- Equal Justice Under Law
The Public Health Emergency Has Ended!
May 2023 Public Benefits Alert!
May 31, 2023June 2023 Affordable Housing Updates
May 31, 2023The Public Health Emergency Has Ended! New York State has begun the process of resuming annual renewals for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan. Anyone covered by these public coverage programs anytime beginning March 2020 has stayed covered through continuous coverage. The federal government has directed states to resume renewals beginning April 2023. Some New Yorkers began receiving renewal packets in March 2023, and everyone will receive them over the next year. The first date enrollees can lose coverage if they do not renew or if they are no longer eligible is July 1, 2023. Please see the fact sheet from Medicaid Matters New York for some helpful tips.
NSLS’ Public Benefits Unit provides legal assistance to persons who experience problems with public benefits programs that are administered by the local Departments of Social Services, including:
- Welfare (TANF and Safety Net)
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps (SNAP)
- Child Care Assistance
- HEAP
- Emergency shelter for the homeless
- Unemployment insurance appeals and overpayments
- Other emergency assistance programs
We also assist low-income households in establishing Supplemental Needs Trusts to eliminate the Medicaid spend-down and assist homeless families to obtain rent supplements from DSS to enable families to leave the shelters or retain permanent housing. Suffolk residents west of 112 can call 631-232-2400 and east of 112 can call 631-369-1112. Nassau residents can call 516-292-8100.