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 Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ, 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 Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ, 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.