Existing law provides for supplementary income payments to aged, blind, or disabled persons who are also eligible for assistance under the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, or who, but for their income, would be eligible for assistance under that federal program.
Under existing law, the state provides for additional payments to aged, blind, or disabled persons in special circumstances under the State Supplementary Program (SSP), including a recurring special need allowance for dog food of $30 per month to every blind recipient who has a guide dog.
This bill would increase that special need allowance to $40, and further increase that amount to $50 beginning July 1, 1991, would provide that the allowance shall be provided for blind or disabled recipients of benefits under the SSI and SSP programs, and would specify that the allowance shall be for guide dogs, signal dogs, or other service dogs, to pay for dog food and other costs associated with their care and maintenance.