| CHICAGO,
IL – Saying that seniors in nursing homes and persons with mental disabilities
in residential facilities deserve more than a dollar a day, U.S. Representative
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced legislation to increase the Personal Needs
Allowance (PNA) from $30 to $50 a month. The money is used by those individuals
to buy and pay for the most basic of personal items, such as clothing,
reading materials, bus fare, stamps, haircuts, telephone calls, or snacks.
“It’s
been twelve years since the federal government mandated an increase in
the Personal Needs Allowance to $30. That’s too long and, in today’s
dollars, that amount is clearly too low. By raising the allowance,
we have an opportunity to enrich the quality of life and to lift the spirits
of those in real need,” Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky
introduced legislation to increase the PNA after receiving a petition from
constituents in her district. The petition drive was organized by
Michael Ahl, President of Somerset Place Resident Council and signed by
more than 240 residents. Somerset Place is a residential home for
people with mental disabilities that serves 400 individuals. Schakowsky
met today with residents of the facility to discuss their concerns and
her bill, answer their questions, and hear their stories.
“The
residents of Somerset Place told me how they struggle every day just to
buy a pair of shoes or to pay for bus fare. I am committed
to finding solutions and will begin by working to increase the Personal
Needs Allowance,” Schakowsky said.
The
federal minimum amount for personal needs allowances is $30 a month.
It represents how much Medicaid-eligible residents are allowed to keep
out of their Social Security checks and other sources of income.
The rest of their income is used to help pay for nursing home and residential
care. Schakowsky’s bill, H.R. 5087, would increase the federal minimum
by 60% to $50 a month. Some states permit facility residents to retain
more in personal income. However, Illinois only allows the federal minimum
of $30 a month.
United
Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Associations, the nation’s largest health charity,
has endorsed Schakowsky’s bill. In a letter to Schakowsky, UCP wrote,
“Increasing Medicaid’s personal needs allowance to keep pace with inflation
is important to maintain these residents’ personal dignity.” |
