Local Pols Stand Up For Seniors And Disabled Tenants Erroneously Disqualified From Rent Freeze Programs

Legislation sponsored by Southern Brooklyn Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz and State Senator Diane Savino could spare more than 5,000 seniors and disabled residents from being disqualified from the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption [SCRIE] and Disabled Rent Increase Exemption [DRIE], despite already being approved by the city for such programs. The legislation passed both houses this week.

Though the residents followed the proper guidelines and the city’s Department of Finance approved the rent freezes, a computer glitch miscalculated qualifications for thousands of applicants. The seniors and disabled residents, already enjoying the benefits of the program, only learned about the mistake when notified by the city that they’d have to pay back rent to their landlords as a result. In order to qualify for a SCRIE or DRIE rent freeze, a senior or disabled applicant can earn up to $50,000 a year, but their rent must equal a third of that income.

To correct this problem, the New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Savino on Wednesday and the Assembly passed matching legislation sponsored by Cymbrowitz on Thursday that would grandfather thousands of approved, guideline-following applicants into the program. The legislation was first introduced in the Assembly.

“Thousands of seniors and disabled residents living on fixed incomes should not pay for the City’s error,” said Savino. “This legislation allows these guideline following residents to remain in the program and not suffer because of a computer error. The SCRIE and DRIE programs are a lifeline for so many in the City who face the burdensome costs of rising rents. I’m proud to help these residents remain in their apartments and their communities.”

“As New York City is currently doing outreach to get New Yorkers enrolled in the rent freeze program, it was simultaneously dropping seniors and people with disabilities for no fault of their own,” said Cymbrowitz. “This bill will make sure that if your rent was frozen, it will be stay frozen. I’m proud to have written and passed this legislation with my colleague, Senator Diane Savino, and ensure housing stays affordable for our constituents and all New Yorkers.”

The legislation cites one glaring example of the city’s error. Julius Diamond, a veteran who lives on a fixed income, received a one-time income increase just as his SCRIE benefits were expiring on December 31, 2013, and right before the state increased the income eligibility cap to $50,000 in 2014.

During that small window of time, the centenarian continued to pay his frozen rent at the same rate until the city informed him that he owed his landlord thousands of dollars in back-rent based on his new income. Diamond, who is from Forest Hills, Queens, could not afford to pay. The bill also requires the New York City Department of Finance to repay Diamond’s landlord.

In 2014, the SCRIE cap was increased from $29,000 to $50,000 a year to alleviate rent expenses for lower- and middle-class seniors in New York.

The bill will be sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk before being signed into law.

With additional reporting by Ned Berke.

Updated (10:45am): This article has been updated to reflect additional details about the legislation, including that it has passed the Assembly and was introduced by Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz. A statement from Cymbrowitz is also added.