Maine Revised Statutes Title 22. Health and Welfare § 3261. Agreement for Federal Administration

1. The department shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare or its successors, under which the secretary, through the Social Security Administration, on behalf of the State of Maine, shall administer the program of state supplemental income benefits authorized in sections 3271 and 3274. The agreement shall contain all requirements for, and limitations and qualifications on, state supplemental income benefits which Title XVI of the United States Social Security Act, as amended,  1 or regulations adopted thereunder, make necessary in order to qualify the State for administration of state supplemental income benefits by the secretary. The agreement may include, but need not be limited to, provisions to implement the programs of state supplemental benefits pursuant to this Part.

2. The department shall take any and all reasonable action necessary to effect an agreement with the secretary of administration of all state supplemental income benefits. Insofar as an agreement pertains to so-called “optional” state supplemental income benefits provided pursuant to section 3271, such administration by the secretary on behalf of the State shall be effective for benefits payable July 1, 1974 and thereafter.

The department shall take any and all reasonable action to assure that such agreement shall contain provisions that the secretary shall administer the program, particularly as relates to processing of applications, receipt of benefits by eligible applicants, and hearing and reviews, in a manner which is timely and convenient to the applicant and beneficiary.