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Ray DiFrancesco (center) and Louis Bonilla (right), members of the group NJ Nursing Home Residents United, appeared with On New Jersey’s Ken Rosato to make the case for why nursing home residents deserve an increase in the personal needs allowance (PNA). View here.

Nearly two-thirds of New Jersey nursing home residents are on Medicaid, and their benefits — along with any income they receive, such as Social Security — are paid to the nursing home. The residents get to keep only $50 a month for their PNA. This is not enough for bare essentials such as shoes and clothes, let alone a phone, supplies for hobbies, toiletries to replace subpar items provided by the nursing home, and occasional takeout food.

Senate Bill S3319/Assembly Bill A3908 would increase the PNA to $140 a month and implement yearly adjustments to keep up with the cost of living. Read more .