Bill
Bill > A579
NJ A579
NJ A579Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income who are veterans or spouses of veterans and provides for annual cost-of-living increase in allowance.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill increases the personal needs allowance for veterans and their spouses who are recipients of Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and reside in a nursing home or developmental center, or are patients in a psychiatric hospital. This allowance is used to purchase personal items, such as clothing, grooming aids, newspapers, and other items not regularly provided by the facility in which the recipients reside. The bill provides that the monthly personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $35 to $50, and that the monthly personal needs allowance for recipients of SSI who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $40 to $50. The bill further provides that these amounts will be increased annually, on January 1 of each year, by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits that year. In the case of SSI recipients, the bill provides that the Commissioner of Human Services shall administer the $10 increase provided in the bill if the federal government, which provides the basic allowance, cannot administer the increase. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to apply to the federal government for such Medicaid State plan amendments as may be necessary to increase the personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients, and to seek federal government approval for the commissioner's administrative plan to implement the increase for SSI recipients. The respective increases provided for in the bill will not be operative until such time as the commissioner receives federal approval for the Medicaid State plan amendment and the commissioner's SSI administrative plan.
AI Summary
This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance, which is money recipients of Medicaid (a government health insurance program for low-income individuals) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI, a federal program providing cash assistance to disabled, blind, or elderly individuals) can use for personal items not provided by their facility, to $50 for veterans or their spouses. Specifically, for Medicaid recipients who are veterans or their spouses, the allowance increases from $35 to $50, and for SSI recipients who are veterans or their spouses, the allowance increases from $40 to $50. These increased amounts will be adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases, mirroring Social Security benefit adjustments. The Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with seeking federal approval for these changes, including applying for Medicaid State plan amendments and developing an administrative plan for SSI recipients, and the increases will only take effect once this federal approval is obtained.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A579 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1000/579_I1.HTM |
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