A 677: Relates to additional state payment assistance; provides that where there is no agreement in effect for federal administration of additional state payments the commissioner of the office of temporary and disability assistance is responsible for providing assistance to applicants for or recipients of such payments as it relates to applying for, modifying or maintaining such benefits.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 677 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to additional state payment assistance The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 2 213 to read as follows: 3 § 213. Additional state payment assistance. 1. If there is no agree- 4 ment in effect for federal administration of additional state payments 5 pursuant to section two hundred eleven of this title, the commissioner 6 of the office of temporary and disability assistance shall be responsi- 7 ble for providing assistance to applicants for or recipients of such 8 payments as it relates to applying for, modifying or maintaining such 9 benefits in order to ensure maximum participation by eligible individ- 10 uals. The commissioner shall contract with one or more not-for-profit 11 providers that have relevant experience with serving individuals with 12 disabilities and, availability and accessibility to this particular 13 population for the purpose of providing such assistance in accordance 14 with this section. 15 2. Such assistance shall include, but not be limited to: (a) assisting 16 with meeting eligibility requirements including gathering documentation 17 which may be necessary to determine eligibility or the appropriate level 18 of benefits; (b) explaining relevant documentation as it relates to an 19 individual's benefit to help ensure individuals understand their bene- 20 fits and are receiving the appropriate level of benefits; (c) assisting 21 individuals to access the fair hearing process by securing any necessary 22 documentation and providing referrals for legal advocacy; (d) providing 23 the option of in person assistance and when necessary, providing such 24 assistance at the individual's residence or other appropriate locations, EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01401-01-5 
 A. 677 2 1 such as a hospital; and (e) identifying eligible individuals who are not 2 receiving such benefits and conducting outreach to provide them with 3 information and assistance as described in paragraphs (a) through (d) of 4 this subdivision to secure and maintain such benefits and identifying 5 systemic barriers encountered by individuals with disabilities applying 6 for and maintaining such benefits. Such not-for-profit provider shall 7 report on such findings on an annual basis to the governor, the tempo- 8 rary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the 9 chairs of the assembly and senate standing committee on social services, 10 with the initial report to be provided on January first, two thousand 11 twenty-six. 12 3. To the extent necessary and appropriate to facilitate and effectu- 13 ate the requirements of this title, such not-for-profit provider shall 14 coordinate and cooperate with the federal social security administration 15 as it pertains to individuals for which they are providing services as 16 required by this section. 17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.