Posted: | March 13, 2013 08:51 AM |
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From: | Senator LeAnna M. Washington and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | PACE/PACENET eligibility updates |
In the near future we will be introducing legislation to extend the current moratorium on including Social Security COLA’s in the definition of “income” for purposes of PACE/PACENET eligibility until December 31, 2016. The current moratorium, established in Act 21 of 2011, expires on December 31, 2013. Without a change in current law, it is estimated that the 2012 Social Security COLA of 3.6% and the 1.7% COLA for 2013 will cause over 40,000 current PACE /PACENET recipients to exceed eligibility limits and lose benefits. By extending the moratorium for another 3 years, we will ensure that these individuals will remain eligible for participation in the programs. The legislation would also exempt Medicare Part B premium payments (on average $106/mo. or $1,200/yr.) from the definition of “income” for purposes of PACE/PACENET eligibility. The Department of Aging estimates that excluding these payments would result in an additional 8,300 Pennsylvanians becoming eligible for PACE/PACENET benefits. The cost associated with these two proposed changes will be absorbed by existing surplus revenues in the PACE/PACENET program. Please join us in cosponsoring this legislation to help approximately 50,000 senior citizens. Similar legislation, HB 777 (Rep. Grove) has been introduced in the House of Representatives. |
Introduced as SB1009