SENATE, No. 1350

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 20, 1996

 

 

By Senators INVERSO, SINAGRA, LaRossa, Singer and Kenny

 

 

An Act concerning eligibility for "Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged and Disabled" and amending P.L.1975, c.194.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Section 2 of P.L.1975, c.194 (C.30:4D-21) is amended to read as follows:

    2. a. Any resident of this State who is either a recipient of disability insurance benefits under Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.{401 et seq.) or 65 years of age and over and whose annual income is less than $16,624, less than $19,000 if the individual has one dependent child, less than $22,000 if the individual has two dependent children, or less than $25,000 if the individual has three or more dependent children if single or, if married, whose annual income combined with that of his spouse is less than $20,383, less than $23,000 if the married couple has one dependent child, less than $26,000 if the married couple has two dependent children, or less than $29,000 if the married couple has three or more dependent children, shall be eligible for "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" if he is not otherwise qualified for assistance under P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.). Annual income shall not include gain from the sale of a principal residence that is excluded from gross income pursuant to N.J.S.54A:6-9.

    b. Beginning January 1, 1996 and annually thereafter, the income eligibility limits provided in subsection a. of this section shall increase by the amount of the maximum Social Security benefit cost-of-living increase for that year for single and married persons, respectively. The commissioner shall adopt the new income limits annually by regulation pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

    For the purposes of this section, "dependent child" means a child


who is a dependent pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

(cf: P.L.1995, c.27, s.1)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill expands the income eligibility requirements for the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" program (PAAD). Under current law, the annual income eligibility requirement is the same whether or not PAAD recipients have any dependent children. This bill would increase the annual income eligibility requirement for single individuals with dependent children to $19,000 with one dependent child, to $22,000 with two dependent children, and to $25,000 with three or more dependent children; and for married couples to $23,000 with one dependent child, to $26,000 with two dependent children, and to $29,000 with three or more dependent children. The bill would define a dependent child as a child who is dependent pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

    The bill would also allow these persons to qualify for the Lifeline Credit Program established under P.L.1979, c.197, (C.48:2-29.15 et seq.) or the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program established under P.L.1981, c.210 (C.48:2-29.30 et seq.), and the "Hearing Aid Assistance for the Aged and Disabled" program established under P.L.1987, c.298 (C.30:4D-36 et seq.), since eligibility for those programs is dependent upon PAAD eligibility.

 

 

                             

 

Increases income eligibility for PAAD for individuals with dependent children.