[NYAPRS Enews] NYS Preserves Benefits, Eligibility for Some Groups Receiving Stimulus SSI Payment

[Matt Canuteson]

NYAPRS Note: Some good news here but not for all groups. Unless lawmakers enact a parallel provision in state law exempting the payment from consideration as income or as a resource, low income people whose income is near the limit for a state-funded benefit could lose the benefit for a whole year -- if this payment puts their income over the limit for 2009. 

State-only funded benefits that could be affected would include, but not be limited to:

1.    Senior Citizens & Disability Rent Increase Exemptions (SCRIE and DRIE) -- N. Y. Real Property Tax Law § 467-b (1) (c); 

2.    Real Property Tax Circuit Breaker Credit -- NYS Tax Law § 606(e) (1) (C);   

3.    EPIC (prescription drugs for people 65+) -- N. Y. Elder Law § 241(3) 

4.    Any program provided under the authority of the Social Services Law. SSL § 1, 131-n.     Apart from programs exempt under federal law described above, this includes, for example:

a.    Safety net assistance (formerly known as "Home Relief") and Safety Net Medicaid

b.   Homeless housing and assistance    

c.    Family Health Plus

Advocates have been working hard to publicize and move this issue..stay tuned for more details. 

 

State Preserves Benefits, Eligibility for Those Receiving Stimulus Payment

OTDA News Release  March 25, 2009 


The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that New York residents receiving a one-time $250 payment under the federal economic stimulus bill will not be penalized with reduced benefits or lost eligibility for other vital support programs by receiving the payment.

OTDA Commissioner David A. Hansell said by federal law, the stimulus payments will not be counted as income or a resource when determining a household's eligibility, or benefit level, for federally-funded programs including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Food Stamps, the Home Energy Assistance Program and Medicaid. New York State is extending the exemption to single adults, childless couples and families receiving aid through the State's Safety Net Assistance program.

"We cannot let these modest, one-time payments undermine the receipt of other public benefits these families and individuals are entitled to," said Commissioner Hansell. "The intent of these payments is not only to stimulate the economy, but also to help the most vulnerable among us weather this economic crisis."

Susan M. Dooha, Executive Director, Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY), said: "We applaud Commissioner Hansell's recognition of and swift action on this critical issue for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. We hope that other State agencies will move quickly to follow OTDA's lead."

Valerie J. Bogart, Director, Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program Selfhelp Community Services, Inc., said: "The federal $250 stimulus payment is supposed to help, not hurt, but the most vulnerable New Yorkers could be hurt if they lose crucial state benefits because of this payment."

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will provide a payment of $250 to each recipient of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement Benefits and Veterans Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits. The payments will be issued by the federal government beginning in May. For more information on the payment, check the Social Security Administration's website, www.ssa.gov/payment 

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3146560# <http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3146560>   

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