Aldebol asks whether employees can opt out of bonuses affecting benefits
Aldebol asks whether employees reliant on SNAP or CHIP can decline bonuses that might push them over income thresholds; Pollack says bonuses and salary payments are mandatory but OLR would consider such requests, and Aldebol concludes her questions.
If a city employee is reliant on benefits like SNAP or CHIP, additional income can lead to such employees crossing the income threshold and making them
eligible for benefits while still experiencing financial hardship.
Are city employees given the option to opt in or opt out of receiving such bonuses if it will only exacerbate their financial insecurity?
When we have a bonus or a salary payment, it's mandatory.
I don't think we've encountered a situation where we've been asked whether an employee can waive it, whether a union or an agency.
We'd certainly consider it if that happened.
Yeah, I'm more concerned about like bonuses that might be a one-time payment that might temporarily knock them off, you know, eligibility.
It's not a wage increase necessarily, which I find problematic.
So, yeah, it's good to know.
Okay.
I think that concludes my questions.
Thank you so much for participating in our hearing today.
Thank you again.