Food Stamp News Briefs - December 2008
December 1, 2008
Standard utility allowance to increase, USDA Lifts 50 Percent Cap on Face-to-Face Interview Waivers, USDA Memo Regarding Income Verification by Undocumented Immigrants, OTDA Issues ADM on Farm Bill Reauthorization Changes. Read More

Embrace Justice
Invest in Legal Services
December 1, 2008
It is in these times - at this very moment - that we should be expanding our investment in civil legal services and ensuring greater access to justice. Read More

Empire Justice Proposes New Legislation to Protect Seniors from Zombie Debt
December 1, 2008
Seniors are particularly vulnerable to credit card debt. Their strong ethic of paying what they are told that they owe is precisely what the credit card companies exploit. Read More

HEAP Can Help More New Yorkers
December 1, 2008
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is raising the income guidelines for emergency HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) benefits, thanks to additional funding provided by the federal government. The additional funds were released after OTDA had formulated this year’s HEAP plan. Read More

December 2008 Regulatory Roundup
December 1, 2008
Regulatory Round Up reports on administrative rule making of interest to public benefits specialists. The rulemaking described below appeared in the New York State Register from October 22, 2008 to December 10, 2008. All references are to 18 NYCRR, unless otherwise indicated. Read More

Public Health Insurance News
December 1, 2008
Continued expansion of Mandatory Medicaid Managed Care, expansion of Mandatory Managed Care to Persons with HIV/AIDS, Prescription Medicaid "carve-out" for Family Health participants, passage of Federal Medicare Legislation. Read More

Recent Changes to Medicaid Eligibility
December 1, 2008
This year’s budget contains proposals to increase access by eliminating administrative barriers in Medicaid like fingerprinting and the asset test. It also proposes raising income levels in the Family Health Plus program to 200% of the federal poverty level. Read More

SSA Announces 2009 COLA
November 1, 2008
On October 16, 2008, SSA announced its cost of living adjustments (COLA) for benefits effective January 2009. It is largest annual increase (5.8%) since 1982, and is based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index. Read More

Identity Theft Issues Abound
November 1, 2008
The illegal use of social security numbers (SSNs) continues to a major problem. Both the GAO (General Accountability Office) and the SSA OIG (Office of the Inspector General) have recently issued reports concerning the safeguarding of this information. On a related note, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) has created a toll-free number for identity theft victims. Read More

Overpayment Waiver Threshold Increased
November 1, 2008
Did you know that if a claimant had an overpayment of $500 or less, it could be waived automatically – just by the asking – so long as there is no indication of fault? Effective September 27, 2008, that threshold has been increased to $1,000.01 for SSI overpayments. Read More