Res. No. 983
Resolution calling upon New York State to amend the Social Services Law in order to allow a parent or other relative of a child up to age one exemption from participation in welfare to work activities.
By Council Members Ferreras, James, Dromm, Gonzalez, Koslowitz, Lander, Mendez, Van Bramer, Vann, Williams, Mark-Viverito, Jackson and Rodriguez
Whereas, The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ("TANF") program provides public assistance including, but not limited to, cash assistance and work opportunities to families in need by granting states federal funds through the TANF block grant; and
Whereas, States receive the TANF block grant and are given the flexibility to design and implement their own programs to accomplish the goals of TANF; and
Whereas, The goals of the TANF program are to: 1) assist families in need so that children can be cared for in their own homes; 2) reduce the dependency of parents in need by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; 3) prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and 4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families; and
Whereas, TANF places an emphasis on working for one's benefits and requires each state to meet a 50 percent work activity engagement rate for all families receiving public assistance in order for the state to receive the maximum TANF grant amount; the remaining 50 percent of a state's caseload is work-exempt and does not need to be engaged in a work activity; and
Whereas, Work-exempt public assistance recipients include those who are: disabled or incapacitated, pregnant and due to have child within 30 days, youth under 16 or under 19 and enrolled in school, adults 60 years old and over, and parents with children under one year of age; and
Whereas, In New York State TANF funds support The Child Development Block Grant ("CDBG") in order to subsidize child care for parents engaged in a work activity; and
Whereas, If a state allows a parent with a child under age one to be work-exempt the parent would no longer be in need of subsidized child care; additionally, the work-exempt parent would not negatively affect the state's work participation rate and therefore would not affect the amount of the TANF grant awarded to the state; and
Whereas, Currently 25 states allow a work exemption for public assistance recipients with children under age one in order to produce savings for the state by reducing the amount of TANF dollars spent on child care subsidies for public assistance recipients; and
Whereas, New York State already has work-related activity exemptions for parents with children however, the work exemption is normally for three months when a child is first born; and
Whereas, The current exemption in New York State may not last for more than 12 months in a recipient's lifetime and it may not last for more than three months for any one child unless the social services official makes a determination to extend the exemption for up to a total of 12 months; and
Whereas, If the exemption were extended for up to 12 months, the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies ("FPWA") calculates that New York State could save at least $16 million; and
Whereas, According to FPWA in 2009 there were 3,713 families in New York State with a child under age one who were receiving subsidized child care; and
Whereas, Work exemption for these families would therefore result in an increase in available child care for other families in need; and
Whereas, If enacted, A.8101, introduced by Assembly Member Michele Titus, and S.5586, introduced by State Senator Diane Savino, during the 2010-2011 session, would have created just such an exemption from participation in work activities for a recipient of public assistance who is a parent or relative providing care to a child up to age one, now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon New York State to amend the Social Services Law in order to allow a parent or other relative of a child up to age one exemption from participation in welfare to work activities.
EH
LS 2570
7/12/11