Print 
PDFFrom Empire Justice Center:
Tens of thousands of low-income households across New York State who were improperly cut off or denied Food Stamps are now being issued retroactive benefits, as a result of a federal class action lawsuit filed against the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Estimates show that over $80 million in federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be issued to well over 100,000 households this week, two-thirds of which live in New York City.
These payments will help to temporarily offset the November 1st cut in SNAP benefits for these households and will provide additional food resources, allowing families who may not have otherwise been able to, put a little extra food on their tables for Thanksgiving.
The federal cuts to SNAP hit all households with a 5% reduction in their monthly benefits. Statewide, more than 1.7 million New York households receive SNAP benefits, and the cuts in the federal program will likely cost them more than $20 million each month. Two thirds of the households facing the cuts are working families, seniors, or others who are not receiving welfare benefits.
Earlier this summer, the United States District Court in the Southern District approved the negotiated settlement in Richard C v. Proud (12 CIV 5942), which challenged OTDA’s failure to provide individuals facing SNAP employment sanctions a “second chance” to comply with program rules and stop the sanctions from going into effect.
As many as 200,000 improperly issued employment sanctions are being erased/eliminated as part of the settlement, and OTDA agreed to issue back benefits to each household in which an individual was wrongly terminated from SNAP, due to an alleged violation of program rules between August 2009 and December 2012. The back awards, which can only be used to
purchase food, will likely average approximately $400 and will be issued on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards.If you are a class member and would like more information, please see our new “Richard C” Q&A.
(12)