Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of

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Agency Web Site: https://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 2020 Executive Budget recommends $5.8 billion for the agency. This is an increase of approximately $90 million from the FY 2019 budget. The increase primarily reflects increased authority to accommodate additional federally-authorized staff in OTDA’s Federal Disability Determinations Division to implement improved determinations processing and updated public assistance projections.

The FY 2020 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 1,989 FTEs, maintaining FY 2019 workforce levels.

Major budget actions include:

  • Continue the Affordable Housing and Homelessness Initiative. The FY 2020 Executive Budget continues funding to support full implementation of the five year investment for the Affordable and Homeless Housing Plan, which continues to create new housing opportunities for individuals in need of supportive services and provide resources to support vulnerable populations in securing stable housing.
  • Reform Residential Domestic Violence Shelter Requirements. Statutory provisions that require domestic violence victims to apply for Public Assistance and permit providers to charge victims with sufficient resources a fee for services have been determined by the Federal government to contradict Federal rules for Family Violence Prevention Services Act (FVPSA) funding. To ensure that all victims have access to vital emergency services with no strings attached, the FY 2020 Budget would eliminate these requirements.
  • Establish a New York City Share for Family Assistance to Needy Families Expenditures. The FY 2020 Executive Budget establishes a 10 percent local share for New York City for the Family Assistance program, which provides assistance to eligible families earning less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty level. This is consistent with the existing 10 percent local share that the City pays for the Emergency Assistance to Families program.
  • Fund New York City HIV/AIDS Rent Cap through Safety Net Assistance. The FY 2015 Budget amended Social Services law to authorize a limit on rent paid by NYC residents living with HIV/AIDS who receive Public Assistance (PA). The State cost for this limit of no more than 30 percent of monthly income toward rental costs was paid for with settlement funds from FY 2016 to FY 2019. In FY 2020, the Executive Budget shifts the cost of this program to Safety Net Assistance. This creates a permanent funding source for the program.
  • Continue HIV/AIDS Rent Cap Outside of New York City. The Budget builds upon the FY 2019 creation of the Rest of State HIV/AIDS rent cap to establish a program to allow districts outside of New York City to opt in to a program to partner with a Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) and a not-for-profit service provider to assist public assistance recipients living with HIV in maintaining or securing stable housing, to enable them to gain more control over their health and other outcomes and generating savings on health expenditures. Through this program, the State provides up to $1 million per district, the MCO’s provide a dollar-for-dollar match to the State funds, and the service provider connects the recipient to housing and other services.
  • Increase Funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program. The Executive Budget increases funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program by $4 million, to $44 million, to ensure that the State can continue to serve approximately 19,000 youths that were employed through the 2018 program, consistent with the previous year.
  • Authorize Job Try-Outs for Public Assistance Recipients. The Executive Budget establishes authority for local social services districts to assign PA recipients to 90-day job try-outs as work experience assignments with private for-profit, non-profit, and public sector entities in satisfaction of PA work requirements. These programs will provide training and skill learning opportunities that will lead to permanent employment at the end of a trial period.
  • Continue Supporting the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative. The Executive Budget provides $4.5 million to continue supporting the 16 communities in the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative (ESPRI). This funding will ensure that all sixteen cities continue to provide services to their communities throughout the upcoming fiscal year.

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

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 2020 caseload is estimated at approximately 532,000 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 2020 caseload is estimated at 700,000 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 Support Services

The Child Support Services Program 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 2019
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
Change From
FY 2019
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
State Operations 433,174,000 455,099,000 21,925,000 282,295,000
Aid To Localities 5,235,725,000 5,303,617,000 67,892,000 3,797,212,000
Capital Projects 64,000,000 64,000,000 0 184,239,000
Total 5,732,899,000 5,822,716,000 89,817,000 4,263,746,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19
FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 318 318 0
Child Support Services
General Fund 16 16 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 38 38 0
Disability Determinations Program
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 912 912 0
Employment and Income Support
General Fund 259 259 0
Administrative Hearings
General Fund 308 308 0
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 115 115 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 15 15 0
Supported Housing
Capital Projects Funds - Other 8 8 0
Total 1,989 1,989 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 168,541,000 168,541,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 262,133,000 284,058,000 21,925,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,500,000 2,500,000 0
Total 433,174,000 455,099,000 21,925,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) To
Civil Service, Department of
General Fund 92,000
Employee Relations, Office of
General Fund 180,000
General Services, Office of
General Fund 1,347,000
Appropriated FY 2019 434,793,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Administration
General Fund 52,418,000 52,418,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,500,000 2,500,000 0
Administrative Hearings
General Fund 30,446,000 30,446,000 0
Child Support Services
General Fund 10,877,000 10,877,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 36,988,000 36,988,000 0
Disability Determinations Program
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 183,075,000 205,000,000 21,925,000
Employment and Income Support
General Fund 48,654,000 48,654,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 33,375,000 33,375,000 0
Information Technology Program
General Fund 8,383,000 8,383,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,000,000 5,000,000 0
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 17,763,000 17,763,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,695,000 3,695,000 0
Total 433,174,000 455,099,000 21,925,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 24,883,000 0 24,739,000 0
Administrative Hearings 25,536,000 0 25,136,000 63,000
Child Support Services 2,511,000 0 2,425,000 0
Employment and Income Support 17,314,000 0 17,054,000 0
Specialized Services Program 15,703,000 0 15,642,000 0
Total 85,947,000 0 84,996,000 63,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 100,000 0 44,000 0
Administrative Hearings 0 0 400,000 (63,000)
Child Support Services 0 0 86,000 0
Employment and Income Support 160,000 0 100,000 0
Specialized Services Program 0 0 61,000 0
Total 260,000 0 691,000 (63,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 27,535,000 0 1,529,000 714,000
Administrative Hearings 4,910,000 0 355,000 0
Child Support Services 8,366,000 0 201,000 0
Employment and Income Support 31,340,000 0 9,397,000 0
Information Technology Program 8,383,000 0 0 0
Specialized Services Program 2,060,000 0 30,000 0
Total 82,594,000 0 11,512,000 714,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 353,000 0 25,388,000 (750,000)
Administrative Hearings 250,000 0 4,010,000 0
Child Support Services 100,000 0 8,019,000 0
Employment and Income Support 165,000 0 21,728,000 0
Information Technology Program 0 0 8,383,000 0
Specialized Services Program 185,000 0 1,825,000 0
Total 1,053,000 0 69,353,000 (750,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 265,000 36,000
Administrative Hearings 295,000 0
Child Support Services 46,000 0
Employment and Income Support 50,000 0
Specialized Services Program 20,000 0
Total 676,000 36,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 2,500,000 0 0 0
Child Support Services 36,988,000 0 7,000,000 0
Disability Determinations Program 205,000,000 21,925,000 86,500,000 10,500,000
Employment and Income Support 33,375,000 0 7,125,000 0
Information Technology Program 5,000,000 0 0 0
Specialized Services Program 3,695,000 0 1,817,000 0
Total 286,558,000 21,925,000 102,442,000 10,500,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 2,500,000 0
Child Support Services 29,988,000 0
Disability Determinations Program 118,500,000 11,425,000
Employment and Income Support 26,250,000 0
Information Technology Program 5,000,000 0
Specialized Services Program 1,878,000 0
Total 184,116,000 11,425,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Fiduciary 10,000,000 10,000,000 0
General Fund 1,396,666,000 1,406,771,000 10,105,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,809,159,000 3,866,446,000 57,287,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 19,900,000 20,400,000 500,000
Total 5,235,725,000 5,303,617,000 67,892,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Child Support Services
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 140,000,000 140,000,000 0
Employment and Income Support
Fiduciary 10,000,000 10,000,000 0
General Fund 1,281,270,000 1,288,315,000 7,045,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,633,659,000 3,690,946,000 57,287,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 10,000,000 10,500,000 500,000
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 115,396,000 118,456,000 3,060,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 35,500,000 35,500,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 9,900,000 9,900,000 0
Total 5,235,725,000 5,303,617,000 67,892,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change Reappropriations
FY 2020
Supported Housing Program
Capital Projects Fund 1,000,000 1,000,000 0 888,000
Housing Program Fund 63,000,000 63,000,000 0 183,351,000
Total 64,000,000 64,000,000 0 184,239,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019