Dalton discusses Intro 641 rental assistance payment timing

Introduction 641, sponsored by Councilmember Ressler, would require that DSS issue CityFEP's rental assistance payments no later than seven days before the first day of the month to which the payment will be applied.

DSS currently issues payment on the 26th of the month prior to when the payment is applied.

For landlords enrolled in the electronic fund transfer, they will receive this funding within 24 hours of that day.

And for those who still opt to receive a paper check, they will receive it in or on around the first of the month.

We believe this is a reasonable approach that is working well.

That said, we understand that landlords do not just receive rental payments from the City of New York.

For some tenants, rental contributions are made from New York State's welfare management system, which issues a shelter allowance payment in two parts, at the beginning of the month and in the middle of the month.

While we understand that this may be frustrating to landlords, DSS cannot change how or when the state issues those payments.

Also, DSS is very clear with landlords up front about the state payment system.

Landlords agree to the terms in the CityFAPS payment structure on the outset, acknowledging and writing being a written

signed agreement that payments received within the month are considered timely.