Urge Lawmakers to Include an SSI Increase for ACFs in This Year's Budget

Currently, there are over 13,000 aging New Yorkers who rely on Congregate Care Level 3 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to pay for the services they receive in adult care facilities (ACFs) and assisted living settings, at a rate of just over $41 per day per person. This reimbursement rate is roughly half of the average cost of providing ACF services, and as the minimum wage mandate is phased in, this gap will only grow. If ACFs close or cannot afford to continue to serve SSI/Medicaid-eligible seniors, more of these individuals will be placed in nursing homes at a higher cost to the State.

LeadingAge New York is urging legislators to increase the Level 3 SSI rate by at least $20 per day per resident and institute an annual cost of living adjustment to the State portion of the rate thereafter.

Enter your information to contact your lawmakers, urging them to support New York's ACFs and lowest-income seniors by including an SSI increase in this year's budget.

Enter your information below to contact your lawmakers via email and/or Twitter.

Subject:

Please Include an SSI Increase for ACFs in This Year's Budget

Dear Official,

I am disappointed that the Governor did not include an increase to the State portion of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit for adult care facility (ACF) residents in his Executive Budget, once again. It is critical that the Legislature include a provision in this year's budget to increase the State portion of the SSI Congregate Care Level 3 Rate by $20 per day per resident. An increase is needed to ensure that low-income seniors have access to these critical services.

The current SSI rate for ACF residents is just over $41 per day, which is roughly half of the average cost of providing ACF services. These services include personal care, case management, meals, assistance with medications, activities, housekeeping, maintenance, and more. While the cost of providing care has gone up for many reasons, both in the marketplace and as a result of policy, there has been no commensurate increase in the State supplement to SSI payments. The last increase to the State supplement was paid in 2007; before that, it was 17 years. Such infrequent, unpredictable increases have made it extremely difficult to afford to serve SSI recipients.

If ACFs close or can no longer afford to serve SSI recipients, those individuals who could be served in an ACF are likely to go to a nursing home unnecessarily, and at a great cost to the State’s Medicaid program. Clearly, it is less expensive to the State, and more consistent with the goals of the State and federal government, to prevent unnecessary institutionalization.

I urge you to work with your colleagues to ensure that an SSI increase of $20 per day per resident is included in this year's final enacted budget.

Regards, Your Name

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