New York S 959: Establishes the disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits

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S00959 Summary:

BILL NOS00959A

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A04990

&nbsp

SPONSORJACKSON

&nbsp

COSPNSRADDABBO, PARKER

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add Art 15 §§300 - 303, Civ Serv L

&nbsp

Establishes the disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits; provides for the investing of any net savings realized by the program back into the New York state health insurance program for the purpose of eliminating or limiting the impact of any premium rate or other cost increases that would be the responsibility of an employee or retiree.

Go to top S00959 Actions:

BILL NOS00959A

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

03/19/2025AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

03/19/2025PRINT NUMBER 959A

01/07/2026REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

Go to topS00959 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00959 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00959 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 959--A

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. JACKSON, ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and
 Pensions -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
 amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to establishing the
 disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist
 eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new article 15
 2 to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE XV
 4 DISABILITY BENEFITS MAXIMIZATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 5 Section 300. Definitions.
 6 301. Purpose.
 7 302. Establishment of the disability benefits maximization and
 8 assistance program.
 9 303. Investment of savings.
 10 § 300. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
 11 have the following meanings:
 12 1. "Eligible individual" means an individual retired from state
 13 service eligible for benefits pursuant to article eleven of this chap-
 14 ter.
 15 2. "Program" means the disability benefits maximization and assistance
 16 program established pursuant to the provisions of this article.
 17 § 301. Purpose. Persons who are under age sixty-five and disabled are
 18 frequently eligible for, but not receiving social security disability
 19 insurance and disability benefits. The disability benefits maximization
 20 and assistance program is designed to ensure that eligible retirees are
 21 able to access all benefits available to them. The benefits accrue not

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD02968-05-5

 S. 959--A 2

 1 just to the retiree, but to the state in ensuring that Medicare serves
 2 as the primary payer for eligible persons.
 3 § 302. Establishment of the disability benefits maximization and
 4 assistance program. 1. The commissioner shall establish within the
 5 department a disability benefits maximization and assistance program
 6 which shall be designed to identify state retirees eligible for but not
 7 receiving social security disability insurance and Medicare coverage.
 8 2. Elements of the program shall include:
 9 (a) conducting an ongoing claims analysis of retirees for the purpose
 10 of identifying individuals who may be eligible for social security disa-
 11 bility insurance benefits and are not yet receiving them;
 12 (b) assisting any individual whose claims history and social security
 13 eligibility qualify such individual to apply for and be awarded social
 14 security disability. Such assistance shall include the following:
 15 (i) developing communication materials to educate state retirees about
 16 social security disability insurance benefits;
 17 (ii) performing outreach to populations targeted by claims analysis;
 18 (iii) analyzing responses to determine social security disability
 19 insurance benefit eligibility;
 20 (iv) representing qualified individuals with their c