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Assistance Programs Available in New York State
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In this weak economy it is important for everyone to be aware of the assistance that is available to
help them make ends meet during tough times. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
has several programs that can help families and individuals get that little extra boost they need.
A good first stop is the myBenefits website which provides links to information on the various
assistance programs available, as well as a self-screening tool that will help you determine which
benefits you might be eligible for. The self-screening tool relies on minimal, anonymous household
information to determine your eligibility for a variety of programs including: Food Stamps, Earned
Income Tax Credit, State Earned Income Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Home Energy
Assistance Program, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), and School Breakfast and Lunch Meals.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
With winter coming up, a major program you should be aware of is the Home Energy Assistance
Program (HEAP). HEAP is a federally-funded program that assists low-income households in
meeting their immediate home energy needs. Both renters and homeowners are eligible for
assistance. Emergency energy assistance is also available through HEAP. More information can
be found at: www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/
Temporary Assistance and Employment Programs
As part of our continued economic troubles, many families are finding themselves in need of temporary assistance to help make ends meet and in finding employment. OTDA has many temporary assistance programs including:
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Family Assistance, which provides cash benefits to eligible families
with children.
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Safety Net Assistance, which provides cash benefits to eligible individuals
and families who are not eligible for Family Assistance.
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Emergency Assistance, which provides benefits to eligible individuals and
families in crisis situations. This can help with diverse emergency situations such as assistance
with shelter, utilities, food, and temporary housing costs.
More about these services can be learned at
www.otda.state.ny.us/main/ta/
OTDA also offers a wide variety of services that can help you in finding and retaining employment.
Services are available at local departments of social services. More about the services that may be
available at local offices can be found at
www.otda.state.ny.us/main/resources/employment.asp
Other major programs include:
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Food Stamp Benefits Known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), the New York State Food Stamp Program is a federally-funded
program that supplements the food budgets of low-income households. Eligibility and benefits
are based on income, household size and other factors, and benefits are provided through an
electronic benefit card, similar to a debit card. More information on Food Stamps and other
nutritional programs can be found on OTDA’s website at:
www.otda.state.ny.us/main/workingfamilies/nutrition.asp
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Tax Credits The Federal and State Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) are refunds that you can get based
on the pay you receive from a job. For 2009, workers can qualify to receive a combined Federal and
State EITC of up to $7,534 if their income is less than $48,279. There is also an additional credit
for New York City that residents may qualify for. Information on other tax credits is also available
on OTDA’s website at
www.otda.state.ny.us/main/workingfamilies/taxcredits.asp
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Free or Low-cost Health Insurance Medical Assistance is help for people who cannot pay for all of
their medical care. These programs are made available by the New York State Department of Health.
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Medicaid is a program for New Yorkers who can’t afford to pay for medical care. The Medicaid program
is available to people who have income and resources below certain limits. There are also other
eligibility requirements that must be met. Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage, including
prevention, primary care, hospitalization, prescriptions and other services. For more information on
applying, contact your local department of social services, or call 1-800-541-2831. You can also
visit
www.health.state.ny.us/health_care and click on “Medicaid” to get more
information online.
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Family Health Plus is a public health insurance program for adults aged 19 to 64 who have income or
resources too high to qualify for Medicaid. Family Health Plus is available to single adults, couples
without children, and parents with limited income who are residents of New York State and are United
States citizens or fall under one of many immigration categories. This program provides comprehensive
coverage, including prevention, primary care, hospitalization, prescriptions and other services. There
are minimal co-payments for some Family Health Plus services. Health care is provided through
participating managed care plans in your area. To get more information, call the Family Health
Plus helpline toll free at 1-877-934-7587. You can also visit
www.health.state.ny.us/health_care
and click on “Family Health Plus” to get more information online.
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Child Health Plus is a public health insurance program for children under 19 years old whose family
income is too high to qualify for Medicaid. Child Health Plus coverage is provided through managed
care organizations. To get more information, call the Child Health Plus helpline toll free at
1-800-698-4543. You can also visit
www.health.state.ny.us/health_care and click on “Child Health Plus”
to get more information online.
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There are many other assistance programs that are made available through OTDA. In addition to the
assistance programs mentioned above, there are programs to help with child care, transportation
and housing, free and reduced school lunch programs, and many more. You can visit the Resources
for Working Families page at www.otda.state.ny.us/main/workingfamilies/ for information on
OTDA’s work support programs and visit the main OTDA web page at
www.otda.state.ny.us/main/ for
information about other programs and services offered through OTDA.
November 2009
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September 2010
Contact Us
Phone: 1-800-395-3372
FAX: 518-402-3505
Upcoming DDPC Meetings
September 2010:
9/23/10 - Executive Committee Meeting
*Notice*
Open Government and the New York State Developmental Disabilities
Planning Council (DDPC). All DDPC meetings are held in Albany, NY
unless otherwise noted.
Under law, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning
Council (DDPC) meetings and DDPC Standing Committee meetings are
open meetings. If the public wants to attend, they can attend as
observers. Participants may be asked to leave during breaks in the
deliberations and when the meeting goes into executive session.
If more information, please contact the DDPC
directly.
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