The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is a division of the New York state government responsible for overseeing programs that provide financial assistance, housing support, and other services to individuals and families in need. It administers initiatives such as

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF ) is a federal assistance program of the United States. It began on July 1, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, providing cash assistance to indigent Ame ...

(TANF) and the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program In the United States, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal government program that provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income persons to help them maintai ...

(SNAP). It is part of the

pro forma The term ''pro forma'' (Latin for "as a matter of form" or "for the sake of form") is most often used to describe a practice or document that is provided as a courtesy or satisfies minimum requirements, conforms to a norm or doctrine and tend ...

Department of Family Assistance along with the Office of Children and Family Services.

Administration

The

New York (state) Welfare Management System Section 21 of the New York State Social Services Law requires the New York State Department of Social Services to design and implement a Welfare Management System (WMS) capable of receiving, maintaining and processing information relating to perso ...

receives, maintains and processes information relating to persons who apply for benefits, or who are determined to be eligible for benefits under any program administered by the department. Administrative reviews ("Fair Hearings") of decisions by a local social services agency are handled by the OTDA Office of Administrative Hearings. A Rivera request, also known as an evidence packet request, is the document (labeled W-186A) used for requesting evidence relating to a NYC Human Resources Administration fair hearing pursuant to the stipulation and settlement in '' Rivera v. Bane''.

History

In 1867 a Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities was created to visit and examine into the affairs of all charitable institutions.Matter of Bonez
50 Misc. 2d 1080, 272 N.Y.S.2d 587 (N.Y. Misc. 1966) In 1894 a constitutional convention enacted a provision requiring the Legislature to establish a State Board of Charities to visit and inspect all institutions. In 1909 the Poor Law was consolidated in chapter 42, and the State Charities Law in chapter 55, of the

Consolidated Laws of New York The ''Consolidated Laws of the State of New York'' are the codification of the permanent laws of a general nature of New York enacted by the New York State Legislature. It is composed of several chapters, or laws. New York uses a system calle ...

. The Public Welfare Law superseded the Poor Law in 1929. In 1931 they were renamed as the Department of Social Welfare and the State Board of Social Welfare. In 1940 the State Charities Law and the Public Welfare Law were consolidated and clarified in one Social Welfare Law. In 1967 it was renamed as the Department of Social Services. The state implemented

Medicaid Medicaid is a government program in the United States that provides health insurance for adults and children with limited income and resources. The program is partially funded and primarily managed by U.S. state, state governments, which also h ...

in 1966 and designated the department as the "single state agency", but required it to contract with the state

Department of Health A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their o ...

. The Social Services Department and local social districts were responsible for eligibility determinations and paying claims, while the Health Department and local health districts were responsible for settings standards (including fees schedules) and supervising and surveilling providers. On August 20, 1997, Governor Pataki signed the Welfare Reform Act of 1997 that, in relevant part, renamed it as the Department of Family Assistance, and also divided the department into Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Chapter 436, enacted 20 August 1997, effective immediately with provisos. § 122(a) at p. 2922: "Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law to the contrary, effective April 1, 1997, the department of social services, as established by chapter 55 of the consolidated laws of the state of New York, is hereby renamed the department of family assistance. Within the department there shall be the following autonomous offices: (1) the office of children and family services; and (2) the office of temporary and disability assistance. (b) The head of the office of children and family services shall be the commissioner of children and family services and the head of the office of temporary and disability assistance shall be the commissioner of temporary and disability assistance."9 CRR-NY 165-1.2. These two offices assumed many of DSS' functions. Other functions of the former DSS were transferred to the

Department of Labor A ministry of labour (''British English, UK''), or labor (''American English, US''), also known as a department of labour, or labor, is a government department responsible for setting labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workfor ...

and the

References

External links

*
Department of Social Services
in the

New York Codes, Rules and Regulations The ''New York Codes, Rules and Regulations'' (NYCRR) contains New York state rules and regulations. The NYCRR is officially compiled by the New York State Department of State's Division of Administrative Rules. Contents See also * '' New Yor ...

(NYCRR)
Social Services Law
as amended in the Consolidated Laws {{Authority control Temporary and Disability Assistance Welfare in New York (state)