File #: Res 1930-2013    Version: * Name: Excluding Social Security payments and supplemental Social Security income from the definition of "income" for the purposes of determining eligibility under the SCRIE program. (A.4793/S.1930)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Aging
On agenda: 9/24/2013
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.4793/S.1930, legislation excluding Social Security payments and supplemental Social Security income from the definition of "income" for the purposes of determining eligibility under the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) program.
Sponsors: Gale A. Brewer, Charles Barron, Margaret S. Chin, Inez E. Dickens, Daniel Dromm , Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, Andy L. King, Peter A. Koo, G. Oliver Koppell, Karen Koslowitz, Brad S. Lander, Rosie Mendez, Annabel Palma, Diana Reyna, Donovan J. Richards, Ruben Wills, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Daniel J. Halloran III, Eric A. Ulrich
Council Member Sponsors: 21
Res. No. 1930
 
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.4793/S.1930, legislation excluding Social Security payments and supplemental Social Security income from the definition of "income" for the purposes of determining eligibility under the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) program.
 
 
By Council Members Brewer, Barron, Chin, Dickens, Dromm, Fidler, Gentile, James, King, Koo, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Mendez, Palma, Reyna, Richards, Wills, Rodriguez, Halloran and Ulrich
      Whereas, New York State law allows the City to provide low-income seniors assistance with rising housing costs through the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) program; and
      Whereas, Under the SCRIE program, rent increases are limited for qualifying seniors and in return, participating landlords receive a property tax abatement credit equal to the amount of the rent forgiven; and
      Whereas, Tenants in rent controlled or rent stabilized apartments are eligible for the SCRIE program if they are at least 62 years old, have a total household income that does not exceed $29,000, and if the maximum rent or legal regulated rent is increased to a level that exceeds one-third of their household's income; and
      Whereas, As the rate of inflation continues to outpace increases in Social Security benefits, the cost of living has risen for many seniors without a proportional increase in their income levels; and
      Whereas, Excluding Social Security income from the calculation for SCRIE eligibility would allow more seniors to enroll in the program, enabling those seniors to allocate more of their income toward living expenses such as food and prescription drugs; and
Whereas, In January 2013, New York State Assembly Member Matthew Titone and New York State Senator Joseph Addabo, Jr. introduced A.4793 and S. 1930, respectively, legislation that would amend State Real Property Tax Law to change the definition of "income" for purposes of eligibility in the SCRIE program; and
Whereas, A.4793 and S.1930 would make 100 percent of Social Security income exempt from calculation for eligibility purposes under the SCRIE program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.476./S.1930, legislation excluding Social Security payments and supplemental security income from the definition of "income" for the purposes of determining eligibility under the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) program.
 
LS# 5011
9/5/13 4:50PM
KET