emergency financial assistance in Brooklyn?

[LTSchris]

I'm currently on short-term disability through my job, and since I am lucky to live in Brooklyn, I get Social Security payments from the state. However, my job just figured out they're been overpaying me and have drastically cut my checks, which makes it impossible to cover my ridiculous rent and utility bills, not to mention that my Flexible Spending account is maxed out and I won't be able to cover the co-pay for the surgery I have scheduled next week to remove high-grade precancerous lesions.

Any advice for who-where-what agency I can call in NYC for help? I browsed many many Web sites and called dozens of numbers today. Many numbers were out of date, nobody gave me any advice or could help me. I'm worn out.

Thanks,

Chris

[BT65]

Social Security payments do not come from states; they're from the federal government.

[Miss Philicia]

I think he's simply misunderstanding the issue. New York is one of the few states that mandates short term/temporary disability by the employer, and it's a state pooled insurance (though sometimes a private carrier) that provides partial wage replacement for up to 26 weeks. IIRC it's most commonly used for pregnancy complications and on-the-job injuries.

As far as "additional help" beyond this I don't know of any program that will provide this. Instead of calling defunct phone numbers perhaps you should go talk to a case manager at GMHC, as none of us obviously know the details of your situation here.

[nycpoz33]

Read you inbox messages..i sent you some info.  Feel free to message me back with any questions

[Ann]

Read you inbox messages..i sent you some info.  Feel free to message me back with any questions

Chris won't be able to read or respond to anything in his Private Message box until he posts one more time. You need three posts to access the PM feature.

Welcome to the forums, Chris!

[LTSchris]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Takes me a while to sort through things lately. Thanks everyone for your feedback and advice.

I did find my way to GMHC and have an appt to renew my client status in September. I have not had great experiences with them in the past, but who knows? I seem to fall into a crack there ...

Also found my way to Brooklyn Legal Aid, which I might need at some point, but they only take labor-related calls on TUESDAYS! Truly Kafkaesque.

[Solo_LTSurvivor]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Takes me a while to sort through things lately. Thanks everyone for your feedback and advice.

I did find my way to GMHC and have an appt to renew my client status in September. I have not had great experiences with them in the past, but who knows? I seem to fall into a crack there ...

Also found my way to Brooklyn Legal Aid, which I might need at some point, but they only take labor-related calls on TUESDAYS! Truly Kafkaesque.

Chris,

You say you have an appointment with BK Legal Aid; based upon the smidgen of information in your initial post, it seems strange that you need to consult an attorney.  You said that you receive STD via your job and also Soc. Sec.  As it has been pointed out, NYS must provide STD to employees who are working full-time (or at least 30 hours/week).  Therefore, how is it possible that you are also receiving Soc. Sec. if you are working full-time, out of curiosity?

Also, it is common practice for the administrator of the insurance benefits to inquire whether you are receiving any additional compensation (such as Soc. Sec., Workman's Comp., etc.) so that they can prevent any overpayments, which you are saying your employer states is the case.  If you do not provide this information, then the employer or insurance company will normally pay whatever the normal percentage is for the STD (50% - 70% in NYS), so therefore if you withheld this information, you are the one liable, and whomever the STD plan is or your employer has every right to do whatever it takes to recoup the money they paid out.

The same is the case with Unemployment.  The Dept. of Labor has no problem coming after people who falsely claim they weren't receiving any wages while collecting unemployment benefits and they will seize your NYS tax return and hound you for payments until they have collected, so it's a good thing that they can't actually impose jail time, because I have known several people, in the past, who'd be in Sing Sing because they collected the full $405/week (which was the standard at that time) while working full-time.

You're right about GMHC: they can be hit or miss, but you've got to start somewhere. 

Good luck!