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Speeches
March 23, 2009
Contact: 212-669-4813
Remarks by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum for General Welfare Committee Budget Hearing for the Human Resources Administration
Public Advocate BetsyGotbaum said, "Thank you, Chair de Blasio. Rising unemployment and the economic recession are likely to increase the demand for HRA’s services. In recent published reports, Commissioner Doar has noted that both Food Stamps and public health care programs have seen an increase in enrollment. In a time of economic crisis it is of the utmost importance that HRA operate as efficiently and effectively as possible to connect struggling New Yorkers with the benefits they are entitled to. Unfortunately, despite efforts to reduce wait times and improve efficiency, HRA continues to fall short of its goal of improving access to public benefits.
Yesterday, I released the results of a survey of HRA eligibility specialists about their experiences with HRA’s Paperless Office System and other technology and equipment. Based on their responses, it appears that unreliable office technology and equipment may be causing unnecessary delays in processing clients’ benefit applications:
-73 percent of respondents reported that the computer system for processing intake applications electronically was non-operational either “some of the time” or “occasionally” during working hours in the last year.
-61 percent of respondents reported that scanners, which are used to make electronic records of clients’ documents, were non-operational either “some of the time” or “occasionally” in the last year.
- 55 percent of eligibility specialists surveyed said it takes between 1 and 4 days for the computer system or scanners to be repaired after they report a problem.
Eligibility specialists also reported insufficient staff and a lack of interpreters to help clients with Limited English Proficiency.
These results were hardly surprising. Four months ago, my office surveyed clients at HRA Job Centers, and, we found that they faced significant barriers when accessing public benefits.
-82 percent of respondents said long waits were a problem when dealing with public benefit offices. On average, clients spent 20.3 hours per year in Job Centers.
-73 percent of respondents returned to a Job Center two or more times in the past year because of problems with their benefits case.
-52 percent experienced workflow problems, including no record of a prior visit, HRA misplacing their documents, or computers not working at HRA Job Centers.
One finding in particular stood out: In 2003, HRA established its Model Office Initiative to “streamline workflow, reduce wait time for applicants and recipients, and create greater, more efficient access to services in our centers.”—These are the words of the Executive Deputy Commissioner of HRA’s Family Independence Administration. But the clients at Model Centers we surveyed spent, on average, 7.8 more hours per year in these centers than clients at non-Model Centers.
Clearly, HRA has a long way to go to make public benefits accessible to all who are entitled to them. But it is vital that HRA take steps to improve its delivery system—not just for the sake of New Yorkers in need but for the city’s economy as a whole.
For example, making the Food Stamp process less burdensome for clients and specialists would increase enrollment in the program and bring additional federal revenue and economic activity to the city. A recent Moody’s analysis, found that Food Stamps provide the most bang for the government buck in stimulating the economy: for every dollar the government spends on Food Stamps it produces $1.73 in gross domestic product. By comparison, other options, such as increased spending on infrastructure, the refundable lump-sum tax rebates, and making the Bush tax cuts permanent, were less cost effective.
It is for exactly this reason that I’m so concerned about the city’s position on able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs. President Obama’s stimulus package includes a provision that suspends the limit on how long ABAWDs can receive Food Stamps—while they look for work. But the Bloomberg administration says it is “not obligated” to accept this provision and has spoken in vague terms about expanding the Work Experience Program, ignoring the fact that ABAWDs are still required to look for work while they receive benefits. My office estimates that we could miss out on the opportunity to bring roughly $155 million into the city’s economy if the administration blows this decision.
Public benefits have always been a lifeline to low-income New Yorkers. But now, when jobs are scarce and every dollar counts, it is all the more critical that HRA adjust its policies and correct the problems at its Job Centers. I look forward to hearing more about your plans today. Thank you."
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