DAL 17-23: SSI Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

November 17, 2017

DAL 17-23: SSI Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Dear Adult Care Facility Operator/Administrator:

The purpose of this letter is to inform Operators/Administrators of adult homes and enriched housing programs of impending increases in the 2018 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Safety Net benefits provided to residents of such facilities as a result of the 2.0% federal cost of living increases for 2017.

Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2017 authorized a pass through of the January 1, 2017 cost of living increases to SSI recipients. The January 1, 2018 increases will result in increases of $15.00 per month for individuals and $30.00 per month for couples. The law also requires that SSI residents receive a $4.00 increase in their Personal Needs Allowance, effective January 1, 2018.

Benefit changes will be effective January 1, 2018 and paid monthly as described below:

Status SSI Income Only SSI Income Plus Social
Security or other unearned Income
not counted by Social Security
Individuals $1,444.00 $1,464.00
Couples $2,888.00 $2,908.00

Adult Home and Enriched Housing Program residents who receive SSI benefits will also be entitled to receive $198.00 per month as a Personal Needs Allowance in 2018. Residents who receive both SSI and Social Security Income, Railroad Retirement, Veterans' Benefits or other income are entitled to receive a 2018 Personal Needs Allowance of at least $218 per month.

Residents who receive Safety Net payments from local Departments of Social Services also will receive the $1,444 per month as outlined above, which includes $1,246 for cost of care and $198 for the resident's Personal Needs Allowance.

Enclosed is a notice for residents who receive SSI. The notice describes the changes in SSI which go into effect on January 1, 2018. The notice is to be conspicuously posted where it is accessible to residents. Recommended places for posting are residence bulletin boards, next to the activities schedule and/or next to the daily menu. You should also make copies for residents who would like to have a copy of the notice. We will not be mailing individual copies to the residents receiving SSI in your facility.

If you intend to increase the rate you charge residents, you are required to give residents a written notice specifying the new rate at least 30 days prior to the date of the increase. In addition, Assisted Living Residences (ALRs) must provide 45 days' notice before increasing the rate for residents who receive SSI. The operator may increase the rate with less than the 30-day notice (45 days for ALRs) if the resident voluntarily agrees to such a rate increase in writing. In either case, you are required to amend the admission/residency agreement. In addition, you are required to offer eligible residents, in writing, an opportunity to place Personal Needs Allowance funds in a facility maintained account, if they do not already have a facility maintained account for Personal Needs Allowance.

The SSI and Safety Net Assistance increases are effective January 1, 2018 and will be included in regular SSI and Safety Net Assistance checks beginning with the January SSI check. SSI recipients with questions about their SSI benefits should contact the Social Security Administration by calling the national toll-free hotline at 1 (800) 772-1213 or by contacting their local Social Security Office in person or by phone.

Please be advised that this letter and attachments will be available on the Department's website at:

http://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/adult_care/dear_administrator_letters/

If you have any questions about the posting of this notice, please contact the Department's Regional Office representative in your area as listed on the enclosed notice.

Sincerely,

Valerie A. Deetz, Director
Division of Adult Care Facilities and
Assisted Living Surveillance

Enclosures

NOTICE

TO: Residents of Adult Homes and Enriched Housing Programs who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Effective January 1, 2018 the benefits for a resident eligible for SSI will be increased. For individual residents, the total increase will be $15 per month. For couples, the total increase is $30 per month.

The law increases the required amount of your personal needs allowance by $4.00 per month.

Residents who receive SSI are entitled to receive at least $198 per month as a Personal Needs Allowance. Most residents who also receive Social Security Income, Railroad Retirement, Veterans' Benefits or other income are entitled to receive a Personal Needs Allowance of at least $218 per month. The Personal Needs Allowance is money which you may use for personal items such as clothing, magazines, etc.

The following chart shows the new benefit amount effective January 1, 2018 for residents receiving SSI. The increases will be included in regular SSI checks beginning with the January 2018 SSI check.

Status SSI Income Only SSI Income Plus Social
Security or other unearned Income
not counted by Social Security
Individuals $1,444.00 $1,464.00
Couples $2,888.00 $2,908.00

Admission Agreement Changes

The operator of the facility where you live may increase the rate you are charged effective January 1, 2018. In order to do this, the operator is required to give you at least 30 days' written notice (about amending your admission agreement) prior to the date of the rate change. Assisted Living Residences (ALRs) must provide 45 days' notice before increasing the rate for residents who receive SSI. The operator may increase the rate with less than the 30-day notice (45 days for ALRs) if you voluntarily agree to such a rate increase in writing. Either way, your admission agreement must be amended to reflect this rate increase, and you should receive a copy of this amendment to your admission agreement. If you have questions about the new SSI benefit amounts or the information contained in this notice, you may contact the Department of Health Regional Office in your area. The phone number and address of each Regional Office are attached to this notice.

Regional offices Address and Telephone Listing

  • Adult Care Facility Program Manager
    Capital District Regional Office
    875 Central Avenue
    Albany, NY 12206
    Phone: (518) 408-5287
  • Adult Care Facility Program Manager
    Western Regional Office
    335 Main Street, 1st Floor
    Rochester, NY 14604
    Phone: (585) 423-8185
  • Adult Care Facility Program Manager
    Central New York Regional Office
    217 South Salina Street
    Syracuse, NY 13202
    Phone: (315) 477-8472
  • Adult Care Facility Program Manage
    Metropolitan Area Regional Office
    90 Church Street
    New York, NY 10001
    Phone: (212) 417-4440