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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Temporary Assistance Application Process
© 1997-2007 by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
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What can I do if I do not have enough money to pay my rent, my heating bills, or meet my daily living expenses?
You may be able to get public assistance, called "Temporary Assistance."
What do I have to do to get Temporary Assistance?
You have to get an application from the Department of Social Services (DSS) on the 1st floor of the Rath Building, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo. When you apply for Temporary Assistance, you should apply for Food Stamps and Medicaid.
Try to complete the entire application. Give honest and complete answers. You must fill out the "employment history." Take your completed application to windows 1 - 4 on the 1st floor of the Rath Building.
What if I need help with my application?
Ask the county worker for assistance. Ask for help at windows 1- 4.
What happens next?
Hand in your application and have a seat. You will be called by name to windows 8-15. A screener will review your application for:
- self-sufficiency;
- immediate needs;
- expedited food stamps;
- set up orientation appointment for next day.
Then a screener will call you to do an alcohol screening, domestic violence screening, or an employment assessment to see if you have an employment history or drinking problem or medical problem. You will be handed an appointment letter telling you when your orientation and employment appointment is scheduled. Orientation is usually scheduled on the following day. No orientation is scheduled for refugees, individuals over 60 years of age, or women who are 9 months pregnant or payees.
Immediately following orientation you will see an employment counselor. An appointment for your certification is given to you by your employment worker.
What happens at my certification appointment?
At this interview, which should be within a week of your first one, you will give DSS the documents asked for on the certification appointment sheet or, if not those, then acceptable substitutes. If you are missing any documents, you will be given a Call Back sheet.
What if the worker and I disagree about whether I am able to work?
If you believe you cannot work, you should explain why to the interviewer. The interviewer will probably send you to your own MD or to the Health Department if you do not have an MD. The Health Department is on the 2nd floor of the Rath Building.
What if the interviewer believes I will not qualify for assistance?
He or she may request that you sign a withdrawal of your application. He or she
must accept your application anyway; you cannot be forced to withdraw your application.
You can request that the application process continue.
What should I know about the Call Back sheet?
The Call Back sheet shows what papers you will need to get benefits. Try to get as many as possible. Generally, you need to bring the papers listed on the attached sheet.
What if I am unable to keep an appointment made for me while applying for public assistance?
Call to reschedule it. If you do not show up for an appointment, your application could be denied. If you contact the certification worker the day of or the day before your appointment, you will be rescheduled.
What if I could not get any of the documents asked for?
Tell your worker right away. It is the agency's duty to help you get them, but you must tell your worker you need help.
How will I know whether my application is approved or denied?
You should receive a written decision no later than 30 days after submitting your application. In some cases DSS can take 45 days to decide if you are eligible for cash assistance. However, they always have to give you your Food Stamps and Medicaid in 30 days. Remember that you cannot be forced to withdraw your application. If you haven't heard within 30-45 days, call our office.
What happens if I am accepted?
Carefully read the written notice telling you that you have been accepted. In the same notice, you could be accepted for public assistance and Medicaid, while being denied Food Stamps. This could happen because one of the people living with you is not eligible for welfare. The notice must tell you how much cash and Food Stamps you will get every month and list the names of the people in your household covered by Medicaid.
What happens if I am denied?
You should receive a written notice of denial. If you have any questions about why you were denied, contact your caseworker, whose name and telephone number are written at the top of the notice. If you still believe the denial was wrong after talking to your caseworker, you can ask for a Fair Hearing. Notify NYSOTDA that you want a Fair Hearing by telephone, fax, or mail. You can write on the back of your notice the reason for requesting the hearing. If you phone, get the name of the person you speak to. If you write, send your letter by certified mail and keep a copy. The correct address is:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 1930
Albany, NY 12201-1930Telephone No.: 1-800-342-3334 or (716) 852-4868
Fax No.: (518) 473-6735 (you must have form from Albany)
What should I know about a Fair Hearing?
You have 60 days from the date on the notice to ask for a Fair Hearing about
public assistance and Medicaid and 90 days for a Fair Hearing about Food Stamps.
Information about asking for a Fair Hearing is on the back of the notice.
`If you have any questions about Fair Hearings, please call our office. We will
either send you information, or upon reviewing the facts you give us, we may decide to
take your case.
Temporary Assistance Application Process (Attachment)
Generally, you need to bring the following:.
- Who you are. You can use a birth certificate, Social Security card, passport, or drivers license.
- The number of people in your household and who they are. You can use a marriage license, birth certificates, and custody papers.
- Your address and the amount of your rent, if any. Have your landlord complete and sign the Landlord Statement, then sign it yourself. If your landlord will not help you, bring rent receipts, samples of mail you received at that address, or statements from people who know your living arrangements.
- If you recently stopped working, the reasons why, and proof that you applied for Unemployment benefits.
- If you do not have dependent children, how you have been supporting yourself.
- The amount of cash you have on hand. Bring things like bank account records, check books, etc.
- The value of other things you may own. Bring things like the title for any vehicle you may own or your mortgage agreement if you own a house.
- Proof that you kept all scheduled work-related appointments and applied for other forms of assistance if you were asked to.
