Research Background and
Design
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1
History of churning of welfare rolls in NYC
Poverty rates increasing, unemployment
increasing, food stamp uptake increasing--cash assistance decreasing
3,000 cases between 2004 and 2009
were analyzed, quantitative and
qualitative data
in-depth analysis of 28 welfare histories,
constructed from 259 cases (2004-2009)
8 audio fair hearing transcripts (20092010)
52 short interviews of pro se hearing
appellants (2010)
Finding:
Faulty practices & errors
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2
Communication barriers
Clerical errors
Auto posting
Willful failure/good cause exemptions
Fair hearings—when challenged,
administrative agency lose 86% of the time
Length of time to resolve problems
127 days for agency to comply
156 days if children on household
budget
Aid-to-continue—many recipients do not
have continuing aid
Finding:
Confusion and complexity in
public benefits
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Increased work requirements
Determining work eligibility
Differing work programs and vendors
Multiple issues being challenged
Evidence packets unclear
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Vulnerable populations
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3
Homeless
Physical health issues
Mental health issues
Getting and then keeping
benefits, a full time job
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7-11 documents to apply
4 appointments required
Work requirements source of many
problems
Conclusion:
 Errors
 Procedures not followed
 Complexity
 Unnecessary requirements
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4
Succession of hurdles, one barrier
removed, another one waiting
Recommendations
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5
Eliminate duplicative documents and
appointments
External audit (City/State) of
administrative errors
Review for accuracy—sanctioning,
eligibility, work requirements, grant level
Establish standards for sanctioning and fair
hearings
Revise fair hearing withdrawal codes
Simplify evidence packets
Recipient case records access
Expand outreach procedures
Increase training and education
opportunities
Decrease supervised work requirement to
30 hours