The New York Temporary Assistance Program

What You Need To Know?

The New York Temporary Assistance Program (TA) offers financial aid to families with minor children; non-married couples as well as childless couples in financial crisis. If you are unable to work, unemployed or your expenses exceed your income, you may apply for the program to improve your financial condition on temporary basis. The primary purpose of the New York Temporary Assistance program is to enable families become self-sufficient and financially independent.

The Family assistance program of New York State is operated under the guidelines set by TANF program. It provides cash assistance to low-income families with a dependent child with either a single parent, or both of them or any care taker relative.

The Family Assistance (FA) program offers allowance to the families only for a prescribed period of time- for a total of 60 months including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other States. Once this limit has been crossed, participants of the program may no longer receive further assistance. The months do not need to be consecutive but rather each individual one throughout the life time.

Parents and individual opting for the Family Assistance (FA) program must comply with the program requirements in order to be approved for the program. Applicants must co-operate with local and state department of social services by providing necessary information and any sort of non-cooperation without a valid reason would result in lower FA benefits.

Those who are not eligible for FA program may involve themselves in Safety Net Assistance (SNA). The SNA provides cash assistance to the eligible individuals. The SNA program is designed to assist single adults, childless couples, children living apart from any adult relatives, immigrants who are eligible for the TA program but not for federal reimbursement and families of persons found misusing drugs and toxicants. Recipients approved for the SNA program must obey the regulations agreed upon to receive maximum benefits.

Generally the SNA could be received for a maximum of 2 years in a lifetime however after that if the need still continues, the program may continue assisting in non-cash forms such as providing vouchers or direct payment to your land lord. The non-cash assistance is also provided to the families abusing drugs, refusing drug screening or families with individual who crossed the limit of 60 months.

The ultimate goal of the Temporary Assistance program is to promote self-sufficiency and financial independence in individuals by involving them in work like activities.

Temporary Assistance Benefits

The Family Investment Program and Safety Net Assistance provides financial assistance that could be used for house rent, home utilities or food .The amount of benefit issued depends upon the standard of need  The standard of need includes

• Basic allowance- it pays for the necessary expenses of the household such as food, clothing, transportation and other daily expenses.
• Home energy allowance- pays for electric and heating bills by either providing you cash or paying directly to your energy provider
• Shelter allowance –- it pay a fixed amount of money for the rent of the household including property taxes
• Other special needs such as pregnancy allowances

Administration

The New York Temporary Assistance Program is operated by Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

Are You Eligible?

In order to enroll in the Temporary Assistance program you must be a legally recognized citizen of New York and be financially below the income guidelines set by the State department. Pregnant women and adult who are responsible for a child under 18 years of age or under 19 years of age and the child regularly attends secondary school are also eligible program .Legally recognized aliens(immigrants) are also eligible for the program.

How To Apply?

In order to find whether you are eligible to receive Temporary Assistance, including help with help with an emergency; you need to file an application with your county Department of Social Services or if you reside in one of the five boroughs of New York City you may file an application with your local service center,

For Further Information?

You may find the location of local department of social services here;

http://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/dss.asp or may call at the toll-free number stated below:

1-800-342-3009.

The application forms at ‘ http://otda.ny.gov/programs/applications/2921.pdf”  may be filled out and filed at your local department of social service in New York. You must identify the emergency needs at this time. If the emergency stated seems valid, you would be called for an interview same day.

For temporary assistance, you would be called for an interview within 7 working days and informed whether your application was approved or denied within a month. For Safety Net Assistance you will be informed after 40-45 days.

Contact

For further queries and details you may visit the online platform of New York temporary Assistance Program or contact at:

1-800-342-3009

Also Discover: The Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP)