Aging, Office for the

Mission

The State Office for the Aging (SOFA) is responsible for promoting, coordinating and administering State, Federal and local programs and services to the elderly aged 60 and older; their families or other caregivers. The Office provides leadership and direction to 59 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and other local programs and providers that comprise the networks of services to the elderly.

Organization and Staffing

SOFA program specialists provide oversight and guidance to the AAAs, service providers, and fiscal analysts who oversee the funding disbursement. The workforce is located in Albany, although SOFA staff routinely travel across the State to provide leadership, direction, and oversight to the AAAs and service providers.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2020 Executive Budget recommends $270 million for Aging. This is an increase of $13 million from the FY 2019 budget. This change is the result of a $15 million investment for the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) and the discontinuation of one-time legislative adds (-$2.7M).

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 95 FTEs, unchanged from FY 2019.

Major Budget initiatives include:

Investing $15 million into community-based (non-medical) supports for aging New Yorkers. This investment will help serve more older adults, will help them maintain their autonomy, and delay future Medicaid costs by intervening with less intensive services earlier.
Authorizing private pay models to allow current service providers to expand access to services in their communities. This proposal enables SOFA to work with counties and allow middle-income New Yorkers to purchase SOFA services with private dollars, thereby generating revenue that must be reinvested back into service provision.
Deferring the statutory FY 2020 increase to the Human Services Cost of Living Adjustment, saving $5.1 million in FY 2020 and $5.2 million in FY 2021.

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

Briefing Book – Health Care (PDF)

Program Highlights

Community Services for the Elderly

The Community Services for the Elderly program supports multiple service options, including transportation, in-home services, and case management. Approximately 125,160 people are served annually.

Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly

This program supports non-medical in-home services, case management, non-institutional respite care, and ancillary services for functionally impaired older adults. Approximately 51,035 people are served annually.

Wellness in Nutrition

The Wellness in Nutrition program supports home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, nutrition education, and congregate meals. Approximately 215,000 people are served annually.

NY Connects

NY Connects provides free, objective, and comprehensive information on long term care services and supports. It has expanded statewide to serve all populations and currently serves approximately 241,000 people annually.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2019	Appropriations Recommended FY 2020	Change From FY 2019	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2020
State Operations	11,340,000	12,321,000	981,000	12,231,000
Aid To Localities	245,630,500	257,654,500	12,024,000	294,155,500
Total	256,970,500	269,975,500	13,005,000	306,386,500

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 and Grants Management
General Fund	12	18	6
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	83	77	(6)
Total	95	95	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
Enterprise Funds	100,000	100,000	0
General Fund	1,236,000	2,217,000	981,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	9,754,000	9,754,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	250,000	250,000	0
Total	11,340,000	12,321,000	981,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
Administration and Grants Management
Enterprise Funds	100,000	100,000	0
General Fund	1,236,000	2,217,000	981,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	9,754,000	9,754,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	250,000	250,000	0
Total	11,340,000	12,321,000	981,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration and Grants Management	1,861,000	731,000	1,861,000	731,000
Total	1,861,000	731,000	1,861,000	731,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration and Grants Management	356,000	250,000	15,600	0
Total	356,000	250,000	15,600	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration and Grants Management	29,400	0	303,000	250,000
Total	29,400	0	303,000	250,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Administration and Grants Management	8,000	0
Total	8,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration and Grants Management	10,104,000	0	7,725,000	0
Total	10,104,000	0	7,725,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration and Grants Management	2,379,000	0
Total	2,379,000	0

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
General Fund	129,665,500	141,689,500	12,024,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	114,985,000	114,985,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	980,000	980,000	0
Total	245,630,500	257,654,500	12,024,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
Community Services
General Fund	129,665,500	141,689,500	12,024,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	114,985,000	114,985,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	980,000	980,000	0
Total	245,630,500	257,654,500	12,024,000

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

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