The 2023-24 New York State Budget created two new earned income disregard rules for Cash Assistance recipients.  In addition, the social services law was amended to require districts to approve participation in an educational and/or vocational training program, which includes, but is not limited to, a two-year post-secondary degree program. These new rules are detailed in [...]

Households now have the ability to lock their EBT card.  The lock feature will prevent benefits (Cash Assistance, SNAP, & HEAP), from being accessed, as well as prevent purchases, balance inquiries and most other transactions until the card is unlocked.The NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance (OTDA) released this new feature as a tool to [...]

There is a 3.2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security and SSI benefits for 2024.The following are the federal monthly SSI benefit amount for 2024:For an individual living alone: $943, plus the NYS supplement of $87, for a total of $1,030.For a couple living alone: $1,415, plus the NYS supplement of $104, for a [...]

A nationwide class action lawsuit filed by NYLAG, Justice in Aging, and Arnold & Porter alleged that pandemic-related administrative errors and shutdowns with the Social Security Administration led to a combination of benefit reductions, benefit terminations, and benefit overpayments, adversely affecting SSI beneficiaries.From March 2020 to April 2022, with Social Security’s field offices closed, many older [...]