New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services
Subchapter D - Adult-Care Facilities
Part 487 - Standards For Adult Homes
Section 487.6 - Resident funds and valuables

(1) The operator shall issue a receipt to a resident for any funds received for:

(2) An operator who receives any funds from a resident shall issue a signed receipt to the resident which contains the following information:

(3) Resident personal allowance accounts or other personal funds shall not be mingled with the personal funds of the operator or the operating funds of the facility, nor become an asset of the operator.

(4) Personal allowance accounts and accounts for other resident funds shall be kept separate and distinct from each other and from any other account(s).

(5) Upon change of operator, the current operator shall transfer all records to the proposed operator and provide the proposed operator with a written statement of all resident personal allowance accounts, and other resident accounts with funds held in custody. This statement shall document that the balance being transferred in each resident fund account is true and accurate as of the proposed date of transfer, and shall be confirmed by resident signature(s).

(6) Upon change of operator, the new operator shall assume, in writing, responsibility for account balances of funds of residents turned over upon the change of operator, together with responsibility for all requirements of this section.

(7) Records of all transactions shall be maintained as part of the facility records.

(1) Each resident who is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Home Relief (HR) benefits, and who is entitled to a monthly personal allowance by section 131-o of the Social Services Law or section 352.8(c) of this Title, shall receive that allowance in accordance with the requirements of section 485.12 of this Title and subdivision (c) of this section.

(2) In the event that the resident negotiates the full SSI or HR check to the operator, distribution of the personal allowance shall be made to the resident within two banking days of the transaction.

(3) The operator shall obtain written acknowledgment monthly from each resident, confirming receipt of his/her personal allowance.

(1) At the time of admission and at the time of the first increase in the personal allowance occurring in any calendar year, the operator shall, in writing, offer an SSI or HR recipient or the recipient's representative, if any, an opportunity to place personal allowance funds for incidental use in a facility-maintained account.

(2) The operator shall provide for the safekeeping and accountability of a personal allowance account.

(3) The operator shall hold resident funds in custody for the sole use of the resident and shall not use these funds for any other purpose.

(4) No service fee shall be charged by the operator for maintaining a personal allowance account for a resident who is in receipt of SSI or HR.

(5) Residents shall have access to personal allowance accounts at least four hours daily, Monday through Friday. The access schedule must be posted and may not be changed without five days' advance notice.

(6) Upon request, each resident shall have the opportunity, during scheduled access hours, to examine his/her personal allowance account record including deposits, withdrawals and current balance.

(7) If the operator deposits resident personal allowance funds in individual or collective interest-bearing bank accounts, the operator must develop a written procedure for the equitable distribution of interest to each resident's account. Such distribution shall be made quarterly.

(8) The operator shall maintain individual records for each resident who has a personal allowance account, showing all deposits, withdrawals and the current balance.

(9) The operator shall document all such personal allowance transactions on a personal allowance ledger (DSS-2854) and maintain all paid bills, vouchers and other appropriate payment and receipt documentation in the manner prescribed by the department.

(10) The operator shall reconcile personal allowance account balances to the total personal allowance funds maintained by the facility at least monthly. The reconciliation requirement shall be met by maintaining a personal allowance summary (DSS-2855).

(11) No alternative system of recordkeeping for resident personal allowance accounts may be substituted for the above without the prior written consent of the department.

(12) At least quarterly, the operator shall give each resident who has a personal allowance account, a statement showing total deposits, withdrawals and current balance of the resident's account and secure the resident's acknowledgment, in writing, of the accuracy of the statement.

(13) The operator shall not require a resident to maintain a personal allowance account at the facility.

(14) The operator shall not be required to maintain any personal allowance account in amounts in excess of the SSI resource limit.

(15) The resident may terminate the personal allowance account at any time.

(1) The operator may offer an SSI or HR recipient or any other resident the opportunity to place funds other than personal allowance funds provided pursuant to section 485.12 of this Title in the operator's custody.

(2) Such funds shall not be mingled with any personal allowance funds maintained pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section.

(3) The operator shall maintain records and provide for the security of all funds which the resident has voluntarily given to the operator and the operator has voluntarily accepted to hold in his/her custody or to exercise control over.

(4) The operator shall obtain written authorization from the resident to hold the resident's funds.

(5) Records of all transactions shall be maintained as part of the facility records.

(1) The operator may offer a resident the opportunity to place property or items of value in the operator's custody.

(2) The operator shall maintain inventory records and provide for the security of all property or items of value which the resident has voluntarily given to the operator to hold in custody or to exercise control over.

(3) The operator shall obtain written authorization from the resident to hold property or items of value, and shall provide each resident with a receipt.

(4) Resident property or items of value shall be segregated from the assets of the operator.

(5) Records of all transactions shall be maintained as part of the facility records.

(1) At the time of discharge or termination of the admission agreement, but in no case more than three business days after the resident leaves the facility, the operator shall provide the resident or the resident's representative with:

(2) The operator shall refund, on the basis of a per diem proration, any advance payment(s) made by the resident.

(3) The operator shall return to the resident, representative or other appropriate individual or agency, any property or items of value which come into the possession of the operator after discharge or transfer.

(4) Upon the death of a resident, the operator shall contact the next of kin or legal representative and arrange for the transfer of all property of the individual. When the whereabouts of the next of kin or legal representative are unknown, the operator shall contact the appropriate Surrogate's Court to arrange for the transfer.