Public Benefits
The Public 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 public benefits.
Legislative Memos
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
Memorandum of Support: Amend Social Services Law § 106 to Protect the Homes of Welfare Recipients
New York is one of only two states in the nation that takes deeds and mortgages against the homes of welfare recipients to recover the public assistance paid to these homeowners. This bill would exempt persons who own and reside in one, two or three family homes from this archaic provision. If the goal of New York’s public assistance policy is to restore individuals to self-sufficiency, then it is time to pass this bill! 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
More Legislative Memos >>
Policy Letters
Letter from Advocates to Nassau and Suffolk DSS re: D-SNAP
On November 27th, advocates from Long Island and around the state wrote to DSS Commissioners in Nassau and Suffolk Counties asking them to request D-SNAP from the federal government to assist Long Island residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Read More
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Comments
Empire Justice comments on proposed regulations to end food stamp finger imaging in New York State
Empire Justice Center strongly supports the proposal to eliminate all finger imaging requirements from the Food Stamp Program in New York State, and to rely on more efficient and effective methods to detect and prevent and detect duplicate participation. Read More
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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
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Policy Related News
People's Budget Hearing to Urge Leaders to Get Some CLASS (Close Loopholes Aid Social Services) (readMedia)
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.
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Empire Justice’s 2013 priorities (The Daily Record)
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.
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More Policy Related News >>
