Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Nassau County DSS Challenging Delays in Processing Benefits Applications
April 13, 2010
Author: Linda Hassberg
Laura Redman, National Center for Law and Economic Justice
On March 24, 2010, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Nassau County Department of Social Services to challenge widespread delays in processing applications for Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Public Assistance. The Empire Justice Center is co-counsel with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.
Citing statistical data from the monthly WMS reports issued by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the complaint alleges more than 50% of the Medicaid and food stamp applications and more than one third of Family Assistance and Safety Net applications submitted in each month between March and November of 2009 were not processed within the statutory time limits. As a result, thousands of needy individuals and households suffered from hunger, untreated illness, and other hardships similar to those experienced by the named plaintiffs.
A copy of the complaint entitled Dowdell et. al. v. Imhof, 10-cv-1332 (SJF-ARL) may be found in the Benefits Law Database of the Online Resource Center. For more information, please contact Linda Hassberg, lhassberg@empirejustice.org, or Laura Redman, redman@njlej.org.
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