Disability Advocates Laud First Increase For Personal Care Home Residents In 16 Years

Jan. 22, 2009 - PRLog -- DISABILITY ADVOCATES LAUD FIRST INCREASE FOR PERSONAL CARE HOME RESIDENTS IN 16 YEARS
Residents get desperately needed $25 increase

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 22, 2009 ¬–  For the first time since 1993, low income Pennsylvanians living in personal care homes will receive an increase in their Personal Needs Allowance (PNA).  The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council, Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association today lauded the Department of Public Welfare for approving the $25 increase.  

“For the 9,000 low income personal care home residents a boost from $60 to $85 a month is life changing,” said Rachel Freund of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association. “Living on $60 a month is unimaginable to most of us.  This extra $25 means many people will be able to finally buy a warm pair of boots or gloves, get some secondhand clothes for a job interview, or buy a few batteries for a radio to help manage the symptoms of their mental illness.”

Marvin, a personal care home resident in Armstrong County who did not want his last name used said, “When I heard the news I thought, ‘This is the happiest day of my life!’ With $25 extra dollars each month I can buy some new clothes. I can buy a calling card so I can call my family more often.”  

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare recently announced the PNA increase as part of the $37 per month increase in the Federal Supplemental Security Income benefit provided in 2009 for recipients living in personal care.  The facilities will retain the remaining $12.  

“The Rendell Administration should be commended for taking this much needed first step that helps people in personal care homes who haven’t had an increase in 16 years.  Now they’ll have a little extra each month to cover basic needs like clothing, transportation, Medicare and Medicaid premiums and co-pays.” said Sue Walther, executive director of Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania.  “Since this is federal  
dollars, increasing the PNA will have a dramatic impact without affecting the state budget.”

Advocates for personal care home residents have been calling for an increase in the PNA for years.

“To put it in perspective, the last time the PNA was increased in 1993 most people had never heard of the Internet and companies like Yahoo and Amazon didn’t exist,” said Zainab Jama, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council.  “During that 16 year period, everyday expenses for all of us increased significantly.  With inflation, a $60 item in 1993 costs nearly $100 today and personal care home residents now have the additional requirement of paying their Medicare and Medicaid prescription co-pays.”

Personal care homes provide shelter, meals and assistance to people needing help with many personal daily tasks such as eating, bathing and doing laundry, but do not need nursing home or medical care.

ABOUT PA SILC
The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) is a cross-disability, consumer-controlled autonomous organization with 22 voting members appointed by the governor.  PA SILC formed in 1987 to comply with the "Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986" as an advisory committee to the Independent Living Services Program within the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Congress dramatically expanded the role of SILC’s with the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992 to include co-signing authority on the federally mandated State Plan for Independent Living.  

The Independent Living Services Act (ACT 139 of 1994) establishes the PA SILC as the chief planning body for Independent Living programs in Pennsylvania.  The majority of Council members must be people with disabilities.

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PA SILC is a cross-disability, consumer-controlled organization with 22 voting members appointed by the governor of Pennsylvania. The PA SILC advocates for public policies for people with disabilities in accordance with the independent living philosophy.