The American Kidney Fund offers several programs that help qualifying dialysis patients pay for health insurance premiums, prescription medicines, and other treatment related expenses.

When appropriate, Catholic Charities helps in emergencies with basic needs such as financial, food, prescription and heat. Catholic Charities is one of the participating agencies that administers the Neighbor For Neighbor Heat Fund for National Fuel customers that are 55 plus ; Care and Share: Must be a National Grid account holder and have already exhausted HEAP benefits.

Call Catholic Charities for more information.

Provides services relating to the following: Issuance/Filing of Vital Records (birth, death and marriage certificates),Building Permits, Certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates, conditional use permits, county landfill coupons, dog licenses, replacement tags, impoundment, fire and police alarm permits, garbage/trash licenses, junk licenses, notary public services,

Opportunities for Broome offers referrals to appropriate agencies in cases of low-income families needing emergency assistance.

When appropriate, Catholic Charities helps in emergencies with basic needs such as financial, food vouchers, prescription. A participating agency that administers the Neighbor For Neighbor Heat Fund for National Fuel.

Call Catholic Charities for more information.

Temporary Assistance provides financial help to those families or individuals who qualify. Emergency assistance may also be available.

To find out if you are eligible to receive Temporary Assistance, including help with an emergency, you need to file an application with your county Department of Social Services. You should identify any emergency needs you may have at this time. If you have an emergency, you will be interviewed and told in writing should be within seven working days of your filing an application. You should be told within 30 days of thedate you filed your application if your application for Family Assistance is approved or denied; be toldwithin 45 days of the date you filed your application for Safety Net Assistance if your application iswithin 45 days of the date you filed your application for Safety Net Assistance if your application isapproved or denied. You DO NOT have to be eligible for ongoing Temporary Assistance to receive Emergency Assistance.New York State Temporary Assistance Hotline at 1-800-342-3009

.

Caring homes Program provides financial assistance to homeless families and families at risk of homelessness in the city of Binghamton. Financial Assistance up to $400 per family for security deposits, rent arrears, and utility arrears to either help the family remain in their current home or help them to obtain new housing. For referrals, contact 2-1-1.

Temporary assistance provides financial support and emergency assistance to individuals and families who meet income and resource eligibility criteria.

Temporary Assistance is temporary help for needy men, women and children. Temporary Assistance encompasses both Family Assistance and the Safety Net Program.

Family Assistance (FA)

Family Assistance (FA) provides cash assistance to needy families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative. FA operates under federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) guidelines.

Under FA, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, that adult and all members of his or her FA household are ineligible to receive any more FA benefits. The months need not be consecutive, but rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are received is included in the lifetime count. The counting of this 60-month limit began in December 1996 in accordance with the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Parents and other adult relatives who can work must be working or involved in work-like activities. Parents are also responsible for cooperating with the local department of social services in locating any absent parent. Non-cooperation without good cause could result in lower benefits.

In addition, all applicants for assistance are screened for substance abuse to determine the necessity of rehabilitation and treatment.

Emergency Assistance is designed to provide low-income households with assistance in meeting needs such as evictions, utility disconnections, emergency fuel needs and homelessness, without receiving public assistance on a full time basis.

Safety Net Assistance (SNA)

If you are not eligible for other assistance programs, you may be eligible for SNA. SNA is for:

•Single adults

•Childless couples

•Children living apart from any adult relative

•Families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol

•Families of persons refusing drug/alcohol screening, assessment or treatment

•Persons who have exceeded the 60-month limit on assistance

•Aliens who are eligible for temporary assistance, but are not eligible for federal reimbursement

Generally, you can receive cash SNA for a maximum of two years in a lifetime. After that, if you are eligible for SNA, it is provided in non-cash form, such as a two party check or a voucher. In addition, non-cash SNA is provided for:

•Families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol

•Families of persons refusing drug/alcohol screening, assessment or treatment

My Benefits

Beginning May 30, 2008 anyone in New York State will be able to visit a new website, www.mybenefits.ny.gov to find out if whether they might qualify fot food stamps: get an estimate of their Earned Income Tax Credits, Child and Dependent Care Credits; and find out about other programs designed to help low-income working households help make ends meet. It will also tell clients where and how to apply for these programs.

Special Investigations Unit

The Special Investigations Unit investigates all manner of welfare fraud. Investigators look into allegations of fraud in Public Assistance, Medicaid, Home Energy Assistance as well as other programs administered by the Department of Social Services.

Investigators work closely with local police agencies as well as state authorities and the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office.

In addition, when staff detects irregularities in the application process, the Special Investigations Unit will conduct a Front End Detection investigation. This process is designed to prevent an applicant from committing fraud before it can occur.

Anyone with information regarding welfare fraud should call the Welfare Fraud Hotline at 518-270-8640.

.