New Work Rules Threaten Food and Health Aid | New York City News

New work requirements tied to a recent law are devastating families across New York, especially those on food assistance. In Queens, charities like the South Asian Council for Social Services are racing to help retirees and others who can’t meet new volunteer or job thresholds—like a couple where one spouse is too sick to work, risking a benefit drop from $325 to just $24 a month. Across the city, 22,000 people lost food aid in June alone as rules tightened, now including parents with older kids. Food pantries, already overwhelmed, are being asked to fill the void—but staff are stretched thin, and fear is growing: immigration enforcement on Staten Island has made some afraid to show up, pushing people into isolation. And looming next year? Medicaid changes could force people to apply in person for multiple benefits, making healthcare coverage even harder to maintain. The system is breaking under the weight of these new rules—and the human cost is rising. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/150345e15eaa90be