(1) Supervise the administration of assistance to the permanently and totally disabled under this part;

(2) Make such rules and regulations and take such action as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out this part to the end that equitable treatment shall be afforded to individuals in similar circumstances. All rules and regulations made by the department shall be binding on the counties and shall be complied with by the respective regional directors;

(3) Establish criteria for determining who is permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of § 71-4-1102;

(4) Establish standards for the determination of need of the individual including:

(A) Statewide requirements essential to maintaining a minimum standard of economic security based on studies of current living costs;

(B) Methods and procedures for measuring income and resources against such statewide requirements;

(C) Property reserves that will not preclude eligibility for assistance under this part;

(5) Employ personnel for the administration of this part in conformity with title 8, chapter 30, and the rules and regulations of the department of human resources;

(6) Prescribe the form of and supply to the regional directors such forms as it may deem necessary and desirable;

(7) Cooperate with the commissioner of social security, or any federal officer or agency made successor to the commissioner of social security, in any reasonable manner as may be necessary to qualify for federal aid for assistance to the permanently and totally disabled and in conformity with this part, including the making of such reports in such form and containing such information as the commissioner of social security may from time to time require, and comply with such provisions as such commissioner may from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; and

(8) Publish an annual report and such interim reports as may be necessary.