Council Member Tiffany Cabán speaks at Metropolis Corridor after the R.E.C.E.I.P.T.S. Act passes the Council on Could 28, 2025. (Picture credit score: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit)
June 3, 2025 By Czarinna Andres
The New York Metropolis Council handed laws on Wednesday, Could 28, that may carry better transparency and accountability to the town’s public advantages system, a transfer that Council Member Tiffany Cabán and advocates hailed as a victory for low-income New Yorkers navigating bureaucratic limitations.
The invoice, Intro 1148 and often known as the R.E.C.E.I.P.T.S. Act—quick for Information Making certain Readability, Fairness, and Integrity in Public Transactions and Companies—requires the Division of Social Companies (DSS) to offer utility affirmation notices and doc receipts to people making use of for Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) advantages and money help.
Below the laws, candidates should obtain affirmation notices inside 48 hours and doc receipts inside 5 enterprise days of submission. These receipts will point out the date of the submission, an inventory of acquired paperwork, and whether or not they’re full and legible. Moreover, DSS shall be required to offer digital entry to copies of submitted supplies. The division should additionally assess the feasibility of increasing this affirmation course of to extra advantages.
“I’m proud to be the lead sponsor of the R.E.C.E.I.P.T.S. Act,” stated Cabán, who represents Council District 22, which incorporates the neighborhoods of Astoria and elements of Woodside, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. “This legislation marks an important step toward greater transparency, accountability, and trust in our city’s public benefits system. These may seem like minor procedural updates, but for those seeking vital support, they can mean the difference between clarity and confusion.”
Cabán emphasised the sensible impact of the legislation, citing frequent complaints from constituents who submitted paperwork to DSS or the Human Sources Administration (HRA) and by no means acquired acknowledgment.
The invoice handed with widespread help from the Council and was backed by main social service suppliers and advocacy organizations citywide.
“By increasing transparency in the application process to receive benefits, New Yorkers will have more clarity and success in accessing these critical resources,” stated Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “I thank Council Member Cabán for her leadership on this legislation.”
The invoice was co-sponsored by quite a few Council Members who described the measure as a “common-sense” reform with wide-reaching implications.
“Applying for public benefits should not feel like sending your documents into a void,” stated Majority Chief Amanda Farías. “When families are in crisis, they deserve timely confirmation, clear guidance, and the peace of mind that their paperwork hasn’t just disappeared into the system.”
Council Member Alexa Avilés added that the change would enhance the power of elected officers to advocate for his or her constituents. “We hope that this legislation will save New Yorkers valuable resources, so we can spend less time tracking down application documents and more time serving our constituents.”
Social service leaders echoed that sentiment, pointing to the challenges their purchasers face in coping with a traditionally opaque system.
“When people don’t have to spend countless hours navigating unclear, redundant, and demoralizing systems, they can focus their time and energy on what truly matters,” stated Bishop Mitchell Taylor, CEO and co-founder of City Upbound. “The R.E.C.E.I.P.T.S. Act brings much-needed clarity and accountability to the benefits process.”
Cabán additionally took to social media to lift consciousness in regards to the laws, posting a video explainer that outlines the important thing provisions of the R.E.C.E.I.P.T.S. Act and its influence on public advantages candidates. The video has garnered greater than 21,000 views throughout platforms.
The Division of Social Companies, which administers SNAP and money help by means of the Human Sources Administration, has confronted repeated scrutiny over delays and lack of communication with candidates—particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for companies spiked.
The legislation additionally directs DSS to launch a report evaluating the sources and potential limitations to increasing this degree of affirmation throughout all profit packages. It should embody an implementation plan, authorized evaluation, and estimated timelines.
Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez stated the invoice straight responds to constituent issues. “Too often, they submit documents for SNAP or cash assistance and hear nothing back,” she stated. “We’re bringing long-overdue clarity and accountability to a process that impacts our city’s most vulnerable families.”
Council Member Shahana Hanif, a co-chair of the Council’s Progressive Caucus, stated the laws aligns with the town’s values. “These agencies are lifelines for New Yorkers in moments of urgent need,” she stated. “This new law will strengthen their ability to serve with efficiency and compassion.”
The legislation will take impact 180 days after being signed by the mayor, permitting time for DSS to implement the brand new protocols and put together its report.
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