LD840 Enacted, Maine SSI Marriage Disincentives Removed
Summary
Maine's LD840, An Act to Modernize the State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income by Removing Marriage Disincentives, was enacted on April 14, 2026. The bill removes marriage-related penalties from Maine's state supplement to SSI, allowing married individuals to receive benefits without reduced payments based on spousal income. The legislation passed both chambers after Committee Amendment A (S-18) and Senate Amendment A (S-701).
What changed
LD840 amends Maine's state supplement to Supplemental Security Income by eliminating provisions that reduced benefits for married recipients. The bill removes marriage-related penalties that were previously applied when SSI recipients married, allowing couples to receive full benefits without income-based reductions from spousal earnings.
For Maine SSI recipients and the state social services agencies administering the program, this requires updating benefit calculation methodologies to remove spousal income reduction factors. Administrative systems and staff training may need revision to reflect the new benefit structure.
Archived snapshot
Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Maine / LD840 Enacted LD840 LD Enacted 2026-04-14
An Act to Modernize the State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income by Removing Marriage Disincentives
Bill Details
State Maine
Session 132nd Legislature
Chamber House
Official Source legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Michael Tipping (Sen - D) Henry Ingwersen (Sen - D) Marianne Moore (Sen - R) Laurie Osher (Rep - D) Amy Roeder (Rep - D)
Action History
2026-04-14 S PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. 2026-04-13 H Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2026-04-13 H PASSED TO BE ENACTED. 2026-04-13 H ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2026-04-13 H The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-701) thereto. 2026-04-13 S Sent down for concurrence. 2026-04-13 S PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-701) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE. 2026-04-13 S Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-701) thereto ADOPTED. 2026-04-13 S On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-701) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) READ and ADOPTED. 2026-04-13 S On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) was ADOPTED. 2026-04-13 S On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) in concurrence. 2026-04-13 S On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table 2025-06-25 S CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. 2025-04-24 S On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence 2025-04-23 H Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2025-04-23 H PASSED TO BE ENACTED. 2025-04-22 H In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2025-04-22 H The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-18). 2025-04-22 H Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY. 2025-04-22 H CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY 2025-04-17 S Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence. 2025-04-17 S Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-18). 2025-04-17 S Committee Amendment "A" (S-18) READ and ADOPTED. 2025-04-17 S READ ONCE. 2025-04-17 S Report READ and ACCEPTED. 2025-04-16 J Reported Out: OTP-AM 2025-03-26 J Voted: OTP-AM 2025-03-26 J Work Session Held 2025-03-21 S CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. 2025-03-04 H In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2025-03-04 H The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. 2025-03-04 S Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence
Committee Referrals
2025-03-04 J Health And Human Services
Amendments
0000-00-00 Senate: C-A (S-18) Adopted 0000-00-00 Senate: S-A to C-A (S-701) Adopted
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Chaptered
Subjects
General Assistance Income Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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