What's happening
This bill allows senior citizens to regain rent increase exemption benefits if a temporary income increase caused ineligibility for up to two years.
Why it matters
Helps seniors who temporarily exceeded income limits. The bill recognizes that some seniors may briefly lose eligibility for rent increase exemptions due to a short-term income spike (for example, a one-time payment or temporary job), and allows them to regain their benefits without permanent penalty if their income drops back within limits in under two years.
Reduces risk of long-term financial hardship. By allowing reinstatement of rent exemptions at the prior protected rent level (plus only allowable increases during the gap), seniors are shielded from sudden, unaffordable rent hikes that could otherwise result from a short period of ineligibility.
Encourages honest reporting and financial stability. Seniors may feel less pressure to underreport income or avoid temporary work if they know a short-term income increase won’t permanently disqualify them from vital housing assistance, promoting both compliance and economic mobility.
Applies retroactively to new applications. The bill’s immediate effect means that seniors applying for rent increase exemptions after the bill becomes law can benefit from this protection right away, potentially assisting those currently facing loss of benefits due to recent temporary income changes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Seniors’ Rent Freeze
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
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 Seniors from Rent Hikes
In Assembly Committee · Aging · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4825
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 26, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to continuation of senior citizen rent increase exemption benefits after a period of ineligibility due to a head of household's temporary increase in income
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 26-605 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a head of a household to whom a rent increase exemption order/tax abatement certificate has been issued under this chapter, chapter three or chapter four of this title who has become ineligible for such rent increase exemption order/tax abatement certificate as a result of a temporary increase in income for a period of time that does not exceed two years, may, upon resumption of receipt of an income that qualifies for such order/certificate under this chapter, chapter three or chapter four of this title, apply to the supervising agency, subject to the terms and conditions imposed by such relevant chapter, for a rent increase exemption order/tax abatement certificate relating to the same dwelling unit to which the original rent increase exemption order/tax abatement certificate applied, and such order/certificate shall provide that the head of the household shall be exempt from paying that portion of the maximum rent for the dwelling unit which exceeds the last rent that the head of the household was required to pay in the dwelling unit prior to his or her increase in income which caused the temporary ineligibility, plus any non-exempt increases in such maximum rent which may have occurred during the temporary period of ineligibility.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to relevant applications for the senior citizen rent increase exemption benefits filed on or after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02601-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to continuation of senior citizen rent increase exemption benefits after a period of ineligibility due to a head of household's temporary increase in income
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to guarantee that recipients of the SCRIE benefit not be subject to hindsight rent increases due to a period of ineligibility.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill will amend section 26-605 of the administrative code of the city of New York by adding a new subdivision (e).
Justification
As it exists today, the SCRIE program contains a loophole that signif- icantly hurts those senior citizens it is intended to help. Very frequently, a senior may see his or her income experience an anomalous spike, because of the need to take an additional distribution from an IRA or a pension to cover medical expenses, for example, or other onetime increases in income. This income spike will disqualify the applicant from the benefit. When the senior's income returns to normal, and the beneficiary re-applies, his or her rent gets frozen not at the old level, but at the current, higher foil legal rent, which is greater than the previously frozen rent. This sudden income spike can effec- tively push tenants out of the apartments SCRIE was intended to keep them in.
This legislation will prevent the disqualification of seniors from the program because of one-time spikes in income within two years.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S3627 - REFERRED TO AGING 2015-16: S.529/A.563 - Referred to Housing Construction and Community Development 2013-14: S.5495/A.10763 - Referred to Housing Construction and Community Development
Fiscal implications
Unknown
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to relevant applications for the senior citizen rent increase exemption benefits filed on or after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.