What's happening
This bill excludes federal veterans' disability benefits from being counted as income for public housing eligibility and surcharges in New York.
Why it matters
Helps more disabled veterans qualify for public housing. by ensuring their federal disability payments aren’t counted as income, making housing assistance more accessible for those with service-connected disabilities.
Prevents rent surcharges for disabled veterans. who already live in public housing, allowing them to keep more of their benefits for other essential needs instead of facing higher rent due to these payments.
Addresses financial hardship and homelessness risks. among disabled veterans by removing a key barrier to affordable housing, potentially reducing instability or displacement for this vulnerable group.
Establishes a clear statewide policy. that recognizes disability benefits as compensation for service, not income, setting a precedent for how veterans’ benefits are treated in means-tested housing programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Exclude Vets’ Disability from Income
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.510
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Veterans’ Disability Benefits
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Sean Ryan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1117
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to the exclusion of veterans' disability benefits from computation of income
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 156 of the public housing law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. For the purposes of this section, probable aggregate annual income shall not include disability benefits paid by the federal government to a veteran for a service-connected disability nor shall such disability benefits be included in computing any surcharge against such veteran.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01364-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to the exclusion of veterans' disability benefits from computation of income
Purpose
To ensure that disability benefits paid to a veteran by the federal government are not used in determining "aggregate annual income."
Summary of provisions
Section 156 of the Public Housing Law is to be amended so that, for the purposes of this section, disability benefits paid by the federal government to a veteran shall not be used in computing "aggregate annual income."
Justification
Benefits received for disability incurred while serving the nation should not jeopardize a person's eligibility for occupancy.
Legislative history
S.1624 of 2016; Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs S.1624 of 2015; Advanced to Third Reading
S.3111 of 2013-14; Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Development
Fiscal implications
Certain Persons' "aggregate annual income" will be based on a smaller gross in relation to this law.
Effective date
January 1 following enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.