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Q&A
Timeline for universal benefits application and feasibility study
1:51:14
ยท
142 sec
Council Member Ayala inquires about the estimated timeline for creating a universal benefits application and the proposed feasibility study. Administrator Scott French explains the complexities involved and DSS's stance on the study.
- Creating a universal application could take a significant amount of time due to regulatory complexities
- Assessment would require examining specific regulations and statutes governing various benefits
- Partnering with state and federal governments would be necessary for many aspects
- DSS is open to conducting a feasibility study and discussing it further with the council
- The bill also proposes codifying Access NYC, which DSS supports as a valuable screening tool
Diana Ayala
1:51:14
Okay.
1:51:14
I mean, I would I would think that that would be a little bit easier and faster, because you're killing a whole bunch of birds with one stone.
1:51:25
How long the animal rights people do not come at me for that.
1:51:30
Sometimes I just say things.
1:51:32
The the bill also calls for a report on well, first question, how long if assuming that something like this were were, you know, able to be done, how long do you estimate it would take to create a universal application?
Scott French
1:51:51
I think I I can talk about the assessment piece first and then the technology behind it.
1:51:56
But, you know, to do an assessment piece of that, you know, could be a significant piece of time because estimating it will require us to really look at the specific additional regulations or statutes that govern it and to determine instances where the city could maybe do something on their own, which is going to be few and far between versus where we're gonna need to partner with the state and federal government.
1:52:19
So it's it it could be an extensive period of time depending on the benefits themselves.
1:52:25
I will say, especially at the federal level, anything that relates to SNAP, the USDA is very, they have a lot of parameters around what data can and cannot be used that's submitted for SNAP that could also be utilized for other things.
Diana Ayala
1:52:41
Alright.
1:52:41
The report the bill also calls for a feasibility study that would help us understand if, you know, what if it's if it's even possible to create a universal benefits application.
1:52:54
Are you supportive of that?
Scott French
1:53:00
We are open to doing, you know, a feasibility study and discussing with the council.
1:53:05
We'd be happy to sit down with the council and the sponsor to talk a little bit more in-depth about like specific benefit programs and what our initial estimates would be on those and see what potentially came from that in regards to, you know identifying other steps.
Diana Ayala
1:53:19
Okay.
1:53:20
The bill also codifies access NYC, does DSS support that?
Jill Berry
1:53:26
Yeah it is it's a screening tool but it is a good screening tool that does provide people with a lot of good valuable information about the benefits they may be eligible for.