Settlement in Nassau Benefits Application Delays Class Action

March 17, 2011

Author: Linda Hassberg

The Empire Justice Center, with co-counsel National Center for Law and Economic Justice, reached a settlement agreement with Nassau County on February 28, 2011, that will ensure the timely processing of all food stamps, Medicaid, and cash public assistance applications by the Department of Social Services.  The class action, entitled Dowdell et al. v. Imhof, was filed in federal court in the Eastern District of New York on March 24, 2010.  In their complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that Nassau County Department of Social Services violated federal and state laws and regulations by failing to determine their eligibility and the eligibility of the class members for benefits in a timely fashion, depriving applicants of food, medical care and other basic needs.

The settlement agreement, issued as an order by District Judge Sandra Feuerstein on March 2, 2011,  obligates the defendant to process all applications within the prescribed time limits by February, 2012.  The order also provides plaintiffs with reports and other information sufficient to monitor the county’s compliance until February 2014 and establishes a mechanism for expedited  informal review of individual cases of delay.

Please contact Linda Hassberg @ 631-650-2305 or Tedde Tasheff @ 212-633-6967 for more information.