A 2691 — Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities.

A2691 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblymen S.Kean, Azzariti Jr., Assemblywomen Donlon, Peterpaul, Assemblyman Sauickie, Assemblywomen Drulis, Dunn, Assemblymen McGuckin, Kanitra, Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Collazos-GillCollazos-Gill, Haider, Brennan, Quijano, Assemblyman Inganamort, Assemblywomen Swain, Carter and HaiderAssemblyman Auth         SYNOPSIS      Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeAging Counsel.and Human Services Committee on May 7, 2026, with amendments.

"Assistance for the Blind," P.L.1962, c.197 (C.44:7-43 to 44:7-49) and "Permanent and Total Disability Assistance," P.L.1951, c.139 (C.44:7-38 to 44:7-42) and any funds which may in the future be appropriated for the payment of supplementary payments, to the government in such amounts and at such times as the commissioner shall deem appropriate in order to provide for supplementary payments to eligible persons in this State.       d.  Pay to the government such funds as are necessary to reimburse the government's expenses in collecting additional information needed for the State to make eligibility determinations for medical assistance under the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Act," P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 to 30:4D-19).       e.  Require welfare boards to perform such eligibility determinations as the commissioner may deem necessary for the continuation of the New Jersey Medical Assistance Program under the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Act," P.L.1968, c.413.  The commissioner shall pay to the counties a reasonable amount to reimburse the welfare boards for their expenses in making such eligibility determinations.       f.  (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1990, c.66.)      g.  Take appropriate steps to secure maximum federal financial participation in providing assistance to eligible persons residing in residential health care facilities.       h.  Ensure that any eligible person residing in a rooming or boarding house or1[or] ,1 residential health care facility 1, or special hospital1 has reserved to him a monthly amount, from payments received under the provisions of the act to which this act is a supplement or from any other income, as a personal needs allowance.

The personal needs allowance may vary according to the type of facility in which an eligible person resides, but in no case shall be less than [$25.00] $140.00$140 per month, provided that beginning January 1 of the next year following enactment of P.L.   P.L.    , c.    ,(C.    c.    (C.       ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and annually thereafter, the minimum personal needs allowance shall be increased by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year.

     1As used in this subsection, “special hospital” means any hospital which assures provision of comprehensive specialized diagnosis, care treatment, and rehabilitation where applicable on an in-patient basis for one or more specific categories of patients.1      i.  Ensure that any eligible person who receives medical assistance under subparagraph (4)(a) of subsection a.

     j.  Assess welfare boards at the beginning of each fiscal year in the same proportion that the counties currently participate in the federal categorical assistance programs, in order to obtain the amount of each county's share of supplementary payments for eligible persons in this State, based upon the number of eligible persons in the county. county. (cf:

(cf:

    STATEMENT        This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers.

     This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies.  The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes.

     The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill’s enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year.

     In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility.  The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50.  Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient.