Entitlements
In this section...
Type Ctrl+F; then enter what you're looking for. For example, to quickly find legal help, type Ctrl+F. Then type "legal" To print this section: Type Ctrl+P
|
|
||||||
What are entitlements? Entitlements are programs that you are “entitled to” if you qualify. That means you get them automatically after you apply. (Important: See below for exceptions.) For example, if you go to your IL workshop, you are entitled to an IL stipend. Or, if your income is below a certain level, you are automatically entitled to food stamps. (And, at age 65, everyone gets the best entitlement of all: Social Security.) There are five important things to know about entitlements: 1) Which ones are you eligible for? (Housing, food stamps, formula for a new baby, etc.)? To find out, talk with your lawyer or law guardian. They should know, or they can send you to a specialist who can tell you. 2) Entitlements are not handouts. The government and the big corporations know that if people do not get enough food or housing or other kinds of support they may be too stressed to be good citizens and employees. Entitlement programs are designed to help you stay healthy and productive because that helps you and it helps the whole society. 3) The government doesn’t come looking for you with these entitlements. You usually have to apply for them! It can be confusing. New York City is trying to make it easier by having one application for most entitlements. Even when they get a system in place, you’ll still have to be assertive, take responsibility, and learn what you’re eligible for, fill out the forms, go to the meetings, and everything else that’s required. 4) Warning: Some entitlements are limited. For example, even though Section 8 housing assistance is an entitlement, the government does not provide enough for everyone who qualifies. If you apply after the program has run out of money, you won’t get the entitlement even if you qualify. 5) Warning: For some people, entitlements become a crutch. If you need help—with housing, or food for your newborn, or anything else, and there is a program to help you—make sure you get it. But in the long run you’ll have more freedom (and more money) if you can get a decent job. Everyone knows that, but for some people that government check is a little too comfortable. After a while it reduces their drive to do better. Youth in care, who have been in a government run system for many years, have to be especially careful about thinking that they can kick back and everything will be provided for them. It won’t be! After you turn 18 or 21, lots of benefits disappear. And many of the entitlements you can get as an adult have time limits. Use entitlements as a tool for your future success, not just as a crutch to prop yourself up. 6) Some entitlements come with responsibilities. For example, you must meet workfare requirements to receive public assistance and you must attend an independent living workshop to the the IL stipend. Food Stamps To get a food stamp application, call the toll free New York State Temporary Assistance Hotline at 1-800-342-3009. Follow the prompts on the automated caller response system to find the address and phone number of the food stamp office for where you live. You can get more info and download an application at: Section 8 Vouchers The Section 8 Housing Assistance Program will help you pay your rent if you find a landlord who agrees to accept Section 8 money and an apartment that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) approves. Under Section 8, a percentage of your rent is paid directly to your landlord and you are be responsible for paying the rest. Young people aging out of foster care are generally eligible to receive a Section 8 voucher, as long as you are between the ages of 18 and 24, and earn less than $21,000 a year. However, you must have some income and no felony convictions. You can apply for the voucher up to eight months before you leave care. The Section 8 program has various rules, and they change from time to time. However, in a typical Section 8 set up you are responsible for paying 30% of your salary towards the rent. So, for example, if your total rent is $800, you must pay $240 (30%) to the landlord, and Section 8 pays the balance ($560) directly to the landlord. In addition, the value of the voucher decreases by 20% each year. So, if the voucher is $540 the first year, it’s worth only $432 the second year. and $324 the next year. If you’re total rent is $800, you’ll be paying $348 in the second year, and $456 the next year. By the end of the fifth year, in this example, you have to pay all $800 of the rent yourself. Your situation may be different so you must talk with a housing liaison to find out the amount of rent that you are responsible for if you have a Section 8 voucher. Medicaid Medicaid is one of five New York City programs to help people who cannot afford medical care. To apply for Medicaid in New York City, contact the Human Resources Administration toll free at 877-472-8411. For more information on Medicaid and other health insurance programs, see: www.nyc.gov/html/hra/html/medical_insurance/medicaid. For details on how to keep your Medicaid coverage when you age out of care, click here. HEAP The Home Energy Assistance Program provides help for people who are having trouble paying their electric, gas, and or heating bills during the winter months. The grants are $40 to $440 per year. There are HEAP offices in every borough. The applicant must meet the eligibility requirements. For example person applying must be the person named on the lease and must be paying the bill directly to the utility company. People on public assistance receive this grant automatically in their budget, where applicable. For more information go to: www.nyc.gov/html/hra/html/family_independence/heap General Help Getting Entitlements The following organizations can help you get the benefits you are entitled to. Access NYC Chinese American Planning Council FoodChange's Community Kitchen The Door Food and Hunger Hotline: 1-866-888-8777 Food Stamp Information: 1-877-472-8411 Lawyers for Children
|
||||||
What are entitlements?