Temporary Assistance

Cash benefits, Medical Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are available to applicants whose income is insufficient to meet their needs. To make an appointment to apply call 518-266-7800. Applications can also be submitted online through the myBenefits portal.

Emergency assistance is designed to provide low-income households with assistance in meeting needs such as evictions, utility disconnections, emergency fuel needs and homelessness, without receiving public assistance on a full time basis.

Temporary assistance is temporary help for needy men, women and children, and encompasses both Family Assistance and the Safety Net Program.

  1. Family Assistance
  2. Safety Net Assistance
  3. myBenefits

Family Assistance (FA)

Family Assistance (FA) provides cash assistance to needy families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative. FA operates under federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) guidelines.

Under FA, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, that adult and all members of his or her FA household are ineligible to receive any more FA benefits. The months need not be consecutive, but rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are received is included in the lifetime count. The counting of this 60-month limit began in December 1996 in accordance with the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Parents and other adult relatives who can work must be working or involved in work-like activities. Parents are also responsible for cooperating with the local department of social services in locating any absent parent. Non-cooperation without good cause could result in lower benefits.

In addition, all applicants for assistance are screened for substance abuse to determine the necessity of rehabilitation and treatment.