Democratic-controlled New York state is secretly giving cash payments to thousands of immigrants under a rule change that makes non-citizens eligible for welfare benefits.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Temporary Disability Assistance Administration (OTDA) will change the terms of the Safety Net Assistance (SNA) program in 2023 to make immigrants who fill out asylum applications eligible to receive more taxpayer money. I made it.
A May 12, 2023, memo secretly sent by the Hochul administration to New York welfare office officials carefully revised the criteria necessary to qualify for the SNA, and made the subject matter “color of the law.” ) to non-citizens who are considered permanent residents under the law. ). ”
“Pul call is not an immigration status, but a public benefit category used by OTDA for the purpose of qualifying for Safety Net Assistance (SNA),” the memo states, adding that SNA providers will then be able to identify several types of admissions they should accept from immigrants. Lists documents.
SNA is a program that provides cash assistance to: eligible Individuals and families in need who are generally not eligible for other forms of welfare, such as single adults, childless couples, children who do not live with adult relatives, and families of drug and alcohol abusers.
“Generally, you can receive cash SNA for up to two years in your lifetime,” OTDA said. “Then, if she qualifies for SNA, her SNA will be provided in a non-cash form, such as a voucher paid directly to the landlord or sent directly to the utility company.”
It is believed that approximately 10 percent of New York’s immigrants will receive (or have already received) additional cash benefits from the SNA. However, OTDA did not release the actual number of immigrants affected by the rule change. new york post report.
Since the spring of 2022, New York City alone has seen an influx of more than 173,000 immigrants, and more are likely in the future. In the city alone, 17,000 people may be receiving SNA benefits.
ODTA spokesman Anthony Farmer said the SNA’s payments to immigrants would add to the $4.3 billion in taxpayer funds Hochul had already allocated to address the immigration crisis “in the absence of new federal aid.” It is said that it is only a part of the story.
“At the request of the City of New York, OTDA has made technology updates to ensure that minority immigrants receive certain additional assistance in accordance with state and federal law,” he said.
Welfare expansion has been heavily criticized by both Republicans and Democrats.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) says it’s scary that Governor Hochul is finding other ways to bring immigrants into the state and “squeezing” low- and middle-income New Yorkers who don’t want to immigrate. It is said that it is a thing. Tax money is used for this.
“People come to New York from all over the world to take advantage of the left-wing programs that the governor and mayor are running, but at the same time they’re milking taxpayers out of their heads,” she said. post. “[Safety Net Assistance] It’s a program for New Yorkers who need it temporarily to get through a difficult time in their lives. ”
Councilman Robert Holden (D) agreed, saying, “Endless handouts to the entire world are a slap in the face to every citizen who has contributed and sacrificed to this country.”
“It’s time to end this madness,” he added.
Hochul’s spokesperson, Avi Small, blamed the Republican Party for the immigration crisis.
“There are no secrets here,” he said. “With the MAGA right undermining the bipartisan agreement that allowed President Biden to close the border, New York state will be forced to shoulder this burden alone and spend additional tax dollars on the immigration crisis.”
The revelation of this major rule change came after New York City Mayor Eric Adams. came under fire Earlier this month, he was criticized for his plan to distribute $53 million to immigrants in the form of prepaid credit cards.
