Thousands of Migrants Now Eligible for Cash Benefits

(ProsperNews.net) – Migrants in New York are eligible for welfare payments after Governor Kathy Hochul changed eligibility rules. The Empire State’s “Safety Net Assistance” program is typically used to provide hardship funds to New Yorkers who don’t qualify for other welfare schemes, such as single adults, childless couples, or those with addiction problems. However, Hochul quietly altered eligibility rules last May to include illegal migrants waiting for asylum status.

The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) runs the program but has refused to say how many migrants are receiving cash payments, according to the New York Post. However, ODTA spokesman Anthony Farmer noted that payments made so far amount to only a “small portion” of the $4.3 billion set aside by Governor Hochul to deal with the migrant influx.

“At the request of New York City, OTDA made a technical update to allow a small percentage of migrants to receive certain additional support in compliance with state and federal law,” Farmer said.

Additionally, in February, New York Mayor Eric Adams announced he would provide pre-paid credit cards to illegal immigrants in the Big Apple. The $53 million program, run by New Jersey firm Mobility Capital Finance, provides migrants with credit cards that they must promise will be used solely for food – the immigrants will sign a document to this effect.

Since 2022, more than 170,000 migrants have arrived in New York, costing taxpayers millions. Last November, Eric Adams announced significant public service cuts to fund migrant care, saying it had cost $1.45 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. The cuts included reducing NYPD officer numbers by 13% and a $1 billion reduction in education spending.

The reduced budget angered many New Yorkers, including the city’s largest public-sector union, District Council 37, which filed a lawsuit against the Mayor. The suit claimed that Adams’ administration did not fully explore alternative options or conduct a cost-benefit analysis before deciding to slash public services.