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Temporary Assistance
There are two types of
Temporary Assistance available to families in Yates County: Family
Assistance and Safety Net Assistance.
Family Assistance (FA)
Family Assistance (FA) provides cash assistance to needy families that
include a minor child living with a parent (including families where
both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative. FA
operates under federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
guidelines.
Under FA, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a
total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded
assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, th en
that
adult and all members of his or her FA household are ineligible to
receive any more FA benefits. The months need not be consecutive, but
rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are
received is included in the lifetime count. The counting of this
60-month limit began in December 1996.
All adults who are determined to be employable are expected to work in
lieu of
receiving Temporary Assistance. If you apply for Temporary Assistance
and you are
determined to be able to work, you must continually search for a job,
take a job
when available, and participate in work related activities during the
time that you
apply for and receive Temporary Assistance.
Parents are also responsible for cooperating with the local department
of social services in locating any absent parent. Non-cooperation
without good cause could result in lower benefits.
Safety Net Assistance (SNA)
If you are not eligible for other assistance programs, you may be
eligible for SNA. SNA is for:
Single adults
Childless couples
Children living apart from any adult relative
Families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol
Families of persons refusing drug/alcohol screening, assessment or
treatment
Persons who have exceeded the 60-month limit on assistance
Aliens who are eligible for temporary assistance, but who are not
eligible for federal reimbursement
Generally, you can receive cash SNA for a maximum of two years in a
lifetime. After that, if you are eligible for SNA, it is provided in
non-cash form, such as a two party check or a voucher. In addition,
non-cash SNA is provided for:
Families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol
Families of persons refusing drug/alcohol screening, assessment or
treatment
HEAP
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(HEAP) is a federally funded energy assistance program. New York’s
grant is allocated among Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
(OTDA) for a heating benefit program, the state Division of Housing
and Community Renewal for weatherization activities, and the State
Office for the Aging for outreach and referral activities.
Applications are taken at all local departments of social services.
For information on where to apply, call 1-800-342-3009.
More about
HEAP is here.
Food
Stamps
Administered by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the Food Stamp Program issues monthly benefits
redeemable at authorized retail food stores. Eligibility and benefit
levels are based on household size, income, assets and other factors.
To help with the transition to self-sufficiency, food stamps can be
continued for families leaving temporary assistance to move into the
workplace. The food stamp income eligibility limits enable families
earning up to 130 percent of the poverty level to qualify for the
program, and there is no time limit for receipt of benefits for
families with children.
More
information is here about food stamps.
Child
Care Services
The federal/state funded Child Care Subsidy
program offers payment for day care services for eligible families who
are working, going to approved training or receiving Temporary
Assistance and required to participate in work related activities.
Eligibility is based on the age of the child, family income and
eligibility of the child care provider. You many apply at the
Yates County Department of Social Services or call 315-536-5183. More
information and income guidelines are here.
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