The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6775, aims to enhance the personal needs allowance for residents of long-term care facilities by implementing annual cost-of-living adjustments. Specifically, the bill amends section 17b-106 of the general statutes to establish a state supplement payment that will increase the personal needs allowance to seventy-five dollars per month. Starting July 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Social Services is required to adjust this allowance by an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the annual cost-of-living adjustment in the federal Supplemental Security Income Program, if applicable. This adjustment is intended to ensure that the personal needs allowance keeps pace with inflation and the rising costs of living.

Additionally, the bill modifies section 17b-272 to allow patients in nursing homes and similar institutions to have a monthly personal fund allowance of seventy-five dollars, which will also be adjusted annually in accordance with the new provisions established in section 17b-106. The changes aim to provide better financial support for individuals residing in long-term care facilities, ensuring they have adequate resources for their personal needs. The bill repeals the previous language in both sections and replaces it with the new provisions to facilitate these adjustments.

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Raised Bill: