The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing the method by which payments are made for recipients of the state supplement program who are residents of licensed residential care homes, as defined in § 19a-490, and a rated housing facility, as defined in § 17b-82. Such regulations shall provide for the safeguarding of residents’ personal funds with respect to any homes, or rated housing facilities that handle such funds. Regulations concerning payment for residents shall provide for payment to the licensed residential care home or rated housing facility for the period during which the recipient makes such home or facility his or her residence, without regard to periods during which the recipient is absent, provided (1) the recipient’s bed at the home or facility would otherwise be available during such absence, and (2) the recipient can reasonably be expected to return to the home or facility before the end of the month following the month in which the recipient leaves the home or facility. If the department determines that a resident of a home or rated housing facility who applies for state supplement benefits is eligible for such benefits, the department shall pay the home or facility at a per diem or monthly rate less any applied income due from the resident. Any retroactive adjustment to the rate of such a home or facility by the commissioner that results in money due to such home or facility shall be made to such home or facility directly, and any such adjustment that results in an overpayment to the home or facility shall be paid by the home or facility to the department. If a retroactive adjustment to the rate of such home or facility results in a current resident becoming eligible for state supplement benefits, and such resident applies for state supplement benefits, the department may determine the start date of eligibility for state supplement benefits to be the later of the resident’s admission date or the date ninety days prior to the date the department receives the application.