ASSEMBLY, No. 883

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman BLEE

An Act concerning emergency assistance benefits and supplementing chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. An applicant for emergency assistance benefits established pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:83-1.1 et seq., who also receives supplemental security income (SSI) assistance pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, Pub.L.92-603 (42 U.S.C. §1381 et seq.) shall be required, as a condition of eligibility for emergency assistance benefits for shelter or for shelter and food, to contribute a percentage of his monthly SSI benefit pursuant to subsections b. or c. of this section.

    b. A recipient of SSI who receives emergency assistance benefits for shelter shall be required to contribute 30% of his SSI monthly benefit toward his debt relating to housing expenses, including but not limited to, debt incurred from utility bills and unpaid rent, and to make necessary payments to establish a permanent living arrangement, including but not limited to, expenses for a security deposit, advance rent, moving, and furniture.

    c. A recipient of SSI who receives emergency assistance benefits for shelter and food shall be required to contribute 80% of his SSI monthly benefit toward his debt relating to housing expenses, including but not limited to, debt incurred from utility bills and unpaid rent, and to make necessary payments to establish a permanent living arrangement, including but not limited to, expenses for a security deposit, advance rent, moving, and furniture.

    2. If a recipient of SSI who is also receiving emergency assistance benefits requires a security deposit in order to move into a permanent living arrangement, that deposit shall be held in an escrow account by the county welfare agency. Upon termination of that living arrangement, the money held and accrued in the escrow account shall be returned to the county welfare agency and shall not be considered a payment for the final month of rent. Any claim against a security deposit shall be limited to the funds in the escrow account and shall be verified by the county welfare agency. A finding by the county welfare agency that the claim against the security deposit is a valid claim shall be considered good cause to render the SSI recipient ineligible for future emergency assistance benefits, unless the recipient reimburses the county welfare agency in full for the claim.

    3. The Comissioner of Human Services, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires supplemental security income (SSI) recipients who apply for emergency assistance benefits, established pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10:83-1.1 et seq. for shelter only or for food and shelter, to contribute a percentage of their SSI benefit toward debt and to make payments necessary for expenses associated with establishing a permanent living arrangement.

    Specifically, the bill requires an SSI recipient who receives emergency assistance benefits for shelter to contribute 30% of his SSI benefit toward his debt relating to housing expenses, including but not limited to, debt incurred from utility bills and unpaid rent, and to make necessary payments to establish a permanent living arrangement, including but not limited to, expenses for a security deposit, advance rent, moving, and furniture. In the case of SSI recipients receiving emergency assistance benefits for shelter and food, 80% of their SSI benefit is to be contributed.

    The bill further provides that if a permanent living arrangement for a recipient of SSI benefits who is also receiving emergency assistance benefits requires a security deposit, that deposit shall be held in an escrow account by the county welfare agency. Upon termination of that living arrangement, the money held and accrued in the escrow account shall be returned to the county welfare agency and shall not be considered a payment for the final month of rent. Any claim against a security deposit shall be limited to the funds in the escrow account and shall be verified by the county welfare agency. A finding by the county welfare agency that the claim is valid, shall be considered good cause to render the recipient ineligible for future emergency assistance benefits, unless full reimbursement of the claim is made.

Conditions SSI recipients' eligibility for emergency assistance benefits under certain conditions.