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Increasing the Personal Needs Allowance for Nursing Home Residents
Current Status
A3908 — Approved 6-0 by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee on June 24, 2024.
S3319 — Approved 8-0 by the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee on Oct. 7, 2024. Referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Medicaid-eligible nursing home residents would receive a monthly Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) of $140 — up from the current $50 — under this bill, which was drafted and championed by nursing home residents. The bill also establishes yearly cost-of-living adjustments.
For nursing home residents on Medicaid, the PNA is their only income to spend on goods and services not provided by the nursing home — for example, hair care, supplements, clothing, shoes, takeout food, and crafting supplies.
The $50 per month does not go far in New Jersey, which is ranked by Forbes Advisor and U.S. News & World Report as the state with the fifth-highest cost of living. Yet, according to the American Council on Aging, 31 states and the District of Columbia provide residents with higher PNA amounts than New Jersey, with the highest rate being $200 a month (Alaska).
Interested in supporting the PNA bill?
Contact the LTCO's Community Engagement Program at 1-609-690-4740 or community@ltco.nj.gov.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
