Research Background and Design

1. Research Background and Design • 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 (2009-2010) • 52 short interviews of pro se hearing appellants (2010)

2. Finding:Faulty practices & errors • 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

3. Finding:Confusion and complexity in public benefits • Increased work requirements • Determining work eligibility • Differing work programs and vendors • Multiple issues being challenged • Evidence packets unclear • Vulnerable populations • Homeless • Physical health issues • Mental health issues

4. Getting and then keeping benefits, a full time job • 7-11 documents to apply • 4 appointments required • Work requirements source of many problems Conclusion: • Errors • Procedures not followed • Complexity • Unnecessary requirements • Succession of hurdles, one barrier removed, another one waiting

5. Recommendations • 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