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Email Benefit Update November 2007
- Doe v. Doar Implementation
- U.S. House Passes the Second Chance Act on Prisoner Reentry
- 2008 Social Security Updates
- 2008 Medicare Increases in Cost Sharing
- Extension of the QI-1 Program
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) 2007-2008
- Community Resources
Doe v. Doar Implementation
In Doe v. Doar, the court has reversed the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s (OTDA) regulation requiring the pro-rating of Public Assistance (PA) grants for households with children where at least one person receives SSI. The schedule for restoring benefits to class members in NYC is below. See Benefit Update, September 2005 for a review of the PA/SSI budgeting formula.
Open Cases
By November 13, 2007: OTDA will run a mass rebudgeting for all open public assistance cases. Recipients, with a household member receiving SSI, will receive a notice advising them of the effective date of their new level of benefits. The notice will also include a copy of the new budget advising the household that they will receive retroactive benefits from July 2004 within six months.
By March 13, 2008, OTDA will run a second mass rebudgeting which will calculate retroactive relief for all households with a member who is receiving SSI. Recipients will receive a written notice advising them of the amount of retroactive relief and how such relief was calculated. The retroactive benefits will be paid within 15 days of the written notice.
Closed Cases
By January 13, 2008, OTDA will send a letter to all households that received reduced benefits as a result of the unfavorable Doe budgeting, but who no longer have an open public assistance case. The letter will advise the head of household that they have 60 days to have their eligibility for public assistance evaluated. Households who respond will be given an appointment which may reschedule if they make a request to do so within 60 days of the date of the letter. If the household is found eligible for ongoing public assistance the district must open the case with the favorable PA/SSI budgeting. In New York City, a mass rebudgeting will be conducted for each closed case within 180 days of the date that the closed case list is provided to HRA by OTDA.
Empire Justice Center
U.S. House Passes the Second Chance Act on Prisoner Reentry
Leaders of the Council of State Governments Justice Center commended Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for passage today of the Second Chance Act of 2007, H.R. 1593-a bill that will increase the likelihood that people's transition from prisons and jails to the community is safe and successful. The bill, introduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) received broad bipartisan support, passing the House 347-62.
"The Second Chance Act's goals and provisions support the kinds of policy changes and programs that the Justice Center's federally funded Re-entry Policy Council Report recommends to lower recidivism rates," said Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, Justice Center board member and chair of the New York State Assembly Correction Committee. "We urge the Senate to take swift action in support of this bill."
The House bill authorizes up to $55 million dollars in grants to state and local governments to develop reentry initiatives to help keep people released from prisons and jails from re-offending and a $15 million reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services.
Glenn E. Martin
Associate Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
The Fortune Society, Inc.
2008 Social Security Updates
Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will receive a 2.3% cost of living increase in their 2008 benefit. The following changes will take effect January 2008:
- For SSI, the monthly federal benefit amount
- for an individual living alone: $637, plus the NYS supplement of $87.
- for a couple living alone: $956, plus the NYS supplement of $104.
- Substantial gainful activity (SGA) level:
- for people with disabilities: $940 a month.
- for the blind: $1,570 a month.
- Trial Work Period: earnings of $670 a month
- The amount of earnings needed to earn a quarter of coverage for Social Security insurance benefits: $1,050
- The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax: $97,500.
For more information about cost of living adjustments go to: http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2008.htm
2008 Medicare Increases in Cost Sharing
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced the Medicare premium, deductible & and coinsurance amounts for 2008.
- Part A deductible for inpatient hospital care: $1,024
- Part A coinsurance amounts:
- Days 61 – 90 of hospitalization: $256
- Days 91 – 150 of hospitalization: $512
- Skilled nursing facility coinsurance amounts:
- Days 1 – 20: no coinsurance amount
- Days 21-100: $128.00
Part B Monthly Premium Chart:
| 2008 Medicare Part B Income Related Monthly Premiums |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Guidelines |
Individuals: Couples: |
Individuals: Couples: |
Individuals: Couples: |
Individuals: Couples: |
Individuals: Couples: |
| 2008 Monthly Premium |
$96.40 | $122.20 | $160.90 | $199.70 | $238.40 |
Extension of the QI-1 Program
The Qualified Individual (QI) Program had been extended through the end of 2007. The Center for Medicare Advocacy is working with many other organizations for the passage of legislation, before the end of the year, which would make the QI program permanent, rather than subject to periodic sunset provisions. The QI benefit is particularly valuable to those who are eligible, as it pays the Part B premium (currently $93.50/month) and automatically entitles the beneficiary to the full Medicare Part D low income subsidy.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) 2007-2008
The 28th season of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) began on November 1, 2008. HEAP assists eligible individuals and families to pay their fuel and utility costs, whether the household pays for heat directly to a vendor or pays for heat as an undesignated portion of their rent. Households receiving Public Assistance, Food Stamps or a SSI living alone benefit as of September 30th this year will automatically receive the benefit. All other households must apply and meet the income guidelines below. Individuals 60 and over or heads of households in receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits can apply through the NYC Department for the Aging at (212) 442-3026,7411. All others can apply through the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). To find the neared DYCD site applicants can call the HEAP line for NYC at (800) 692-0557.
| 2007-08 Income Guidelines | |
|---|---|
| Household Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $1,876 |
| 2 | $2,454 |
| 3 | $3,031 |
| 4 | $3,609 |
| 5 | $4,186 |
| 6 | $4,763 |
| 7 | $4,871 |
| 8 | $4,980 |
New York State Oil Project – Benefit for HEAP Recipients with Direct Heat Vendors
The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) are working to together to offer a New York State Oil project that will assist low income households that participate in HEAP increase their oil and kerosene buying power. HEAP households who pay for heat directly to a vendor will be able to obtain their heat at a discounted rate, if they purchase their heat through a vendor who is participating in this project. When a household applies for and receives the HEAP benefit, their HEAP grant will automatically go to their heating vendor. If the vendor is a participating vendor, the household will also receive a discount on their heating costs throughout the heating season, in addition to their HEAP grant. To find a participating vendor go to http://www.heapoil.org/admin/reports/OTDA_ParticipatingDealersReport.jsp. For additional questions call the Oil Program Help Desk at 1-866-260-4837.
Community Resources
MetroCard Service Centers
The MTA has established MetroCard Service Centers to allow transit riders to apply for or refill a reduced-fare MetroCard, buy or refill a regular MetroCard, or asking a MetroCard-related question. To find a center in your own neighborhood call (718) 243-4999 or visit: www.mta.info/metrocard/mcbus.htm
Foreclosure Resources
Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
On August 31, President Bush announced several new steps to help American families keep their homes, including a new foreclosure avoidance initiative called FHASecure. FHASecure is a refinancing option that gives credit-worthy homeowners, who were making timely mortgage payments before their loans were reset but are now in default, a second chance with a FHA insured loan product. To qualify for FHASecure, eligible homeowners must meet the following five criteria:
- A history of on-time mortgage payments before the borrower's teaser rates expired and loans reset;
- Interest rates must have or will be reset between June 2005 and December 2008;
- Three percent cash or equity in the home;
- A sustained history of employment; and
- Sufficient income to make the mortgage payment at the FHA rate.
For more information on FHASecure call 1-800-225-5342 or visit http://www.fha.gov/.
Also see: Avoiding foreclosure and keeping your home www.fha.gov/foreclosure/