Suit Aims to Hike Welfare Payments

By
Cindy Rodriguez
WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

A class action lawsuit filed against New York State attempts to raise welfare payments for poor New Yorkers.

It's been nearly 20 years since the state Legislature last increased payments.

Currently, the maximum a single adult on welfare gets is about $137 a month. Plus close to $400 in food stamps and rental assistance.

The Urban Justice Center filed the lawsuit on behalf of seven named plaintiffs. Director Doug Lasdon says the meager payments leave people hungry, depressed and home bound because they can't afford to go anywhere:

LASDON: It is really a bleak existence for a large number of people living in New York and that is really unacceptable in the year 2008.

REPORTER: A spokeswoman from the governor's office says attorneys just received the lawsuit and must review before commenting.

A recent city analysis estimates it takes just over $12,000 a year for a single person to survive in the city.

For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez.

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Cindy Rodriguez

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