There will be a 8.7% cost of living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security and SSI benefits for 2023. The following are the federal monthly SSI benefit amount for 2023 (there is no increase to the NYS state supplement amount):For an individual living alone: $914, plus the NYS supplement of $87, for a total of $1,001.For a [...]

On October 5, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a decision on the legality of the 2012 Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) policy. The court partially affirmed the district court’s July 2021 decision declaring the 2012 DACA policy unlawful. However, the court of appeals preserved the partial stay issued by [...]

The following changes to the Cash Assistance program were implemented on October 1, 2022:Elimination of the 185% Standard of Need Test and Federal Poverty Level Test. Countable income must be below the net income test or Standard of Need test, see https://bplc.cssny.org/benefit_tools/8 for the levels in NYC.Changes in earned income deductions: All households who have received [...]

Regular HEAP BenefitHEAP officially opened November 1, 2022. HEAP provides a grant to low-income households to help pay for energy expenses. HEAP eligible households receive either a direct payment to their heating/utility vendor or a one-time cash benefit. The benefit amount depends on whether the household pays for heat directly (and if so, the type of [...]