When the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2016, hundreds of new laws and policies passed by city and state governments and regulatory agencies took effect.  Several of these are notable in extending assistance to New York residents, like those in the Bronx, striving to make ends meet.

Minimum Wage
The most talked-about, an increase in the minimum wage from the statewide $8.75 to $10.50 per hour for New York City fast-food workers (and $9.00 for others), will benefit working-class Bronxites on a massive scale.  Annually, that’s a raise of at least $500 for all full-time minimum earners, and over $3600 in the fast-food category.  Under the new law, increases ramp up to $15 per hour for New York City workers by 2018. The move was championed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has vowed to “not stop” his crusade for better wages “until all workers are paid the decent wages they deserve.”

Protections for the Homeless
Cuomo also aroused controversy in the opening days of 2016 by signing an executive order requiring that all homeless individuals in New York State be taken to shelters when temperatures drop below freezing.  New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio protested that the governor’s order lacked funding to allow the city to carry it out, but as a cold snap hit the northeastern U.S. on Jan. 4 and 5, de Blasio appealed to houses of worship to charitably supplement the efforts of shelters and social service agencies in providing the homeless with protection from the cold.

Commuter Benefits Law
Another benefit that may save up to $800 a year for some Bronx commuters, depending on their tax bracket, is the Commuter Benefits Law, which doubles the cap on pre-tax income that can be used to pay for qualified mass transit expenses. The previous cap of $130 per month generally covered the cost of a regular MetroCard used on subways and buses. By doubling the cap, more of the cost for express buses and commuter rail tickets is now affordable for certain commuters.

However, an individual interested in taking advantage of this benefit has to jump through a few hoops in order to enjoy it.  First, it’s only available to full-time, non-union workers at companies with 20 such employees, and only after the employer has established the program by filling out paperwork with the City’s Department of Consumer Affairs.  Second, many low-wage workers who already qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit due to their support of dependents are being advised to seek tax advice before deciding whether to sign up for these commuter benefits, as it could result in a smaller tax refund. Information in multiple languages is available by calling 311 or logging on to www.nyc.gov/CommuterBenefits.

Water Assistance Program
Another New Year’s gift to certain New Yorkers is an extension of the Home Water Assistance Program.  The 2016 rate schedule approved by the NYC Water Board will put more money into the pockets of 52,000 low-income New York City seniors and persons with disabilities who own their homes and pay water bills.  These individuals will receive an automatic credit of $115.89 on their first water bill of the year.  More information about these credits can be found at www.nyc.gov/dep.

Workplace Rights
Other new employment laws seem poised to prompt major change in the landscape of offices and factories, particularly for working women.  More extensive accommodations will be required in the workplace for pregnant employees and those who have given birth and must take regular breaks to pump their breast milk. For details on how these new protections work, log on to www.labor.ny.gov/home/individuals.php.

Finally, New York is now the first state in the country to make women immediately eligible for health insurance coverage on the state health exchange as soon as they become pregnant, rather than having to wait for the open enrollment period.  The U.S. Government has not yet accorded such benefits to women who apply for health benefits through the federal exchange.  As New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer noted, this step “improves the health of babies and new mothers, while saving taxpayer dollars and strengthening our city’s economy.”