NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A9130
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to increasing the
standards of monthly need and home energy grant amounts for persons in
receipt of public assistance
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation will increase cash assistance grant amounts for utili-
ties and food and other necessities to account for inflation.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends paragraph (a-4) of subdivision 2 of section 131-a of
the social services law.
Section two amends subdivision 3-c of section 131-a of the social
services law by adding a new paragraph (a-5).
Section three amends subdivision 3-c of section 131-a of the social
services law.
Section four amends subdivision 3-d of section 131-a of the social
services law.
Section five establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Individuals receiving temporary assistance are provided monthly benefits
to cover the cost of shelter, utilities, food and other necessities.
Many families across the state rely on these benefits each month for
payment of home heating bills or to purchase groceries, medications,
clothing and other necessities. However, as utility costs and prices of
goods have increased over the years, the grant amounts have not. The
basic grant, intended to cover food and other necessities, was last
raised in 2012. The utility grants have not been increased since the
1980s.
Under current levels, a single adult is provided $158 to cover the cost
of food and other necessities and an additional $14.10 for their home
heating costs. New Yorkers receiving temporary assistance rely on these
grants to help cover everyday costs of living, but because the grant
amounts have not kept pace with inflation, it is increasingly difficult
for families who rely on them to escape poverty.
This legislation would adjust the basic grant and the utility grant
amounts to account for inflation since the amounts were originally set
in 1989 and 1981, respectively. By adjusting these amounts for
inflation, individuals and families will be brought in line with the
federal poverty level and be able to afford their everyday expenses,
helping them to escape poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9130
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2022
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to increasing the
standards of monthly need and home energy grant amounts for persons in
receipt of public assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (a-4) of subdivision 2 of section 131-a of the
2 social services law, as added by section 1 of part D of chapter 57 of
3 the laws of 2012, is amended and a new paragraph (a-5) is added to read
4 as follows:
5 (a-4) For the period beginning October first, two thousand twelve and
6 [thereafter] ending June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-two, the follow-
7 ing shall be the standard of monthly need for determining eligibility
8 for all categories of assistance in and by all social services
9 districts:
10 Number of Persons in Household
11 One Two Three Four Five Six
12 $158 $252 $336 $433 $534 $617
13 For each additional person in the household there shall be added an
14 additional amount of eighty-five dollars monthly.
15 (a-5) For the period beginning July first, two thousand twenty-two,
16 the following shall be the standard of monthly need for determining
17 eligibility for all categories of assistance in and by all social
18 services districts:
19 Number of Persons in Household
20 OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix
21 $246$394$524$675$834$964
22 For each additional person in the household there shall be added an
23 additional amount of one hundred thirty-two dollars monthly.
24 Annually thereafter, the standard of monthly need for determining
25 eligibility for all categories of assistance in and by all social
26 services districts shall be increased based on the current cost of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14123-04-2
A. 9130 2
1 living adjustments as determined by the federal social security adminis-
2 tration.
3 § 2. Paragraph (a-4) of subdivision 3 of section 131-a of the social
4 services law, as added by section 2 of part D of chapter 57 of the laws
5 of 2012, is amended and a new paragraph (a-5) is added to read as
6 follows:
7 (a-4) For the period beginning October first, two thousand twelve and
8 [thereafter] ending June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-two, persons and
9 families determined to be eligible by the application of the standard of
10 need prescribed by the provisions of subdivision two of this section,
11 less any available income or resources which are not required to be
12 disregarded by other provisions of this chapter, shall receive maximum
13 monthly grants and allowances in all social services districts, in
14 accordance with the following schedule, for public assistance:
15 Number of Persons in Household
16 One Two Three Four Five Six
17 $158 $252 $336 $433 $534 $617
18 For each additional person in the household there shall be added an
19 additional amount of eighty-five dollars monthly.
20 (a-5) For the period beginning July first, two thousand twenty-two,
21 persons and families determined to be eligible by the application of the
22 standard of need prescribed by the provisions of subdivision two of this
23 section, less any available income or resources which are not required
24 to be disregarded by other provisions of this chapter, shall receive
25 maximum monthly grants and allowances in all social services districts,
26 in accordance with the following schedule, for public assistance:
27 Number of Persons in Household
28 OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix
29 $246$394$524$675$834$964
30 For each additional person in the household there shall be added an
31 additional amount of one hundred thirty-two dollars monthly.
32 Annually thereafter, the standard of monthly need for determining
33 eligibility for all categories of assistance in and by all social
34 services districts shall be increased based on the current cost of
35 living adjustments as determined by the federal social security adminis-
36 tration.
37 § 3. Subdivision 3-c of section 131-a of the social services law, as
38 amended by chapter 77 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as
39 follows:
40 3-c. (a) Commencing July first, nineteen hundred eighty-one and ending
41 June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-two, persons and families determined
42 to be eligible by the application of the standard of need prescribed by
43 the provision of subdivision two of this section, shall receive a home
44 energy grant equal to the following monthly amounts:
45 Number of Persons in Household
46 One Two Three Four Five Six
47 $14.10 $22.50 $30.00 $38.70 $47.70 $55.20
48 For each additional needy person in the household, there shall be
49 added an additional amount of seven dollars and fifty cents.
50 (b) For the period beginning July first, two thousand twenty-two,
51 persons and families determined to be eligible by the application of the
52 standard of need prescribed by the provisions of subdivision two of this
53 section, shall receive a home energy grant equal to the following month-
54 ly amounts:
55 Number of Persons in Household
56 OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix
A. 9130 3
1 $44$70$94$121$149$172
2 For each additional needy person in the household there shall be added
3 an additional amount of twenty-four dollars.
4 Annually thereafter, the standard of monthly need for determining
5 eligibility for all categories of assistance in and by all social
6 services districts shall be increased based on the current cost of
7 living adjustments as determined by the federal social security adminis-
8 tration.
9 § 4. Subdivision 3-d of section 131-a of the social services law, as
10 added by chapter 60 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
11 3-d. (a) Commencing January first, nineteen hundred eighty-six and
12 ending June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-two, for persons and families
13 determined to be eligible by the application of the standard of need
14 prescribed by the provisions of subdivision two of this section, the
15 amounts set forth in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section,
16 after application of subdivision three-c of this section, shall be
17 increased by the following amounts as a monthly supplemental home energy
18 grant:
19 Number of Persons in Household
20 One Two Three Four Five Six
21 $11 $17 $23 $30 $37 $42
22 For each additional needy person in the household, there shall be
23 added an additional amount of five dollars monthly.
24 (b) For the period beginning July first, two thousand twenty-two, for
25 persons and families determined to be eligible by the application of the
26 standard of need prescribed by the provisions of subdivision two of this
27 section, the amounts set forth in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of
28 this section, after application of subdivision three-c of this section,
29 shall be increased by the following amounts as a monthly supplemental
30 home energy grant:
31 Number of Persons in Household
32 OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix
33 $28$43$59$76$94$107
34 For each additional needy person in the household, there shall be
35 added an additional amount of thirteen dollars monthly.
36 Annually thereafter, the standard of monthly need for determining
37 eligibility for all categories of assistance in and by all social
38 services districts shall be increased based on the current cost of
39 living adjustments as determined by the federal social security adminis-
40 tration.
41 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.