Official Site of The State of New Jersey

August 2025

One Step Up - PNA Increase Advances in the Senate

A long overdue raise in the personal needs allowance (PNA) took another step toward becoming law when the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee unanimously approved Bill S3319 on June 26.

The committee action clears the way for a full Senate vote on S3319, which would raise the monthly PNA from $50 to $140 and establish yearly increases to keep up with the cost of living.

An identical bill — A3908, approved by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee in June 2024 — awaits a vote in the Assembly. To become law, the bill needs approval from both chambers and Gov. Phil Murphy’s signature.

Residents have played a critical role in pushing the PNA bill forward. Members of New Jersey Nursing Home Residents United led petition drives and outreach efforts for more than a year to gain support from key legislators. For the June 26 hearing, 69 residents shared messages of support for the bill and two Residents United members, Gail Smith and Ray DiFrancesco, submitted testimony.

Residents United members Stacy Moore and Louis Bonilla recently highlighted the PNA bill on NJ Spotlight News.

The outreach campaign will pick up after the Legislature returns from its summer recess. If you would like to be involved, the LTCO’s Community Engagement Program can connect you to the residents leading the effort.

Phone: 609-690-4740

Email: community@ltco.nj.gov

Did You Know?

Forbes Advisor ranks New Jersey as the fifth-most expensive state in which to live. Yet the American Council on Aging reports that 32 states and the District of Columbia provide residents with a higher PNA than New Jersey.

Comments? Questions? Story Ideas?

Send an email to outreach@ltco.nj.gov.

Congratulations!

Resident Gail Smith Accepted as a National Consumer Scholar Gail Smith, resident of a Somerset County nursing home, was accepted to National Consumer Scholars, a program of the Camden Coalition, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to improving care for people with complex health and social needs. Gail is honored to have this opportunity to receive more training in healthcare advocacy and bring the expertise of her life experiences to the program.

A member of NJ Nursing Home Residents United, Gail has been active in efforts opposing federal Medicaid cuts and supporting an increase to the personal needs allowance. She also has participated in conferences and webinars hosted by the Long-Term Care Community Coalition and the Consumer Voice.