22 M.R.S. §3272: Standard

1. Standard. The standard utilized to determine need shall be the current annual budget at the lower level of living for a retired couple as most recently determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Portland, Maine, or budgets which are consistent with such a budget at the lower level of living, taking into account budget variances by marital status and living arrangements permited pursuant to Title XVI and regulations promulgated thereunder.