For 2025, Justice in Getting older has prioritized these key legislative and price range proposals. These proposals span our difficulty areas of well being and long-term care, housing, financial safety, and elder justice, and advance a number of of the objectives of the Grasp Plan for Getting older.
Because the state with the best variety of seniors residing in poverty, and since California usually leads the nation in progressive, progressive insurance policies, our work to advance the wants of low-income older adults in California improves the lives of hundreds of thousands, and may function a mannequin for different states.
HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE
Defending Medi-Cal from Federal Threats
- In California, over 2.3 million older adults and other people with disabilities depend on Medi-Cal. The state receives $112 billion in federal funding to manage this system. Medi-Cal helps over 1.75 million dually-eligible older adults pay their Medicare cost-sharing and covers important advantages that Medicare doesn’t, similar to dental, imaginative and prescient, listening to, and non-emergency medical transportation. Over 900,000 older adults and other people with disabilities depend on Medi-Cal for protection of long-term companies and helps.
- Present proposals on the federal degree threaten to considerably scale back funding and limit eligibility for Medi-Cal, which might lead to slicing well being and long-term take care of California’s seniors. Justice in Getting older is working on the federal and state degree to oppose any cuts to Medicaid.
SB 433 (Wahab): Residential Care Facility for the Aged (RCFE) Room and Board Charges
- This invoice would set up statutory room and board charge safety for all Assisted Residing Waiver and Nursing Facility Transition/Diversion contributors no matter their supply of revenue.
- Co-Sponsored by Justice in Getting older and California Advocates for Nursing Dwelling Reform
Implement Medi-Cal Share of Value Reform
- This price range request of $33 million Normal Fund in FY 2025-26 and $80 million ongoing Normal Fund would implement the reform accredited within the FY 2022-23 price range to extend the ‘upkeep want revenue degree’ of the Medi-Cal Share of Value program to 138% of the Federal Poverty Degree (FPL). The present Medi-Cal Share of Value program forces older adults and other people with disabilities to stay on $600 per thirty days with the intention to entry Medi-Cal companies, trapping them in deep poverty. It’s vital for California to take steps to implement this reform in order that older adults and other people with disabilities will not should make the not possible alternative of paying for his or her well being care or making hire and having meals on the desk
- This request is being championed by Justice in Getting older and Western Middle on Regulation and Poverty
HOUSING
Preserving Packages to Forestall Older Grownup Homelessness
- Older adults are the quickest rising group of individuals experiencing homelessness in California. It’s crucial that California spend money on homelessness prevention packages with the intention to reverse this alarming development.
- Justice in Getting older is supporting efforts to extend funding for the Dwelling Secure Program and the Housing and Incapacity Advocacy (HDAP) Program, each of which have been profitable packages serving older adults vulnerable to homelessness. It’s vital that we proceed to spend money on packages which are working.
ECONOMIC SECURITY
Finish Poverty for Older Adults & Folks with Disabilities Receiving Supplemental Safety Revenue (SSI) / State Supplementary Fee (SSP)
- Present an ongoing cost-of-living improve for the State Supplementary Fee (SSP): This price range request would supply an ongoing annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for the SSP grant. A COLA for the state portion of the SSI/SSP profit would be certain that low-income older adults and people with disabilities in California can sustain with rising prices for primary wants like utilities, meals, medication and hire.
- Revive an Emergency Grant Program for Older Adults & Folks with Disabilities: This price range request would applicable $20 million ongoing funding in 2025-2026 to revive an Emergency Grant program (WIC 12550) as a 5-year, time-limited program. This system would supply monetary help in a one-time lump sum to recipients of SSI, IHSS, or CAPI to help older adults and other people with disabilities going through emergencies.
- Elevate SSI/SSP grants to a minimum of the Federal Poverty Line: This price range request would supply a five-step improve over 5 years to carry and maintain the SSI/SSP grant at 100% of the Federal Poverty Degree (FPL) as a down cost to the Elder Financial Safety Index, which displays the true price of residing for SSI/SSP recipients.
- These price range requests are being championed by the Californians for SSI Coalition
ELDER JUSTICE
AB 561 (Quirk Silva): Various Service of Elder Abuse Restraining Orders
- This invoice would replace the elder abuse restraining order statute to permit for various service of those restraining orders, in addition to to permit for distant look at hearings. This variation would mirror the protections that victims of home violence have once they search restraining orders.
- Co-sponsored by Justice in Getting older, Wager Tzedek Authorized Providers, Elder Regulation & Advocacy, San Diego Metropolis Legal professional, Civil Prosecutors Coalition
Please contact Yasmin Peled, Director, California Authorities Affairs, with any questions on these proposals: ypeled@justiceinaging.org
