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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), working 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’s central office is in Albany and has 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 2021 Executive Budget recommends $5.9 billion for the agency. This is an increase of approximately $41 million from the FY 2020 budget. The increase primarily reflects the additional investment in capital funds for the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.

The FY 2021 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 1,987 FTEs, maintaining FY 2020 workforce levels.

Major budget actions include:

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 2021 caseload is estimated at approximately 469,000 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 2021 caseload is estimated at 690,000 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 2020
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2021
Change From
FY 2020
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2021
State Operations 455,099,000 446,599,000 (8,500,000) 253,937,000
Aid To Localities 5,307,487,000 5,292,705,000 (14,782,000) 3,845,419,000
Capital Projects 64,000,000 128,000,000 64,000,000 189,021,000
Total 5,826,586,000 5,867,304,000 40,718,000 4,288,377,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FY 2021
Estimated FTEs
03/31/21
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 316 316 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 1,987 1,987 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change
General Fund 168,541,000 168,541,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 284,058,000 275,558,000 (8,500,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,500,000 2,500,000 0
Total 455,099,000 446,599,000 (8,500,000)

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
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 205,000,000 194,500,000 (10,500,000)
Employment and Income Support
General Fund 48,654,000 48,654,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 33,375,000 35,375,000 2,000,000
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 455,099,000 446,599,000 (8,500,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 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 0
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 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 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 0
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 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 27,535,000 0 1,529,000 0
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 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 353,000 0 25,388,000 0
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 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 265,000 0
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 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 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 194,500,000 (10,500,000) 86,500,000 0
Employment and Income Support 35,375,000 2,000,000 10,291,000 3,166,000
Information Technology Program 5,000,000 0 0 0
Specialized Services Program 3,695,000 0 1,817,000 0
Total 278,058,000 (8,500,000) 105,608,000 3,166,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 2,500,000 0
Child Support Services 29,988,000 0
Disability Determinations Program 108,000,000 (10,500,000)
Employment and Income Support 25,084,000 (1,166,000)
Information Technology Program 5,000,000 0
Specialized Services Program 1,878,000 0
Total 172,450,000 (11,666,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change
Fiduciary 10,000,000 10,000,000 0
General Fund 1,410,641,000 1,418,071,000 7,430,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,866,446,000 3,844,234,000 (22,212,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 20,400,000 20,400,000 0
Total 5,307,487,000 5,292,705,000 (14,782,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
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 1,290,185,000 1,283,815,000 (6,370,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,690,946,000 3,668,734,000 (22,212,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 10,500,000 10,500,000 0
Specialized Services Program
General Fund 120,456,000 134,256,000 13,800,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 35,500,000 35,500,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 9,900,000 9,900,000 0
Total 5,307,487,000 5,292,705,000 (14,782,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change Reappropriations
FY 2021
Supported Housing Program
Capital Projects Fund 1,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 670,000
Housing Program Fund 63,000,000 126,000,000 63,000,000 188,351,000
Total 64,000,000 128,000,000 64,000,000 189,021,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/29/2020