PERSONAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE

Nursing Homes
Written By Lindsay Heckler, Esq., MPH

Post updated 8/25/25

A personal needs allowance (PNA) is the monthly stipend that Medicaid recipients who live in nursing homes are allowed to keep from their income to spend on personal items and services.  The PNA is $50, has not been adjusted or increased since 1988. $50 in the 1988 equivalent to ~$140 today.  $50 is all residents are allowed to retain to pay for personal items and services many of us take for granted. The rest of their income, known as a “NAMI” goes towards the cost of their care. 

 

Medicaid pays for nursing homes to provide nursing services, dietary services, certain activities programs, room/bed, maintenance services, routine personal hygiene items and services, and medically related social services. However, Medicaid does not pay for personal items and services. Such items and services include:  

·        Clothing and shoes 

·        Beauty/barber services 

·        Telephone, cable tv, internet 

·        Cards to family/friends 

·        Writing materials (stamps, stationary, cards, etc.) 

·        Favorite foods or treats 

·        Gifts to family and/or friends 

·        Books/reading materials 

·        Non-medical transportation

 

The Center for Elder Law & Justice and other advocates are calling on New York State to substantially increase the PNA with annual adjustments for inflation. However, we cannot do this without your voice. Please help accelerate efforts to increase the PNA for persons who live in nursing homes by signing this petition and sharing your story. We want to hear from you!

 

For a paper copy of the petition, questions, or requests for assistance in increasing the PNA, please contact Lindsay Heckler at (716) 853-3087 ext 212 or lheckler@elderjusticeny.org.

Learn more in our Policy Advocacy Center.

Lindsay Heckler, Esq., MPH

Lindsay Heckler is the Policy Director at Center for Elder Law & Justice, where she manages the agency’s response to nursing home and long-term care policies and regulations; as well as other issues that impact older adults and vulnerable populations. She is the legal liaison for the partnership between the Center for Elder Law & Justice and People Inc.’s NYS Region 15 Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, and is a certified ombudsman. In her roles as legal liaison and ombudsman, Ms. Heckler is an advocate and resource for information pertaining to long term care issues for residents in nursing homes, adult homes, and their families. Lindsay was previously Associate Compliance Counsel for a Medicare Compliance Company, assisting clients in navigating the CMS system, policy initiatives and appeals procedures. Lindsay graduated from the University of Rochester in 2007, University at Buffalo School of Law in 2010, and the University at Buffalo School of Public Health & Health Professions in 2011.

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