Establishes the disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits; provides for the investing of any net savings realized by the program back into the New York state health insurance program for the purpose of eliminating or limiting the impact of any premium rate or other cost increases that would be the responsibility of an employee or retiree.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
959--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. JACKSON, ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and
Pensions -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to establishing the
disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist
eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new article 15
2 to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE XV
4 DISABILITY BENEFITS MAXIMIZATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
5 Section 300. Definitions.
6 301. Purpose.
7 302. Establishment of the disability benefits maximization and
8 assistance program.
9 303. Investment of savings.
10 § 300. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
11 have the following meanings:
12 1. "Eligible individual" means an individual retired from state
13 service eligible for benefits pursuant to article eleven of this chap-
14 ter.
15 2. "Program" means the disability benefits maximization and assistance
16 program established pursuant to the provisions of this article.
17 § 301. Purpose. Persons who are under age sixty-five and disabled are
18 frequently eligible for, but not receiving social security disability
19 insurance and disability benefits. The disability benefits maximization
20 and assistance program is designed to ensure that eligible retirees are
21 able to access all benefits available to them. The benefits accrue not
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02968-05-5
S. 959--A 2
1 just to the retiree, but to the state in ensuring that Medicare serves
2 as the primary payer for eligible persons.
3 § 302. Establishment of the disability benefits maximization and
4 assistance program. 1. The commissioner shall establish within the
5 department a disability benefits maximization and assistance program
6 which shall be designed to identify state retirees eligible for but not
7 receiving social security disability insurance and Medicare coverage.
8 2. Elements of the program shall include:
9 (a) conducting an ongoing claims analysis of retirees for the purpose
10 of identifying individuals who may be eligible for social security disa-
11 bility insurance benefits and are not yet receiving them;
12 (b) assisting any individual whose claims history and social security
13 eligibility qualify such individual to apply for and be awarded social
14 security disability. Such assistance shall include the following:
15 (i) developing communication materials to educate state retirees about
16 social security disability insurance benefits;
17 (ii) performing outreach to populations targeted by claims analysis;
18 (iii) analyzing responses to determine social security disability
19 insurance benefit eligibility;
20 (iv) representing qualified individuals with their claim or claims to
21 qualify for social security disability insurance benefits enrollment;
22 (v) monitoring the program through reporting requirements and other
23 means to ensure contract performance and quality delivery of services;
24 and
25 (vi) monitoring the quality of services delivered to participants
26 through outcome measurements.
27 3. Under no circumstances shall an individual eligible for this
28 program experience any adverse change in health benefits or other bene-
29 fits as a result of participating in this program. No individual shall
30 be required to transfer to Medicare as a result of participating in this
31 program.
32 4. The commissioner shall provide the department and the legislature
33 with an annual report showing the number of state retirees who have
34 transitioned to social security disability insurance and Medicare and
35 the amount of savings realized by the program.
36 § 303. Investment of savings. The state shall invest any net savings
37 realized from the program back into the New York state health insurance
38 program for the purpose of eliminating or limiting the impact of any
39 premium rate or other cost increases that would be the responsibility of
40 an employee or retiree.
41 § 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2025; provided, however, if
42 this act shall have become a law after such date it shall take effect
43 immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on
44 and after such date.
