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
Empire Justice Memo of Support: Provide a Fair & Realistic Auto Resource Rule & Remove the Sunset Provision
We strongly support A.7236 AND S.410, which would replace the current two-tiered automobile resource exclusion with a uniform $9300 exemption, and extend a number of other resource provisions that were enacted as part of welfare reform. Read More
Empire Justice Memo of Support: Support Access to Education and Training for the Poorest New Yorkers
Four year college should be counted as part of a public assistance recipient's work activity. Read More
Legislative Memo: 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
Empire Justice Memo of Support: Eliminate finger imaging from the Food Stamp Program
Over the years there has been no evidence on a national or statewide level that finger-imaging is a cost effective method of avoiding duplicate participation. Read More
More Legislative Memos >>
Policy Letters
Empire Justice Center Letter in Support of Allowing More Time to Pay Utility Arrears
A.7449/S.3638 would extend the time period for repaying utility assistance provided by local social services districts from one year to two years. Read More
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Comments
Empire Justice Center's Comments on New York's TANF State Plan 2012 - 14
Our comments to OTDA urging them to take leadership on a number of issues which will improve the lives of low income New Yorkers. Read More
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Testimony
Joint Testimony on the Reauthorization of the Safe and Stable Families Act
Empire Justice and The National Committee of Grandparents of Children's Rights testimony on private kinship care. Read More
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Policy Related News
Empire Justice IDs key issues for 2012 (The Daily Record)
One of Empire Justice Center’s top issues of 2012 received Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s support when, in his state of the state address earlier this month, the governor announced he wanted to stop the practice of fingerprinting those who apply for food stamps.
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Bringing the Mayor to Heel (City & State)
Choose your metaphor: When Gov. Andrew Cuomo roused a crowd in Albany last week by promising to stop fingerprinting food stamp applicants, was he stepping on Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s toes or kicking him in the shin?
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More Policy Related News >>
Policy Related Articles
Empire Justice Center 2012 Legislative and Executive Agenda :
The focus of our state level policy work for 2012.
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Policy Related Reports
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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
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