Research


Administrative History

The commissioner of the Department of Social Services was empowered by the legislature to determine policies and principles upon which public assistance, service, and care were to be provided; to exercise general supervision over the social services programs administered by the fifty-eight local social services districts in the state (fifty-seven counties and the New York City Department of Social Services); to promulgate regulations for the administration of public assistance and care; and to enforce department regulations and state laws relating to public assistance and care.

The Welfare Reform Act of 1997 (Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997) renamed the Department of Social Services the Department of Family Assistance. Two major offices were created within the new department: the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). OTDA is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals. Its functions include: providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State's child support enforcement program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations.