OTDA Home → Programs and Services
Programs and Services
Temporary Assistance & Related Programs
- Food Stamps
- The Food Stamp Program issues monthly benefits that can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Food stamp benefits help low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families.
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
- The Low-Income (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists eligible households in meeting their home energy needs.
- Homeless Housing Programs
- OTDA administers an array of programs to address homelessness in New York State. These range from programs to prevent homelessness to the actual construction of housing for homeless persons.
- Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (BRIA)
- BRIA is the single state agency responsible for the implementation of services to refugees and for the administration of programs targeted at immigrants.
- Temporary Assistance (TA)
- TA is temporary help for needy men, women and children. If you are unable to work, can't find a job, or your job does not pay enough, TA may be able to help you pay for your expenses.
Support Services
- Child Support Enforcement
- The Division of Child Support Enforcement is the single State agency designated to supervise the administration of the State's child support enforcement program.
- Electronic Benefits Transfer System (EBT)
- EBT is the method by which the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) delivers cash and food stamp benefits to New York State's recipient population.
- Eat Smart New York (ESNY)
- The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) is about building partnerships.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- The Federal and State Earned Income Tax Credits are refundable tax benefits for working people with low or moderate incomes.
- Employment and Advancement Services
- OTDA supports an array of services to assist Temporary Assistance and Food Stamp applicants and recipients in securing and retaining employment and achieving self sufficiency.
- Resources for Working Families
- OTDA promotes a number of work supports that you may qualify for if you are employed and having difficulty making ends meet.
- Fair Hearings
- A Fair Hearing is a chance for you to tell an Administrative Law Judge (from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of Administrative Hearings) why you think a decision about your case made by a local social services agency is wrong.
- Fatherhood Initiative
- The NYS Strengthening Families through Stronger Fathers Initiative bridges the gap between employment programs, welfare programs and child support policies.
- Noncustodial Parent New York State Earned Income Tax Credit
- This new initiative address the needs of low-income working noncustodial parents in an attempt to help them become more involved in the economic and social well-being of their children.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
- VITA is a free program to help low- and medium-income workers to have their taxes prepared and electronically filed at no cost.
Other Services
- SSI/Social Security Disability Determinations
- The 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.
- Faith and Community-Based Resource Center
- An online resource for Faith and Community-Based organizations sponsored by the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Faith and Community-Based Partnership.
- OTDA Common Forms and Applications
- Forms and Applications available from OTDA
- How to apply for services
- Information on how to apply for OTDA supported services