Food Stamp News Brief - October 2008
Food Stamp (aka "SNAP" updates)
October 1, 2008
The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recently reminded local social service districts about federal food stamp requirements governing the scheduling of interviews, as well as the notice procedures for households who miss their interview. Read More

OGS Language Services Contract - Meaningful Access for Legal Services Programs
October 1, 2008
Legal services programs and non-profit organizations may be eligible to use translation and interpreter services under an existing New York State Office of General Services (OGS) contract. Read More

The American with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008
October 1, 2008
On September 25, 2008, the President signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008 (ADAA).  The Act makes important changes to the definition of the term "disability" by rejecting the holdings in several Supreme Court decisions and portions of Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Read More

Advocate Alert!
Make Sure Your Clients Aren't Losing Out on This Year's HEAP Renters Benefit
October 1, 2008
We learned from OTDA recently that almost $1 million dollars in HEAP renters benefits were expunged last year because households had failed to access the benefit within the required 90-day time period.  That translates into approximately 20,000 low-income households losing out on their $50 HEAP benefit. Read More

SSI Eligibility for Refugees and Other Humanitarian Based Immigrants
Extended from Seven to Nine Years
October 1, 2008
Under the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act", H.R. 2608, the eligibility of refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking and other classifications of humanitarian immigrants for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits is now nine years rather than seven.  Read More

Regulatory Roundup
October 1, 2008
Reports on administrative rule making of interest to public benefits specialists.  The rule making described appeared in the New York State Register from July 30, 2008 to October 15, 2008.  All references are to 18 NYCRR unless otherwise indicated. Read More

NYS DOH Clarifies "PRUCOL" Status for the Establishing of Medicaid Eligibility
October 1, 2008
To establish Medicaid eligibility, an immigrant must provide evidence that he or she is either a "qualified alien" as defined in federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1641) or is "permanently residing under color of law," commonly referred to as "PRUCOL" Read More

Banking Alternatives for Dedicated Savings Accounts
September 1, 2008
As DAP advocates know, retroactive benefits for children’s SSI cases must be put into a Dedicated Savings Account (DSA) and used for extraordinary items related to the child’s disability. Since SSA will not pay any retroactive benefits until the DSA is established, what can representative payees do if they have a bad bank history and cannot find a financial institution that will accept their account? Read More

SSAB Recommends Changes to the SSI Program
September 1, 2008
The Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), a seven-member bipartisan Board created by Congress to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner on matters relating to the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, has recommended that Congress re-examine the SSI program - now more than 35 years old. Read More