Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of

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Agency Web Site: http://otda.ny.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), works in close collaboration with the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and other agencies, helps low-income households achieve economic self-sufficiency through work, job training and the provision of supportive services that help avert dependency on public assistance. OTDA also provides economic assistance to aged and disabled persons who are unable to work.

Organization and Staffing

OTDA has its central office in Albany and several field offices statewide. These offices provide direct operational support, supervision and guidance to the State’s 58 local social services districts, which include each county and New York City. Social services districts are responsible for directly administering most public assistance programs, including those that serve the homeless and refugees. Agency staff also provide legal and audit support.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends $5.6 billion for the agency. This is an increase of approximately $14 million from the FY 2017 budget. The increase primarily reflects increased authority to accommodate updated public assistance caseload projections.

The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 2,026 FTEs, an increase of 73 FTEs over FY 2017 workforce levels. The additional staff will support increased emergency shelter oversight responsibilities in the new Division of Shelter Oversight and Compliance.

Major budget actions include:

  • Affordable and Homeless Housing Plan. The FY 2018 Executive Budget continues funding to support the full implementation of the five year investment for the Affordable and Homeless Housing Plan which is aimed towards creating new housing opportunities for individuals in need of supportive services and providing resources to support vulnerable populations in securing stable housing.
  • Public Assistance Lottery Intercept. Currently, Social Services and Tax Law allow the State to recoup 50 percent of lottery winnings for public assistance recipients with winnings over $600 in order to pay back any cash assistance received by the recipient in the last ten years. The Budget includes a proposal to authorize the State to recoup the remaining 50 percent of such winnings over $600, up to the amount of cash assistance provided.
  • Summer Youth Employment Program. The Budget increases funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program by $5 million, to $36 million, to ensure that the State can continue to serve approximately 18,750 youths that were employed through the 2016 program.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Human Services (PDF)

Program Highlights

  • Public Assistance. New York provides cash assistance to income-eligible individuals and families through the Family Assistance (FA) and Safety Net Assistance (SNA) programs. For income-eligible families with a minor child, ongoing cash assistance provided through the FA program is financed entirely with Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for up to 60 months, pursuant to federal statute. Families who have exhausted their 60-month time limit on FA, as well as income-eligible single adults and childless couples, can receive such assistance through the SNA program which is financed with State and local dollars. The FY 2018 caseload is estimated at approximately 559,000 recipients.
  • SSI State Supplement Program. New York's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program supplements Federal SSI benefits to low-income elderly, blind, and disabled persons. The FY 2018 caseload is estimated at 715,000 recipients.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federally mandated program that seeks to improve the nutritional level of low-income families and individuals by providing supplemental assistance to purchase food items. In New York, SNAP is directly administered by local social services districts which are also responsible for administering programs to assist SNAP recipients in gaining the skills necessary to obtain and retain employment through training, education, and supportive services.
  • Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP). HHAP provides grants to not-for-profit corporations and municipalities to expand and improve the supply of permanent, transitional, and emergency housing for homeless persons. HHAP also links its projects to other State and Federal funding sources to deliver appropriate support services to help tenants move towards greater self-sufficiency and economic stability.
  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). HEAP helps low-income households pay the cost of heating their homes. Eligibility is based on a number of factors, and eligible households may receive one regular benefit per year and emergency benefits, as available. The HEAP program also operates a heating equipment repair and replacement program, a heating equipment clean and tune program, and a cooling program during the summer months.
  • Child Well-Being. The Center for Child Well-Being provides assistance with paternity and child support establishment, as well as the collection of child support. In addition, the Center operates an Access and Visitation program which aids parents in development of successful parenting plans and visitation supervision and enforcement.
ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2017
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2018
Change From
FY 2017
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2018
State Operations 432,798,000 429,618,000 (3,180,000) 244,470,000
Aid To Localities 5,133,500,000 5,150,538,000 17,038,000 3,093,661,000
Capital Projects 63,500,000 64,000,000 500,000 143,459,000
Total 5,629,798,000 5,644,156,000 14,358,000 3,481,590,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2017
Estimated FTEs
03/31/17
FY 2018
Estimated FTEs
03/31/18
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 335 335 0
Child Well Being Program
General Fund 16 16 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 38 38 0
Disability Determinations Program
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 924 924 0
Employment and Economic Support Program
General Fund 259 259 0
Administrative Hearings
General Fund 308 308 0
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 45 115 70
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 23 23 0
Supported Housing
Capital Projects Funds - Other 5 8 3
Total 1,953 2,026 73

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
General Fund 171,160,000 170,160,000 (1,000,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 259,138,000 256,958,000 (2,180,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,500,000 2,500,000 0
Total 432,798,000 429,618,000 (3,180,000)
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund (6,366,000)
Appropriated FY 2017 426,432,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
Administration
General Fund 54,955,000 54,037,000 (918,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,500,000 2,500,000 0
Child Well Being Program
General Fund 10,895,000 10,877,000 (18,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 37,075,000 36,988,000 (87,000)
Disability Determinations Program
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 185,143,000 183,075,000 (2,068,000)
Employment and Economic Support Program
General Fund 48,666,000 48,654,000 (12,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 28,200,000 28,200,000 0
Information Technology Program
General Fund 8,383,000 8,383,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,000,000 5,000,000 0
Administrative Hearings
General Fund 30,446,000 30,446,000 0
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 17,815,000 17,763,000 (52,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,720,000 3,695,000 (25,000)
Total 432,798,000 429,618,000 (3,180,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 25,687,000 (918,000) 25,543,000 (918,000)
Child Well Being Program 2,511,000 92,000 2,425,000 92,000
Employment and Economic Support Program 17,314,000 28,000 17,054,000 28,000
Administrative Hearings 25,536,000 0 25,073,000 0
Specialized Services Program 15,703,000 (52,000) 15,642,000 (63,000)
Total 86,751,000 (850,000) 85,737,000 (861,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 100,000 0 44,000 0
Child Well Being Program 0 0 86,000 0
Employment and Economic Support Program 160,000 0 100,000 0
Administrative Hearings 0 0 463,000 0
Specialized Services Program 0 0 61,000 11,000
Total 260,000 0 754,000 11,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 28,350,000 0 815,000 0
Child Well Being Program 8,366,000 (110,000) 201,000 (30,000)
Employment and Economic Support Program 31,340,000 (40,000) 9,475,000 (200,000)
Information Technology Program 8,383,000 0 0 0
Administrative Hearings 4,910,000 0 355,000 0
Specialized Services Program 2,060,000 0 30,000 0
Total 83,409,000 (150,000) 10,876,000 (230,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 362,000 0 26,944,000 0
Child Well Being Program 100,000 (38,000) 8,019,000 (42,000)
Employment and Economic Support Program 128,000 3,000 21,687,000 157,000
Information Technology Program 0 0 8,383,000 0
Administrative Hearings 250,000 0 4,010,000 0
Specialized Services Program 185,000 (250,000) 1,825,000 250,000
Total 1,025,000 (285,000) 70,868,000 365,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 229,000 0
Child Well Being Program 46,000 0
Employment and Economic Support Program 50,000 0
Administrative Hearings 295,000 0
Specialized Services Program 20,000 0
Total 640,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 2,500,000 0 0 0
Child Well Being Program 36,988,000 (87,000) 5,449,000 (149,000)
Disability Determinations Program 183,075,000 (2,068,000) 74,000,000 (311,000)
Employment and Economic Support Program 28,200,000 0 2,584,000 66,000
Information Technology Program 5,000,000 0 0 0
Specialized Services Program 3,695,000 (25,000) 1,800,000 (10,000)
Total 259,458,000 (2,180,000) 83,833,000 (404,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 2,500,000 0
Child Well Being Program 31,539,000 62,000
Disability Determinations Program 109,075,000 (1,757,000)
Employment and Economic Support Program 25,616,000 (66,000)
Information Technology Program 5,000,000 0
Specialized Services Program 1,895,000 (15,000)
Total 175,625,000 (1,776,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
General Fund 1,305,581,000 1,369,811,000 64,230,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,798,019,000 3,750,827,000 (47,192,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 19,900,000 19,900,000 0
Fiduciary Funds 10,000,000 10,000,000 0
Total 5,133,500,000 5,150,538,000 17,038,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
Child Well Being Program
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 140,000,000 140,000,000 0
Employment and Economic Support Program
General Fund 1,195,385,000 1,258,815,000 63,430,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,622,519,000 3,575,327,000 (47,192,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 10,000,000 10,000,000 0
Fiduciary Funds 10,000,000 10,000,000 0
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 110,196,000 110,996,000 800,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 35,500,000 35,500,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 9,900,000 9,900,000 0
Total 5,133,500,000 5,150,538,000 17,038,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change Reappropriations
FY 2018
Supported Housing Program
Capital Projects Fund 500,000 1,000,000 500,000 358,000
Housing Program Fund 63,000,000 63,000,000 0 143,101,000
Total 63,500,000 64,000,000 500,000 143,459,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2017