1.  Standard.  The standard utilized to determine need must be the current annual budget at the lower level of living for an individual as most recently determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Portland, Maine, or budgets that are consistent with such a budget at the lower level of living, taking into account budget variances by living arrangements permitted pursuant to Title XVI of the United States Social Security Act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.