QUESTION
Is citizenship a requirement for burial assistance eligibility according to the NYC Department of Social Services website?
3:01:59
·
4 min
The chapter clarifies that citizenship is not a direct requirement for burial assistance eligibility; however, proof of low-income status through benefits or public assistance is pivotal.
- Citizenship is not explicitly stated as a requirement for burial assistance on the NYC Department of Social Services website.
- Eligibility relies on the receipt of social services benefits or the eligibility for such benefits, indicating low-income status.
- There are various immigration statuses like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or asylum seekers who may qualify for benefits despite non-citizenship.
- Deputy Speaker Diana I. Ayala expresses concerns about the clarity of the eligibility criteria and the need for more inclusive communication towards migrants and low-income individuals.
- Ayala advocates for a reevaluation of the policy to ensure fairness and support for all residents, questioning discrepancies in service provision based on citizenship status.
Diana I. Ayala
3:01:59
So, yeah, I I remember when we passed this bill to open, I think I was the sponsor of the burial assistance office.
3:02:07
And really centralizing those resources.
3:02:11
On the website, it doesn't say anything about having to be a citizen in order to qualify.
3:02:18
It says it's available to low income descend descendants that do not have resources or assets available to pay for their funeral.
3:02:25
Proof of low income status may include receipt of social services benefits of public assistance, a legal responsible relative,
Molly Wasow Park
3:02:35
Right.
3:02:36
So just to clarify, I think and I think the kicker there is that receipt of social service benefits or eligibility for social service benefits, If you were a citizen and income eligible, that's one standard for getting for being eligible for cash assistance and other benefits.
3:02:56
There are other immigration statuses, but
Diana I. Ayala
3:02:58
it doesn't say that, Molly.
3:02:59
It doesn't it doesn't say that you have to have.
3:03:01
It says that that's that's a form of proof of low income.
Molly Wasow Park
3:03:06
So okay.
3:03:07
So whether or not you you qualify and we can certainly look at whether or not the wording website needs to be clear, but there are there's a lot of nuance, and I will freely admit that everything I know about immigration policy I've learned in the last couple of years.
3:03:21
But There are various immigration statuses that will allow you to qualify for benefits even if you're not a a citizen.
3:03:30
Right?
3:03:30
So somebody who is TPS eligible or who has applied for asylum, they may be eligible for benefits.
3:03:38
So it would be inappropriate for us to say citizenship is a requirement, but the, you know, if this, then that gets very complicated.
3:03:47
So but we should look at the language and make sure that we're being as clear as possible.
Diana I. Ayala
3:03:52
Yeah.
3:03:53
I I mean, I I under stand that a lot of responsibility is put on, you know, your agents your prospective agencies to assist a substantial number of folks that are in New York City, they're calling New York City home, that may be in need.
3:04:08
But I think that if we're providing these services, then we should be providing them, you know, to the best of our ability and try to remove a lot of the nuances because it just doesn't seem right to me that through the state victims program, somebody would qualify, and that wouldn't even that question wouldn't even come up of citizenship.
3:04:24
But yet, when we're applying for city benefits, it does.
3:04:28
And you know, and and I know that, you know, this is not a this was not a DHL site, but I, you know, I I was really offended because not only did the family the family never received a a letter of, you know, or a a call for condolences.
3:04:47
Nobody asked about the body, had the family member that reached out to me from another state not reached out to me, the body would have been buried in powder's field.
3:04:59
And I, you know, I don't understand than how, on top of that, to add insult to injury, the city says, well, we're not gonna pay for it either.
3:05:08
He died in a in a city facility.
3:05:12
Because we don't have adequate security, that doesn't make sense to me.
3:05:18
And, you know, I just I have to say that.
3:05:21
And I think that we should really revisit that because, again, this is not even related to the asylum seekers, but we have quite a number of low income migrants that live in the city, and I just find this draconian to say that they would they should they wouldn't qualify because of their citizenship citizenship status.
3:05:41
So if the state can figure it out, I'm sure that we can as well.
3:05:45
I'm gonna I think, oh, she's gone, Gail.
3:05:48
Is Gail gone?
3:05:49
Okay.
3:05:52
Okay.
3:05:53
Alright.
3:05:54
Are there any other questions from any other members?
3:05:58
No.
3:05:58
Okay.
3:05:59
Alright.
3:06:00
Well, thank you so much.
3:06:01
I know it's been a long morning, but I think we've all learned a lot, and I I appreciate your willingness to answer.
3:06:08
Our questions, and hopefully, it wasn't too bad.
Molly Wasow Park
3:06:12
Rahul, thank you very much, counselor.
3:06:14
Thank you.
Scott French
3:06:14
Thank you.
Diana I. Ayala
3:06:19
Alright.
