381 et seq., concerning the administration and determination of eligibility for SSI benefits for residents of this state, except as otherwise provided in this section. The state's monthly share of supplementary assistance to the supplementary security income program shall be as follows:

(i) Individual living alone: $39.92

(ii) Individual living with others: $51.92

(iii) Couple living alone: $79.38

(iv) Couple living with others: $97.30

(v) Individual living in state licensed assisted living residence: $332.00

(vi) Individual eligible to receive Medicaid-funded long-term services and supports and living in a Medicaid certified state licensed assisted living residence or adult supportive care residence, as defined in § 23-17.24-1, participating in the program authorized under § 40-8.13-12:

(a) with countable income above one hundred and twenty (120) percent of poverty: up to $465.00;

(b) with countable income at or below one hundred and twenty (120) percent of poverty: up to the total amount established in (v) and $465: $797

(vii) Individual living in state licensed supportive residential care settings that, depending on the population served, meet the standards set by the department of human services in conjunction with the department(s) of children, youth and families, elderly affairs and/or behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals: $300.00.

Provided, however, that the department of human services shall by regulation reduce, effective January 1, 2009, the state's monthly share of supplementary assistance to the supplementary security income program for each of the above listed payment levels, by the same value as the annual federal cost of living adjustment to be published by the federal social security administration in October 2008 and becoming effective on January 1, 2009, as determined under the provisions of title XVI of the federal social security act [42 U.S.C. § 1381 et seq.]; and provided further, that it is the intent of the general assembly that the January 1, 2009 reduction in the state's monthly share shall not cause a reduction in the combined federal and state payment level for each category of recipients in effect in the month of December 2008; provided further, that the department of human services is authorized and directed to provide for payments to recipients in accordance with the above directives.

(2) As of July 1, 2010, state supplement payments shall not be federally administered and shall be paid directly by the department of human services to the recipient.

(3) Individuals living in institutions shall receive a twenty dollar ($20.00) per month personal needs allowance from the state which shall be in addition to the personal needs allowance allowed by the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.

(4) Individuals living in state licensed supportive residential care settings and assisted living residences who are receiving SSI supplemental payments under this section who are participating in the program under § 40-8.13-12 or otherwise shall be allowed to retain a minimum personal needs allowance of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) per month from their SSI monthly benefit prior to payment of any monthly fees in addition to any amounts established in an administrative rule promulgated by the secretary of the executive office of health and human services for persons eligible to receive Medicaid-funded long-term services and supports in the settings identified in subsection (a)(1)(v) and (a)(1)(vi).

(5) Except as authorized for the program authorized under § 40-8.13-12 to ensure that supportive residential care or an assisted living residence is a safe and appropriate service setting, the department is authorized and directed to make a determination of the medical need and whether a setting provides the appropriate services for those persons who:

(i) Have applied for or are receiving SSI, and who apply for admission to supportive residential care setting and assisted living residences on or after October 1, 1998; or

(ii) Who are residing in supportive residential care settings and assisted living residences, and who apply for or begin to receive SSI on or after October 1, 1998.

(6) The process for determining medical need required by subsection (5) of this section shall be developed by the office of health and human services in collaboration with the departments of that office and shall be implemented in a manner that furthers the goals of establishing a statewide coordinated long-term care entry system as required pursuant to the Medicaid section 1115 waiver demonstration.

(7) To assure access to high quality coordinated services, the executive office of health and human services is further authorized and directed to establish certification or contract standards that must be met by those state licensed supportive residential care settings, including adult supportive care homes and assisted living residences admitting or serving any persons eligible for state-funded supplementary assistance under this section or the program established under § 40-8.13-12. Such certification or contract standards shall define:

(i) The scope and frequency of resident assessments, the development and implementation of individualized service plans, staffing levels and qualifications, resident monitoring, service coordination, safety risk management and disclosure, and any other related areas;

(ii) The procedures for determining whether the certifications or contract standards have been met; and

(iii) The criteria and process for granting a one time, short-term good cause exemption from the certification or contract standards to a licensed supportive residential care setting or assisted living residence that provides documented evidence indicating that meeting or failing to meet said standards poses an undue hardship on any person eligible under this section who is a prospective or current resident.

(8) The certification or contract standards required by this section or § 40-8.13-12 shall be developed in collaboration by the departments, under the direction of the executive office of health and human services, so as to ensure that they comply with applicable licensure regulations either in effect or in development.

(b) The department is authorized and directed to provide additional assistance to individuals eligible for SSI benefits for:

(1) Moving costs or other expenses as a result of an emergency of a catastrophic nature which is defined as a fire or natural disaster; and

(2) Lost or stolen SSI benefit checks or proceeds of them; and

(3) Assistance payments to SSI eligible individuals in need because of the application of federal SSI regulations regarding estranged spouses; and the department shall provide such assistance in a form and amount, which the department shall by regulation determine.

History of Section.
(P.L. 1987, ch. 578, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 93, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 65, art. 26, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 240, § 4; P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 53, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 15, § 2; P.L. 1998, ch. 427, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 217, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 35, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 103, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 26, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 18, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 23, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 151, art. 23, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 5, § 8; P.L. 2016, ch. 511, art. 1, § 18.)