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Pennsylvania State Senate
05/12/2024 06:07 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20130&cosponId=12109
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 13, 2013 08:51 AM
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