New York State residents who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) also receive a state supplement.  For 2014, the maximum federal SSI amount is $721 and the NYS supplement is $87 bringing the maximum SSI benefit to $808 per month.  At this time, New York State residents receive these benefits in one payment from the Social Security Administration (SSA), usually direct deposited into the recipient’s bank account.  Starting October 1, 2014, New York SSI recipients will receive their federal SSI benefit and the state supplement benefit separately.  The reason for this change is because New York State will realize significant savings by administering the state supplement benefits directly instead of paying the SSA to administer this program on its behalf.

The New York State Supplement Program, Bureau in the Center for Employment and Economic Supports within the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will be responsible for administering this benefit. All business will be conducted by telephone, fax or mail only. There will not be walk-in offices to handle questions or requests. A customer support center with a toll free number will be available to assist recipients and is expected to be available starting August 2014.

The only change NYS SSI recipients will notice is that they will receive two monthly payments instead of one.  NYS SSI recipients will receive their state supplement benefits in the same manner that they receive their SSI benefit. Direct deposits will go into the same account and payments will be issued on or before the first of each month.  Starting in August 2014, NYS SSI recipients should receive notice by the State Supplement Program Bureau of this change. If the recipient has a representative payee for SSI purposes, this payee will remain the same for the state supplement benefit.

For more information please visit http://otda.ny.gov/programs/ssp/.

The New York State Education Department is pushing for legislation that would make significant changes in the state’s special education laws. The bill, A-7060 in the Assembly and S-5557 in the Senate, has been referred to the education committee.

• Private School Students: The proposed legislation would make changes in the law that requires school districts to provide services to special needs students who attend nonpublic schools. The deadline to request such services would be moved from June 1 to April 1 for students who already have an Individualized Education Program. An Extended School Year would be available for these students, but they would not be entitled to a special class or Integrated Co-Teaching.

The bill would also make changes to membership in the Committees on Special Education. The position of school physician would be eliminated, and there would be a parent member only on request of the parent. Subcommittees would also be eliminated. Note that NYS regulations have already

• Pre-School Evaluations: In regard to preschool, parents would no longer have the right to choose the evaluator for Preschool Special Education Evaluations. All school districts would be considered approved evaluators.

• Statute of Limitations: The statute of limitations for special education due process hearings would be reduced from two years to one year, except in regard to reimbursement for private school tuition, in which case the statute of limitations would be six months from the student’s placement in the private school.

• Transportation: Finally, CSE Composition confirmed students receiving transportation services up to a distance of 50 miles to and from a nonpublic school, to receive services similar to those available in the district of residence, would not be entitled to special education services from the district of location.

This proposed legislation will have a significant impact on the services to students with disabilities.

For more information, visit www.specialneedsnewyork.com