Opinion ID: 2140972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Matter of Linton

Text: Petitioner applied for SSI disability benefits in December 1990, and her application was approved in September 1992, with benefits payable retroactive to the date of her application. On November 10, 1992, the City received a SSI benefits check on her behalf for $508 and on November 30, 1992, 12 working days later, gave notice that it was retaining the entire amount of the check as partial reimbursement for the $6,291.25 in interim home relief it had paid her. On December 15, 1992, the City received a second SSI benefit check for $9,713.49 and on December 31, 1992, 11 working days later, it notified Linton that it deducted $5,783.25 from this check and refunded to her the excess balance of $3,930.24. Linton requested a fair hearing in January 1993. She challenged the City's right to any reimbursement from the first check which she claimed was not subject to levy because it was not a retroactive payment. She also asserted that the City did not have any right to reimburse itself from the proceeds of the second check because it did not comply with the applicable 10-day limit. The State determined that the City was not required to turn over the entire amount of SSI benefits received just because of the slight delay in payment beyond the prescribed 10 days. Linton initiated this article 78 proceeding seeking annulment of the State's determination and a refund of all proceeds the City withheld from the retroactive reimbursement on the ground that its delay beyond the statutory period barred the retention of any amount of previously paid interim assistance. Supreme Court denied the petition holding that she was not entitled to a duplicative recovery based solely on the City's slight delay in processing the reimbursement.