The Legal Aid Society is calling on New York State to increase assistance levels for the Cash Assistance program, as recommended by Governor Hochul’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council in a report issued today. Legal Aid sits on the Public Benefits Committee advising the Council.

The Cash Assistance program, which provides families cash assistance for basic needs, like diapers, soap, and laundry detergent, has not seen increases since 2012. Under the current levels, a mother and child receive just $291.50 a month to meet all their basic needs.

“It is shameful that the lowest-income families in New York, those who are eligible for Cash Assistance, have not received increases to the aid they receive in over a decade despite record inflation. Updating the program levels is a policy choice, and the failure to do so would leave our clients in a state of deep poverty, perpetually scrambling to make ends meet with the little assistance they receive,” said Adriene Holder, Chief Attorney of Legal Aid’s Civil Practice.

“The lack of funding disproportionately impacts Black and Latinx families, with child poverty among New York State children of color approaching 30 percent and Black children more than twice as likely to live in poverty than their Non-Hispanic White peers,” she continued. “We welcome Governor Hochul’s pledge to put ‘money in people’s pockets,’ but she must go beyond tax rebates, and heed the recommendation of her Child Poverty Reduction Council by increasing Cash Assistance in the new State budget. By taking this long overdue step, she will help the lowest-income families move past economic hardship, stabilize financially, and create long-term healthy, thriving communities.”