Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of

Agency Web Site: http://otda.ny.gov/

Mission

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

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $5.7 billion for the agency. This is an increase of $112.4 million from the 2011-12 budget. The increase primarily reflects increased spending for public assistance benefits and food stamp administration costs.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 2,266 FTEs for OTDA. This is an increase of 41 FTEs from the 2011-12 budget. The increase reflects the transfer of six staff who work on immigrant issues to the Department of State and the addition of 47 staff related to the SSI takeover.

Major budget actions include:

Takeover of Administration of the SSI Supplementation Program: The 2012-13 Executive Budget recommends a takeover of administration of the State Supplemental Security Income (SSI) supplementation program, which is currently administered by the Federal Social Security Administration at significant cost to the State. Through investment in new IT systems and staff, the State can provide the same service that the Federal government currently provides at $10.94 per benefit issuance for under $2 per benefit issuance, saving over $90 million annually after full implementation.

Phase in the Scheduled Public Assistance Grant Increase: The 2009-10 Enacted Budget provided for three consecutive ten percent increases to the basic allowance portion of the public assistance benefit, starting in July 2009. The July 2011 increase was deferred due to the State’s fiscal condition. This proposal would phase in the remaining scheduled public assistance grant increase with a five percent increase in July 2012 and another five percent increase in July 2013, thereby increasing the public assistance grant for a typical public assistance family from $753 to $770.

Elimination of New York City Shelter Supplement Funding: The 2011-12 Budget included $15 million for shelter supplements or other services to prevent eviction and address homelessness in New York City. The 2012-13 Executive Budget would suspend new funding for this initiative until the efficacy of the program is determined.

Streamline Administration of Child Support Administrative Costs: Districts currently pay for the administrative costs associated with the child support program in the first instance and then receive 66 percent federal reimbursement and 17 percent State reimbursement. This proposal would eliminate the full State appropriation related to child support administrative costs and would, instead, provide districts with additional Federal resources and allow districts to retain the State share of child support payments collected on behalf of parents on public assistance.

Fighting Child Hunger - Increase Funding for the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP): NOEP provides nutrition outreach and education to underserved areas of the State with the goal of increasing enrollment in the Food Stamps program. Additional funds are needed to expand access to the Food Stamps 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)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2012

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables