NY S06181

Amends Section 131-w of the Social Services Law to prohibit local social services districts from requiring recipients to repay assistance provided to cover rent arrears.

Removes the requirement that recipients sign a repayment agreement to repay rent assistance within twelve months.

Eliminates the provision allowing districts to enforce repayment agreements through legal methods available to creditors.

Maintains the existing eligibility criteria for rent arrears assistance: persons must be without income or immediate resources and have gross household income not exceeding 125 percent of the federal poverty line.

Takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to any assistance provided for rent arrears on or after March 13, 2020.