Posted: | January 6, 2017 02:38 PM |
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From: | Representative Donna Bullock |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Co-Sponsorship: Keeping Seniors in PACE and PACENET |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would Amend Act 91 of 1971—the State Lottery Law—to prevent PACE and PACENET participants from being removed from the program if their income increases solely due to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Every two years, the General Assembly must amend the State Lottery Law to protect PACE and PACENET participants from being disqualified upon receiving a Social Security COLA. This policy is commonly known as the COLA moratorium. Unfortunately, while the bill moves through the legislative process, some seniors lose their PACE or PACENET coverage because their Social Security COLA pushed them over the income limits. My legislation would fix this unfair cycle by exempting Social Security COLAs from counting towards the income eligibility for a senior enrolled in PACE or PACENET. With the cost of living and prescription prices continuously rising, our seniors rely on increases in their Social Security payments and programs like PACE and PACENET to help them meet their essential needs. Seniors should not be punished by losing their prescription assistance because they receive a much-needed Social Security COLA. I encourage you to support this legislation. If you have any questions, please contact my Research Analyst -- Takesha Latham at 717-787-3480 or via email at tlatham@pahouse.net. |
Introduced as HB516