All applicants who receive general assistance while receipt
of their supplemental security income (SSI) assistance is pending
or suspended, and which therefore may be retroactively issued to the
applicant at a later date, will be required to sign a statement on
an interim assistance agreement form distributed by the DHHS that
authorizes the Social Security Administration to direct a portion
of any retroactive SSI payment to the municipality and/or the state
in repayment for the general assistance granted. Any general assistance
applicant who has applied for or who may be applying for SSI, or who
may be required to apply for SSI pursuant to 22 M.R.S.A. § 4317,
and who refuses to sign the interim agreement SSI authorization form
will be found ineligible to receive general assistance until he or
she provides the required signature (22 M.R.S.A. § 4318).
The spouse of an applicant and the parents of any applicant
under the age of 25 are liable for the support of the applicant (22
M.R.S.A. § 4319). In addition, grandchildren, children,
siblings, parents and grandparents are liable for the burial costs
of each other. The municipality considers these relatives to be available
resources and liable for the support of their relatives in proportion
to their respective ability. The municipality may complain to any
court of competent jurisdiction to recover any expenses made on the
behalf of a recipient if the relatives fail to fulfill their responsibility
(22 M.R.S.A. § 4319).