QUESTION
How is New York City addressing concerns about benefits eligibility and the "cliff" problem?
2:32:30
·
91 sec
New York State has implemented an earned income disregard to mitigate the "cliff" problem, but challenges persist according to Council Member Gale A. Brewer and Commissioner Molly Wasow Park.
- New York State passed legislation allowing cash assistance benefits during subsidized training and employment, plus a one-time six-month disregard for unsubsidized employment.
- Council Member Brewer raises concerns about NYC residents fearing benefit loss and misunderstanding about rent conditions.
- A discussion is agreed upon to address the ongoing challenges, signalling that the problem is not fully solved.
- The federal government is looking to provide additional support.
Gale A. Brewer
2:32:30
I was in the National League of Cities this week end, and there were several people there from the federal agency.
2:32:36
And they are I think you're doing better than they are.
2:32:39
They were worried around the country because obviously, you people benefits.
2:32:42
They don't wanna take them because they're worried about losing other opportunities.
2:32:46
How are you dealing with that?
2:32:47
Is that an issue in New York?
2:32:48
You mentioned it earlier.
Molly Wasow Park
2:32:50
The income disregarded.
2:32:51
Yes.
2:32:52
So And
Gale A. Brewer
2:32:52
we're why we called the CLIF problem, but yes.
Molly Wasow Park
2:32:55
So New York State last year passed legislation that gave us what we call our earned income disregard.
2:33:03
So it allows us to continue to provide cash assistance benefits when people are in subsidized training and subsidized employment programs and does a one time 6 month earned income disregard for people who are in who have gotten nonsubsidized employment.
2:33:23
There's a lot of nuance behind that, which we can certainly get into offline because it does get very complicated.
2:33:29
But the short answer is it means that it it's it smooths out some of that cliff.
Gale A. Brewer
2:33:34
But I think it's still an issue because I hear a lot from health from a nicer residents who do not wanna get x, y, and z because they're nervous about losing.
2:33:42
They don't understand that their rent is still gonna stay 30%.
2:33:45
But maybe offline discussion because I think it's not solved.
2:33:49
The problem.
Molly Wasow Park
2:33:50
It is I I think it has helped, and I would agree that it has not solved,
Gale A. Brewer
2:33:55
and the feds are looking to have some more support.
2:33:58
Just FYI.
Molly Wasow Park
2:33:59
Happy to have an offline.
Gale A. Brewer
2:34:00
Okay.
