Campaign for a Better Safety Net: Tell NY State Legislators to Simplify the Foods Stamps Application
Call your State Legislators and tell them to pass A1681/S6291, which would eliminate the finger imaging requirement for food stamp applicants.
The Problem: New York City is of four places in the U.S. that requires food stamps applicants to get their finger-imaged. Doing so lengthens the application process, often causing applicants to lose a day of work, and wastes taxpayers' money .
The Solution: End the finger-imaging requirement. Currently, there is a bill in the NY State Legislature (S6291/A1681) that would change Social Services Law to eliminate the finger-imaging requirement for food stamps. The bill passed the State Senate and was amended in the Assembly. Now the amended bill needs to pass both chambers in Special Session.
What You Can Do: Call or email your Assemblymember and Senator today:
Step 1: Look up your State Senator and Assemblymember to let them know we want them back in session and voting on this bill:
Step 2: Call them. Use the script below:
"Hello, my name is _____ and I am calling in support of A1681/S6291. This bill simplifies the food stamps application process by removing an enormous and expensive barrier to applicants. I urge ________(Rep's name) to get the legislature back in Session and bring this bill to a vote on behalf of the 1.4 million New Yorkers who live in homes that cannot afford enough food."
Use the form below to tell your friends to take action.
This campaign is part of NYCCAH's 'Campaign for a Better Safety Net' that is working to ensure that all New Yorkers who are eligible for nutrition benefits receive them through a simple and dignified process.
Goals:
- -Simplify the application process for SNAP/food stamps, WIC, other benefits
- Eliminate stigma/myths about the SNAP program and its users
- Pass the 2012 Farm Bill with full funding for the SNAP/food stamps program
- Expand the NYC Paperless Office System/Food Card Access Project
- Ensure that EBT/WIC benefits are accepted at all food retail stores, farmers markets, and CSA’s in New York City
Campaign Victories:
June 2005: City Council overrode a Mayoral veto on three bills that require HRA to distribute food stamp applications at EFPs, allow people to apply online, end face-to-face interviews for people who are working or have disabilities, and give an application receipt to each applicant.
May 2007: The Human Resources Administration (HRA) and two nonprofit partners – the New York City Coalition Against Hunger and FoodChange – start Paperless Office System (POS) project in which low-income New Yorkers receive assistance to apply for food stamp benefits online at pilot sites in soup kitchens and food pantries in all five boroughs. Over 700 applications were processed and over 500 cases were accepted.
May 2009: NYCCAH works with Council Member Eric Gioia to persuade the two Costco locations in NYC to accept food stamps/SNAP benefits at their East Harlem and Astoria, Queens locations.
