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Public Benefits

The public benefits practice at Empire Justice Center provides support to advocates helping low-income New Yorkers access public benefit programs, particularly cash assistance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, as well as other benefit programs such as Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Veterans Assistance. Empire Justice provides technical assistance and training, takes referrals of complex cases, and engages in policy advocacy and, when necessary, litigation to tackle systemic barriers to accessing benefits.

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  • Notice of Proposed Settlement in Richard C. v. Proud

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    ARTICLES

    Notice of Proposed Settlement in Richard C. v. Proud
    A proposed settlement agreement has been reached in Richard C. v. Proud, a federal SNAP statewide class action against the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Read More

    Fair Hearing of the Month
    Fair Hearing #6016440Z (October 10, 2012)
    To prove its entitlement to interim assistance, Agency must provide valid authorization for withholding the initial SSI payment. Read More


    IN THE NEWS

    People's Budget Hearing to Urge Leaders to Get Some CLASS (Close Loopholes Aid Social Services)
    Hundreds of low-income New Yorkers, community activists, union members and faith leaders gathered at the State Capitol today for a People's Hearing on the State Budget. The hearing is part of the annual legislative action day by Hunger Action Network of NYS, Empire State Economic Security Campaign, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, and many others. The People's Hearing was designed to highlight the need to restore millions in lost funding to programs and services for struggling New Yorkers that have been left out of the budget. Read More


    Empire Justice’s 2013 priorities
    The focus is driven by the state’s continuing recovery from the impact of the financial services meltdown and subsequent recession, as well as the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. Read More


    POLICY ADVOCACY

    A Call for Transparency and Accountability When Liens are Placed on the Homes of Welfare Recipients
    Currently, local social services districts do not provide the homeowner with an accounting of the amount of public assistance paid nor the amount of the accrued debt or credits made against the home. Read More


    Empire Justice Memo of Support: Ensure that Welfare Recipients are Not Punished for Being Disabled
    Far too often, public assistance clients are sanctioned for non-compliance with work-related activities, yet the non-compliance is due to a unknown disability, child care problem or transportation difficulties. Empire Justice Center supports A.2669/S.4830, which will protect against unwarranted sanctions due to a disability. Read More



    PUBLICATIONS

    Time to Leave Finger Prints Behind
    Across the country, all but two states, Arizona and New York, have abandoned the costly and problematic fraud prevention tool in conjunction with the Food Stamp program. Read More

     

    The Self-Sufficiency Standard for New York State 2010
    This report measures the income and earnings necessary for families to be self-sufficient in every county of the state. Read More

     

    NEWSLETTERS

    Policy Matters: September 2012
    In between juggling children’s summer camps and activities, taking vacations and attending family reunions, Empire Justice Center staff members did a lot of policy work this past summer. We are happy to share what we did in this issue of Policy Matters. Read More


    TRAININGS AND EVENTS

    Public Assistance Issues for Teens and Young Adults / Housing Advocacy to Prevent Children from Languishing in Foster Care
    This presentation will address some of the benefits and assistance available to teenagers, young adults and young families, approximately ages 16-22. Benefit areas covered will include cash assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid and housing resources for teens and young adults who are living on their own or aging out of foster care. Read More

    Food Stamps 101
    This course will cover the rights of individuals to apply for food stamp benefits; the financial and non-financial eligibility requirements of the program, including a brief summary of immigrant rules; a basic look at the food stamp budgeting methodology, including how to read a food stamp budget, and the food stamp recertification process. Read More