Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

David A. Hansell, Commissioner

OTDA Home → How to apply for services

How to apply for services

The forms on this page require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If the format interferes with your ability to access any of the information, please contact the OTDA Public Information officer at 518-474-9516 or at nyspio@otda.state.ny.us.

How do I find out if I'm eligible for benefits?

Visit www.myBenefits.ny.gov to find out about a number of work support programs that you may be eligible for by quickly entering some basic information about you and your family.

How do I apply for SSI/Social Security Disability?

The NYS OTDA Division of Disability Determinations (DDD) makes medical determinations on disability claims filed with the Social Security Administration’s Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Disability programs.

To apply for Disability please contact your local Social Security Office: SSA Office Locator or phone 1-800-772-1213

You can also apply for disability benefits online using SSA Online Services.

How do I ask for a Fair Hearing?

You may apply electronically on the Fair Hearings website.

Telephone numbers for requesting a Fair Hearing are:
General Fair Hearings Information and to request a Fair Hearing: 1-800-342-3334 (Fax: 518-473-6735)
For New York City emergency Fair Hearings ONLY: 1-800-205-0110
For hearings regarding the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): 1-800-342-3334
For the Hearing Impaired, TTY Phone number: 1-877-502-6155

Clients may also walk in and request a hearing at the following locations:

You can write to:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 1930
Albany, NY 12201

Or for Fair Hearing requests concerning clinical managed care you can write to:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 22023
Albany, NY 12201

How Do I Apply for Child Support Services?

Anyone eligible for services may apply by contacting their county child support office and completing the Application for Child Support Services.

Temporary assistance, safety net, and Title IV-E foster care applicants or recipients are provided child support services automatically and do not have to apply. Medicaid applicants who are applying for themselves and their children are also automatically provided services to establish paternity and obtain medical support. Medicaid applicants can also receive services to establish and/or enforce child support upon request.

Medicaid applicants who are pregnant or whose child is less than 2 months old are not automatically provided any child support services. These applicants must request child support services.

There is no application fee, and child support services are generally free of charge except for activities that involve use of an attorney.

Child support enforcement services are available even when neither parent is a resident of New York State.

How Do I Apply for Food Stamps?

In many locations throughout New York State, there are community organizations that can help you get and complete an application for the Food Stamp Program. Most of these organizations can also screen you to see if you might be eligible. For a list of these organizations visit the Nutritional Outreach Educational Providers website. In some of these locations, you may be able to apply electronically. View a list of the locations where On-line food Stamp Application sites are available.

Disabled Applicants

If you have a physical or mental hardship, and are disabled, New York allows you to have someone you designate apply for you. You may also authorize someone who knows your household circumstances to apply for Food Stamp Benefits for you. If you would like to authorize someone, print the person’s name, address and phone number on the signature page (page 5) of your food stamp application.

Applying By Mail

To apply by mail you should call or write your local county Department of Social Services office or, in New York City, your local Food Stamp Center to request an application packet.

Telephone Interviews

If you are working or have circumstances that make it hard for you to get to your local social services office for an interview after you have submitted your application, it may be possible to have the application interview done by telephone. If all the adults in your household are age 60 or older, or are disabled and have no earned income, you automatically qualify to have your application and recertification interviews done by phone, if you request it. Some other hardships that might make you eligible for a phone interview include cost or difficulty of traveling to and from the social services office, health problems (even temporary ones), difficulty getting time off from work or difficulty getting child care or dependent care. If you apply, contact your local department of social services office to request a phone interview.

If you qualify for food stamps, you must get them no later than 30 days from the date the office got your application.

Questions?

For further information about Food Stamps, you may call the Office of Temporary and Disability Services toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3009 and press “1” for Food Stamps or see the Food Stamps website

How Do I Apply for Temporary Assistance?

In order to find out if you are eligible to receive Temporary Assistance, you need to file an application with your county Department of Social Services, or, if you live in one of the five boroughs of New York City, with your local Job Center.

The quickest way is to call the toll-free New York State Temporary Assistance Hotline at 1-800-342-3009. By following the prompts on the automated caller response system, you can find the address and phone number of the local social service office for where you live.

You can also choose the option to speak to an operator, and they will give you the information about the social service office for where you live. You can also find your local county Department of Social Services online.

You must fill out the application form and turn it in. You may turn in (file) the application the same day you get it. You should also identify any emergency needs you may have at this time. If you have an emergency, you will be interviewed the same day you apply. You will also be told in writing the same day about the decision on your emergency.

For Temporary Assistance your interview should be within seven working days of your filing an application. You should be told within 30 days of the date you filed your application if your application for Family Assistance is approved or denied; be told within 45 days of the date you filed your application for Safety Net Assistance if your application is approved or denied.

How do I apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program?

If you would like to apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), you may apply by mail, in person at your local social services office, or over the internet depending on your situation. You may apply for HEAP:

By Mail

If you received a HEAP benefit last year and reside in the same county that your application was filed last year or if you are age 60 or older. Applications may be downloaded from the HEAP webpage.

In Person

In person at the local social services office in the county in which you reside. The contact information and address of the local social services office in the county in which you reside may be found on the HEAP webpage.

Online

Electronically on the HEAP webpage, if your household resides in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Greene, Herkimer, Jefferson, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Onondaga, Orleans, St. Lawrence, Steuben or Yates, received a HEAP benefit during the 2006–2007 season, and continue to reside in the same county.

What do I have to bring?

Applicants should bring documentation verifying residence, household composition, income, vendor relationship and vulnerability. (i.e. Proof of age if a household member is under age 6 or age 60 or older, or proof of disability if permanently disabled).