Relates to the standards of monthly need for persons in receipt of public assistance; provides for an increased monthly allowance for persons and families residing in shelters.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A108
SPONSOR: Rosenthal (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to the standards of
monthly need for persons in receipt of public assistance
PURPOSE GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation will increase the outdated personal and special needs
allowances for certain individuals on public assistance.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill amends section 131-a of the social services
law.
Section two provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Certain individuals and families who are unhoused are eligible for
monthly personal and special needs allowances, providing them a limited
amount of money to cover their necessities. However, individuals and
families who live in shelters that provide meals receive a lesser amount
to cover the cost of "clothing and incidentals."
The personal and special needs allowances for these individuals have not
been raised in more than two decades. Currently, individuals may be
eligible to receive $45 per month and families are eligible to receive
$63 per month per household member. For a mother and child living in a
shelter that provides meals, this means they must live on just $4.20 a
day. This allowance is simply not enough to cover the necessities that
individuals and families require, including medications, clothing and
transportation, to name just a few.
By keeping these allowances low, families are forced to make decisions
daily such as whether to pay for bus fare for a job interview or
purchase medication for their child. This legislation will increase the
personal and special needs allowances for individuals and families in
shelters that provide meals, bringing it in line with the amounts
provided to individuals and families in temporary shelters, and allowing
them a greater ability to climb out of poverty.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.5507 - Referred to Social Services; S.8655 -Referred to
Social Services
2021-22: A.8061 - Reported to Ways and Means
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.
