Table Of ContentWelfare Reform
Community Organization
Resource Guide
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Table of Contents
Purpose of this Guide.2
Introduction .2
Frequently Asked Questions.3
What is Temporary Assistance?.3
What is meant by personal responsibility?.3
What is meant by "Work First?".3
What is meant by self-sufficiency?.4
What programs are available? .4
How long can people remain on Temporary Assistance?.5
What causes a client's benefits to be suspended or discontinued?.5
A Community as Part of the Solution .6
How does my organization's decisions affect clients receiving assistance? ....6
How does my organization fit into welfare reform?.6
How can my organization be part of the solution? .7
Personal Responsibility
Temporary Assistance Programs in New York State.7
Other Support Programs
Food Stamps.8
Women, Infants, Children (WIC) Program.9
Medicaid.10
Medicare.10
Disability Benefits (RSDI/SSI).10-11
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).11
Child Support Services.11-12
Refugee and Immigration Programs .12
Drug/Alcohol Screening and Assessment.13
Learnfare .14
Domestic Violence .14
Eligibility Requirements.15
Time Limits.16
Employment
Temporary Assistance Work Requirements.17
Food Stamp Work Requirements.17-18
Failure or Refusal to Comply with Work Requirements .18
Conciliation .18
Good Cause.19
Self-Sufficiency
Food Stamps.19
Medicaid .19-20
Child Health Plus.20
Subsidized Child Care.20-21
Earned Income Tax Credit .22
Housing Assistance .22
Public Housing .22
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Programs ..22
Housing Emergencies .22
Helpful Telephone Numbers.23-24
Index.Back Inside Cover
Welfare Reform Cultural Change
Community Organization Resource Guide
Purpose of this Guide
The purpose of this resource
guide is to help you, our
partners in the community, to
understand the impact of
welfare reform requirements
and the responsibilities of the
people we serve. It also
contains information on the
variety of assistance programs
available to needy individuals,
eligibility requirements, and
expectations as they take personal responsibility for improving their lives,
finding and maintaining employment and ultimately achieving self-
sufficiency. This guide was created as a resource for understandable
information on welfare reform and Temporary Assistance and can be used
as a basic reference as questions arise. Any questions not answered here
can be directed to your local social services office.
Introduction
For several years, there has been a tremendous effort underway to change
the welfare system. As a result of Federal and State welfare reform
legislation three themes have emerged in New York State: personal
responsibility, employment and self-sufficiency. Work is now the goal for
most clients, with the expectation of living without Temporary Assistance,
independent of welfare. Clients are required to actively search for work,
show proof of their job search efforts, accept a job when it is offered or
participate in a work activity assignment.
As the implementation of welfare reform continues, it is important for
community organizations that provide services to people in need to
understand how their services fit into the overall picture.
Whether your organization provides counseling services, training, shelter,
literacy services, work experience or meals - your services impact welfare
reform and welfare reform impacts your services. Requirements, including
work requirements, job search, mandatory drug and alcohol screening and
treatment, and cooperation with child support enforcement, instill new
expectations and consequences for non-compliance. Your efforts are
essential to the success of those individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Temporary Assistance?
Temporary Assistance is the term now used in New York State for public
assistance (welfare) programs. The term conveys the message that
assistance is not a way of life, but rather short-term help that is available
for families and individuals while they work their way toward self-
sufficiency. The three themes of welfare reform and Temporary Assistance
are personal responsibility, employment ("Work First") and self-sufficiency.
What is meant by personal responsibility?
Personal responsibility for our clients means that they are taking the steps
needed to improve their lives. Clients are expected to be active
participants in setting goals and taking the necessary steps to achieve
those goals. They are expected to assume responsibility for actively
searching for and finding work to support themselves and their families
and to pursue child support for their children.
What is meant by "Work First"?
"Work First" is the phrase used to convey the primary goal for applicants
and recipients of Temporary Assistance in New York. The expectation is
that adult clients will consider work their first priority and will view work
as the goal of the program, regardless of the number of barriers the
individual and family may have to overcome to attain that goal.
"Work First" is based on the idea that finding a job and earning a pay
check is the best way for families to become self-sufficient. The
responsibility of the local social services offices and their partners in the
community is to support work and help families overcome barriers.
There are instances when the "Work First" goal is set aside including:
■ The client or a family member is a victim of domestic violence and
working or participating in work activities may place them in danger,
(See page 14 for more information on domestic violence), or
■ The client has a disability so significant that he/she is prevented from
working and he/she is applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
(See page 11 for more information on SSL)
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What is meant by self-sufficiency?
Much of the discussion about Temporary Assistance clients is centered
around the family or individual becoming self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency
means many things to many people. Healthy families are interdependent
with extended family members, friends, fellow members of spiritual
organizations and cultural and social groups, neighbors, co-workers,
businesses, social and civic organizations, schools, day care programs,
health care providers, and others. This is why we say that welfare reform is
not just the job of local social services offices, but is the responsibility of
everyone in the community. We expect families to move forward and
transition off Temporary Assistance. However on the road to self-
sufficiency, the family or individual may still be in receipt of other
supplemental programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, child care
subsidies, and other programs listed in this guide. A self-sufficient
individual or family ultimately lives without any government support.
What programs are available?
A variety of assistance programs are available, depending on the family's or
individual's needs and eligibility. These programs are discussed in more
detail later in this booklet.
Need Program
Food Food Stamps
Food Assistance Program
Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
Medical Medicaid
Medicare
Child Health Plus
Shelter Assistance Family Assistance
Safety Net Assistance
Section 8 (HUD)
Public Housing
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
General Living Expenses Family Assistance
Safety Net Assistance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Retirement, Survivors, Disability
Income (RSDI - Social Security)
Refugee/Immigration Refugee Targeted Assistance Program
Services (RETAP); Refugee Social Services
Program (RSSP); Refugee Resettlement
Assistance; New York State Citizenship
Initiative; Office of Refugee
Resettlement/Older Refugee Assistance
How long can people remain on Temporary Assistance?
State and Federal welfare reform provisions impose time limits on Temporary
Assistance individuals and families. There is a 60-month lifetime limit for
Federally-funded Family Assistance. Each month that a person receives some
cash assistance that is not emergency assistance counts toward his/her
lifetime limit. This 60-month limit applies to adults, not children. However,
once an adult in the household reaches the 60-month limit, any children in
that household also lose eligibility for Family Assistance.
If the family is no longer eligible for Family Assistance, it is still eligible
for the State/locally funded Safety Net program. The grant under this
program, except for a small amount every month, must be restricted to
non-cash, such as direct payments to landlords, utility companies and fuel
vendors. This is called "non-cash" Safety Net.
(For more information on Time Limits see page 16.)
Single individuals and childless couples are not eligible for Family
Assistance but are eligible for cash Safety Net assistance for 24 months.
Only non-cash Safety Net assistance can be received thereafter.
What causes a client's benefits to be suspended or discontinued?
A client's benefits may be suspended or discontinued for a number of
reasons. The discontinuance is commonly referred to as a "sanction."
Please note that no one is sanctioned until he/she has been given the
opportunity to contest the reason for the sanction at a fair hearing. Below
is a partial list of reasons a person could be discontinued or sanctioned
from Temporary Assistance programs:
■ Voluntarily quits his/her job or reduces his/her work hours;
■ Fails to accept a job offer;
■ Fails to participate in an employment activity (for example, search for
work, attend training, etc.);
■ Fails to take part in drug/alcohol rehabilitation;
■ Fails to apply for SSI, Unemployment Insurance or other available benefits;
■ Fails without good cause to cooperate with the Child Support
Enforcement Unit in locating the non-custodial parent, establishing
paternity for a child born out of wedlock, or obtaining child support
from the non-custodial parent and
■ Refuses or fails to sign a lien on real property that they own.
The length of the sanction varies depending on whether it is the first,
second, or third or more offense. The monetary consequences can vary
depending on the type of sanction. The Food Stamp program has similar
sanctions for employment non-compliance, but does not currently impose
sanctions for the other reasons. 5
A Community as Part of the Solution
Your organization is essential to the success of welfare reform.
How does my organization's
decisions affect clients
receiving assistance?
When working with our mutual
clients, it is important to be
aware that welfare reform laws
require them to comply with
eligibility rules in order to receive
assistance. For example,
scheduling appointments around a work assignment may be necessary. In
addition, counseling and other services should complement a client's other
activities. Work and counseling and other services can function hand in
hand and help our clients to achieve their goals while moving toward self-
sufficiency. A coordinated effort is most effective for delivery of services
and will ensure that clients receive a consistent message regarding welfare
reform and how it affects them.
How does my organization fit into welfare reform?
By its nature, your organization is involved in welfare reform, whether you
directly provide services or your business employs welfare clients. Your
work and dedication in providing needed services helps our mutual clients
improve their lives and become self-sufficient.
Organizations can become work experience sites and help Temporary
Assistance recipients to gain valuable work experience and skills.
By hiring a Temporary Assistance client, you help that person to work
toward self-sufficiency as well as helping him/her to become an active
contributing member of the community.
Some financial supplements may be available to employers to offset the
person's salary while he/she is in training. For additional information,
contact your local social services office Employment Unit.
How can my organization be part of the solution?
Whatever your area of expertise - think about how it may affect overall
welfare reform and how you may assist members of the community in their
efforts to become self-sufficient. Your services and expertise are essential
in helping clients to succeed.
Welfare dependency is a problem - why not be part of the solution?
Using your resources and skills, you can make a difference in many lives.
Here are some ideas for organization and staff involvement in areas in
which our clients may need assistance:
■ Volunteer to help Temporary Assistance clients with budgeting/financial
planning.
■ Recruit members of your organization to provide a resume writing clinic
for clients.
■ Provide a free workshop on balancing work and family responsibilities.
Personal Responsibility
Temporary Assistance Programs in New York State
Temporary Assistance (TA)
(Formerly Known as Public Assistance, Welfare)
Temporary Assistance clients receive money for basic living expenses.
Eligibility is based on the income and resources of the family (the value of
cars, checking and savings accounts, etc.). There are two main Temporary
Assistance programs. In addition, there are programs which cover a
variety of emergency needs.
■ Family Assistance(FA) - This program provides money for families
with children. Approximately 50% of the costs are paid by the Federal
government under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
block grant. The remaining costs are generally shared equally by the
State and local governments.
■ Safety Net Assistance (SN) - This program provides money for basic
living expenses for single adults and childless couples. Non-cash Safety
Net assistance is available for those in drug/alcohol treatment and those
who have exhausted their cash benefits. This program is financed
primarily with State and local monies.
■ Emergency Assistance for Adults (EAA) - Program for short term,
emergency needs of SSI recipients.
■ Emergency Assistance for Families (EAF) - Program for short term,
emergency needs for families with children.
The amount of assistance granted for the above programs depends on the
number of persons in the family, the social services district in which the
person resides, the amount paid for housing, and whether or not heat is
included in the rent.
Examples of the maximum monthly grant for a family of three (with heat
included in the rent) are:
New York City.$577
Erie County (Buffalo).$506
Broome County (Binghamton).$581
Clinton County (Plattsburgh) .$499
(See page 17-19 for information on associated work requirements.)
(See page 16 for information on time limits associated with these
programs.)
for utilizing the services and getting
the help they need to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, whether it's
help collecting child support for their children or getting drug/alcohol
treatment for themselves.
Food Stamps (FS)
Food Stamps is a Federal nutrition assistance program which helps low-
income individuals and families meet their nutritional needs. Eligibility is
based on income and resources. Food Stamp levels are generally higher
than Temporary Assistance levels. This allows participation by working
families in addition to families and individuals receiving FA or SN.
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