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Disability Benefits

The Disability Benefits Policy Advocacy section contains Legislative Memos, Letters, Comments and Testimony. You will also find news items, articles and reports that relate to our policy work in disability benefits.

Legislative Memos

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

Empire Justice Memo of Support: Provide a Fair and Realistic Automobile Resource Rule
This bill will raise the resource level for automobiles to a uniform $9,300 and thereby permit low income families to own reliable cars under all circumstances. Read More

Empire Justice Memo of Support: Provide a Person’s Treating Doctor with the Appropriate Role in Determining Whether They are Employable
This bill would require that, subject to certain criteria, the treating practitioner’s opinion would be “generally controlling” in the determination of employability. Read More

UPDATED: Maximize Federal Dollars Flowing to New York: Invest in the Disability Advocacy Program
The Disability Advocacy Program is a nationally recognized program that generates documented and ongoing savings for the state and for local governments. Read More

Comments

"Unfit" for NPR - Let's Get the Facts Straight on Disability
Members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and the SSI Coalition for Children and Families, joined by the Coalition on Human Needs, the Children's Leadership Council, and other organizations, are concerned that a series recently aired on National Public Radio ("Unfit for Work: The Startling Rise of Disability in America and accompanying The American Life episode "Trends With Benefits," both reported by Chana Joffe-Walt) paints a misleading and inaccurate picture of the Social Security programs that serve as a vital lifeline for millions of Americans with severe disabilities. Read More

Testimony

Empire Justice Testimony at the 2013 NYS Joint Legislative Hearing on the Executive Budget: Human Services
Our testimony before the joint committees on child care assistance, funding for the Disability Advocacy Program and disabled individuals interacting with our state’s public assistance programs. Read More

Related News

Statewide Advocates Celebrate 30th “Birthday” of Disability Advocacy Program, Calling for Renewed Investment

Members of DAPWorks, a statewide campaign led by Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) advocates and members of the New York State Senate and Assembly, gathered today at the State Capitol in Albany to celebrate three decades of successful advocacy on behalf of low income disabled New Yorkers in need of financial support. Lauding over $1 billion brought into the state by the program during that time, and 208,000 clients served, speakers urged an additional $2.24 million investment above the $4.76 million included in the Executive Budget to allow them to assist more people. Read More

Capitol Pressroom - Launch of the DAPWorks Campaign (WCNY - Capitol Pressroom)

Listen to our Kristin Brown Lilley talk on the Capitol Pressroom about the Launch of the DAPWorks Campaign – and why the Disability Advocacy Program is a great investment for NYS. Read More

Disability Advocacy Program Funding Increased in State Budget :
We are pleased to announce that the enacted budget includes a total of $5.26 million in funding for the DAP program! Read More

DAPWorks for NYS :
DAPWorks for NYS is a new statewide campaign seeking to increase funding for the Disability Advocacy Program (DAP). DAP returns at least $6 for every $1 invested in the program through the state budget by assisting low income severely disabled New Yorkers in appealing aplication denials for federally funded SSI benefits. Read More

Empire Justice Center 2013 State Legislative Priorities :
Empire Justice budget and substantive legislative priorities for 2013. Read More

Newsletters

Policy Matters - February 2013 :
As we draft this issue of Policy Matters, we are about to begin the sprint to a final state budget - possibly earlier than ever before. As you may have guessed, much of our work since our last email has been focused on budget issues. However, as you can see, we have other irons on the fire as well! Read More