2016 Policy Directives

Policy Directives are issued by OTDA to keep local social services districts (LSSD) and other interested parties informed about current program policy and procedures, and other significant information impacting OTDA programs.

Administrative Directives (ADM) are designed to advise local social services districts of policy and procedures, which must be followed in the administration of programs.

Information Letters (INF) include articles of general interest to local district staff, i.e. pamphlets or brochures, new or revised lists of contacts, transmittals of recently enacted Federal or State legislation, etc.

Local Commissioner Memoranda (LCM) transmit information directly to the local commissioners on very specific topics, such as notification of limited special funding available only to local districts, statewide audit results requiring corrective action, or instructions to follow new and existing program or administrative procedures.

Administrative Directives (ADM)

• 16-ADM-11 Temporary Housing Assistance: Consolidation and Clarification of Policy
  • 16-ADM-11 Attachment A – Service and Bi-Weekly Plan/Independent Living Plan For Families
  • 16-ADM-11 Attachment B – Tier II Family Shelters and Temporary Housing Service and Bi- Weekly Plan/Independent Living Plan For Families Instruction Sheet C51
  • 16-ADM-11 Attachment C – Budget Examples
• 16-ADM-10 Flexible Fund for Family Services (FFFS)
  • 16-ADM-10 Attachment 1 – FFFS 2016-17 District Allocations
  • 16-ADM-10 Attachment 2 – FFFS 2016-17 Plan Template
  • 16-ADM-10 Attachment 3 – FFFS 2016-17 Plan Template Instructions
  • 16-ADM-10 Attachment 4 – 2016-17 Child Welfare Thresholds
  • 16-ADM-10 Attachment 5 – FFFS Desk Reference Guide
  • 16-ADM-10 Attachment 6 – Grandfathered COPS FFFS Dedications
• 16-ADM-09 Temporary Assistance Policy: Change in the Vehicle Resource Exemption and Lump Sum Set-Aside
• 16-ADM-08 Alternative Format and Disability Accommodation Indicator Use
• 16-ADM-07 Change to Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Policy mandated by Section 4006 of the Agriculture Act of 2014 – Final Policy
• 16-ADM-06 Expansion of Categorical Eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households with Earned Income
  • 16-ADM-06 Attachment 1 – LDSS-4943 SNAP Categorical Eligibility Desk-Aid
• 16-ADM-05 Change in Documentation Requirements for Independent Medical Evaluations of Employability
• 16-ADM-04 Temporary Assistance Budgeting: 2016 Earned Income Disregard and Poverty Level Test
• 16-ADM-03 Procedure for requesting Approval of Local Equivalent Forms
• 16-ADM-02 Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance Programs (RCA and RMA)
• 16-ADM-01 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment Codes
  • 16-ADM-01 Attachment 1 – LDSS-5062, SNAP Employability Code/ABAWD Determination Desk Guide

Information Letters (INF)

• 16-INF-18 Social Security Administration (SSA) Cost-of-Living (COLA) for January 2017 and Updated SSI and SSP Benefit Levels Chart
  • 16-INF-18 Attachment 1 – SSI and SSP Benefit Levels Chart Effective January 1, 2017
• 16-INF-17 Revised LDSS-4942: "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Authorized Representative Request Form"
  • 16-INF-17 Attachment 1 – LDSS-4942
• 16-INF-16 Revisions to the LDSS-4314 “SNAP Household Composition Desk Guide”
  • 16-INF-16 Attachment 1 – LDSS-4314
• 16-INF-15 Revisions to Manual Client Notices
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 1 – LDSS-2114
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 2 – LDSS-2425A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 3 – LDSS-3152
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 4 – LDSS-3152 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 5 – LDSS-3156
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 6 – LDSS-3156 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 7 – LDSS-3494A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 8 – LDSS-3494B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 9 – LDSS-3620
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 10 – LDSS-3620 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 11 – LDSS-3621
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 12 – LDSS-3621 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 13 – LDSS-3814
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 14 – LDSS-3969A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 15 – LDSS-3969B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 16 – LDSS-4002
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 17 – LDSS-4004A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 18 – LDSS-4004B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 19 – LDSS-4005
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 20 – LDSS-4005 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 21 – LDSS-4005a
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 22 – LDSS-4005a NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 23 – LDSS-4013A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 24 – LDSS-4013A NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 25 – LDSS-4013B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 26 – LDSS-4013B NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 27 – LDSS-4014A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 28 – LDSS-4014A NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 29 – LDSS-4014B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 30 – LDSS-4014B NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 31 – LDSS-4015A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 32 – LDSS-4015A NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 33 – LDSS-4015B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 34 – LDSS-4015B NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 35 – LDSS-4016A
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 36 – LDSS-4016A NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 37 – LDSS-4016B
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 38 – LDSS-4016B NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 39 – LDSS-4594
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 40 – LDSS-4595
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 41 – LDSS-4682
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 42 – LDSS-4682 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 43 – LDSS-4799
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 44 – LDSS-4799 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 45 – LDSS-4827
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 46 – LDSS-4827 NYC
  • 16-INF-15 Attachment 47 – LDSS-4989
• 16-INF-14 State Minimum Wage Increase and Its Effect on Temporary Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs
• 16-INF-13 Revised LDSS-4826: "SNAP Application/Recertification" and LDSS-4826A "How to Complete Application/Recertification and Applicant/Recipient Rights and Responsibilities for SNAP"
  • 16-INF-13 Attachment 1 – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application/Recertification
  • 16-INF-13 Attachment 2 – How to Complete the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application/Recertification and Applicant/Recipient Rights and Responsibilities for SNAP
• 16-INF-12 Temporary Assistance/Medicaid Policy: Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Temporary Assistance Applicants Also Applying for Medicaid and Introduction of – Tax Dependent Questions (Added to Application Form DSS-2921).
• 16-INF-11 Revisions of forms LDSS-4799 and LDSS-4799-NYC
  • 16-INF-11 Attachment 1 – LDSS-4799 IPV Disqualification Notice for SNAP
  • 16-INF-11 Attachment 2 – LDSS-4799-NYC IPV Disqualification Notice for SNAP
• 16-INF-10 Eat Smart New York Nutrition Education Materials
  • 16-INF-10 Attachment 1 – 2010-01-DGA-B Let’s Eat for the Health of it (Brochure)
  • 16-INF-10 Attachment 2 – DG Tip Sheet No. 9—Smart Shopping for Veggies and Fruits (English/Spanish)
  • 16-INF-10 Attachment 3 – DG Tip Sheet No.16—Eating Better on a Budget
  • 16-INF-10 Attachment 4 – DG Tip Sheet No. 37—Save More at the Grocery Store (English/Spanish)
• 16-INF-09 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Questions and Answers
  • 16-INF-09 Attachment 1 – ABAWD related Qs and As
  • 16-INF-09 Attachment 2 – Refugee letter for ABAWDs
  • 16-INF-09 Attachment 3 – Sample WIOA Job Search Log
• 16-INF-08 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 1 – 2016 SED SFSP Resource Order Form
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 2 – 2016 Radio PSAs
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 3 – 2016 Spanish postcard
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 4 – 2016 English postcard
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 5 – 2016 USDA Spanish Flyer
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 6 – 2016 USDA English Flyer
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 7 – 2016 Summer Texting Overview
  • 16-INF-08 Attachment 8 – 2016 Summer Meals Myths Busted
• 16-INF-07 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Revised Publications-2016
  • 16-INF-07 Attachment 1 – PUB-4716: “Every Day, Older Adults Just Like You”
  • 16-INF-07 Attachment 2 – PUB-4983: “Your Family May Be Eligible for SNAP”
  • 16-INF-07 Attachment 3 – PUB-4984: “Find Help… It’s a SNAP”
  • 16-INF-07 Attachment 4 – PUB-5071: “Put Healthy Food On Your Table”
• 16-INF-06 Local District Security Provisions for Hearing Officers
• 16-INF-05 Revised LDSS-3668: “Shelter Verification” Form
  • 16-INF-05 Attachment 1 – LDSS-3668: “Shelter Verification”
• 16-INF-04 Digest of Laws of 2015 Relating to Programs of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
  • 16-INF-04 Attachment 1 – Digest of Laws of 2015 Relating to Programs of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
• 16-INF-03 Change in Internal Revenue Service Mileage Rates
• 16-INF-02 Changes in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Summary of Other Available Federal and State Tax Credits for Tax Year 2015
  • 16-INF-02 Attachment 1 – OTDA Pub-4786 Get All the Credit you Deserve with EITC
  • 16-INF-02 Attachment 2 – OTDA Pub-4786A Get All the Credit you Deserve with EITC (Poster)
• 16-INF-01 Temporary Housing Assistance (THA) for Sex Offenders-Updated Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Contact Lists
  • 16-INF-01 Attachment 1 – NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Supervising Offender Rehabilitation Coordinators
  • 16-INF-01 Attachment 2 – NYS Division of Parole Area Office Liaisons

Local Commissioner Memoranda (LCM)

• 16-LCM-17 2016-17 Home Energy Assistance Program Administrative Allocations and Program Allocations
  • 16-LCM-17 Attachment 1 – 2016-17 Initial HEAP Administrative Allocations
  • 16-LCM-17 Attachment 2 – 2016-17 Initial HEAP Program Allocations
• 16-LCM-16 2016-17 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
  • 16-LCM-16 Attachment 1 – 2016-17 HEAP Desk Guide – LDSS 5005
  • 16-LCM-16 Attachment 2 – 2016-17 HEAP Administrative Forms Guide
  • 16-LCM-16 Attachment 3 – 2016-17 HEAP Regional Training (Questions and Answers)
  • 16-LCM-16 Attachment 4 – 2017-17 HEAP Systems Quick Reference Tool
• 16-LCM-15 Quarterly Fraud Report
  • 16-LCM-15 Attachment 1 – Quarterly Fraud Report Submission Format
  • 16-LCM-15 Attachment 2 – Quarterly Fraud Report Instructions
• 16-LCM-14 Claiming Deadlines for Federal and State Reimbursement
• 16-LCM-13 2016-2017 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) - Early Mail Out Process and Administrative Allocations
  • 16-LCM-13 Attachment 1 – FFY 2016 HEAP Administrative Allocations
• 16-LCM-12 Revised LDSS-4958 "TA Sanction & Denial Policy/Participation Rate Impact Guide"
  • 16-LCM-12 Attachment 1 – LDSS-4958 ROS (Rev. 5/16)
• 16-LCM-11 2015-16 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Heating Equipment Clean and Tune Program
  • 16-LCM-11 Attachment 1 – LDSS-5081 HEAP Heating Equipment Clean and Tune Request for Benefit
  • 16-LCM-11 Attachment 2 – LDSS-2642 Documentation Requirements
  • 16-LCM-11 Attachment 3 – LDSS-5082 HEAP Heating Equipment Clean and tune Notice of Eligibility Decision
  • 16-LCM-11 Attachment 4 – LDSS-5083 Heating Equipment Clean and Tune Services Invoice
  • 16-LCM-11 Attachment 5 – LDSS-5043 HEAP Vendor Refund Form
  • 16-LCM-11 Attachment 6 – 2015-2016 HEAP Clean and Tune Administrative Allocations
• 16-LCM-10 Adoption of New York State Regulatory Amendments Impacting the Child Support and Temporary Assistance Programs
  • 16-LCM-10 Attachment 1 – Information and Instructions for Completing the Request for a First-Level Desk Review of the Distribution and Disbursement of Child Support Collections Form
  • 16-LCM-10 Attachment 2 – Confirmation of Receipt of Your Request for a First-Level Desk Review of the Distribution and Disbursement of Child Support Collections
  • 16-LCM-10 Attachment 3 – First-Level Desk Review Determination
  • 16-LCM-10 Attachment 4 – Request to New York State for a Second-Level Desk Review of the Distribution and Disbursement of Child Support Collections
  • 16-LCM-10 Attachment 5 – Information and Instructions for Completing the Request to New York State for a Second-Level Desk Review of the Distribution and Disbursement of Child Support Collections
  • 16-LCM-10 Attachment 6 – Second-Level Desk Review Determination
• 16-LCM-09 Revisions to the LDSS-2921, PUB-1301, LDSS-3174, PUB-1313, LDSS-4148A-C, LDSS-4826, LDSS-4826A, LDSS-4942, and LDSS-2291
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 1 – LDSS-2921: “New York State Application for Certain Benefits and Services”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 2 – PUB-1301: “Instructions for Completing the New York State Application for Certain Benefits and Services”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 3 – LDSS-3174: “New York State Recertification Form for Certain Benefits and Services”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 4 – PUB-1313: “Instructions for Completing the New York State Recertification Form for Certain Benefits and Services”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 5 – LDSS-4148A: "Book 1: What You Should Know About Your Rights and Responsibilities”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 6 – LDSS-4148B: "Book 2: What You Should Know About Social Services Programs"
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 7 – LDSS-4148C: "Book 3: What You Should Know If You Have an Emergency”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 8 – LDSS-4826: “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application/Recertification"
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 9 – LDSS-4826A: “How to Complete the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application/Recertification and Applicant/Recipient Rights and Responsibilities for SNAP”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 10 – LDSS-4942: “SNAP Authorized Representative Request Form”
  • 16-LCM-09 Attachment 11 – LDSS-2291: “Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits"
• 16-LCM-08 Submission of TANF Claims/FFFS Plans
• 16-LCM-07 Child Support Incentives - Federal Fiscal Years 2014 and 2016
  • 16-LCM-07 Attachment 1 – Adjustment of Actual to Reported Incentives – FFY 2014
  • 16-LCM-07 Attachment 2 – Estimated Incentives – FFY 2016
• 16-LCM-06 2016 New York State Summer Youth Employment Program Allocations
  • 16-LCM-06 Attachment 1 – 2016 SYEP Allocations
  • 16-LCM-06 Attachment 2 – 2016 SYEP Local District Designation Form
  • 16-LCM-06 Attachment 3 – 2016 SYEP Contact Information
• 16-LCM-05-T 2015-2016 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance Component (CAC)
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 1 – LDSS-4992 HEAP Cooling Assistance Application
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 2 – LDSS-2642 Documentation Requirements
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 3 – Scratchpad Cooling Assistance ABEL Budget
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 4 – LDSS-4993 HEAP Cooling Assistance Notice of Eligibility Decision
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 5 – LDSS-5044 Cooling Assistance Services Invoice
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 6 – LDSS-5043 HEAP Vendor Refund Forms
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 7 – HEAP Pending Case Report
  • 16-LCM-05-T Attachment 8 – 2015-16 Cooling Administrative Allocations
• 16-LCM-05 2015-2016 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance Component (CAC)
  • 16-LCM-05 Attachment 1 – LDSS-4992 HEAP Cooling Assistance Application
  • 16-LCM-05 Attachment 2 – Scratchpad Cooling Assistance ABEL Budget
  • 16-LCM-05 Attachment 3 – LDSS-4993 HEAP Cooling Assistance Notice of Eligibility Decision
  • 16-LCM-05 Attachment 4 – LDSS-5044 HEAP Cooling Assistance Services Invoice
  • 16-LCM-05 Attachment 5 – HEAP Pending Case Report
  • 16-LCM-05 Attachment 6 – 2016 HEAP Cooling Administrative Allocations
• 16-LCM-04 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Allocations – FFY 2016
  • 16-LCM-04 Attachment 1 – SNAP E&T FFY 20167 Local District Allocations
• 16-LCM-03 Revisions to the LDSS-4725: TANF Services Application/Certification Review Form; the LDSS-4726: TANF Services Application/Certification; and the LDSS-4770: TANF Youth Services Application
  • 16-LCM-03 Attachment 1 – TANF Services Application/Certification Review Form
  • 16-LCM-03 Attachment 2 - TANF Services Application/Certification
  • 16-LCM-03 Attachment 3 - TANF Youth Services Application
• 16-LCM-02 Establishing a Social Media Access Policy for Social Services Districts
• 16-LCM-01 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Dependent Care Requests for FFY 2015
  • 16-LCM-01 Attachment 1 – SNAP E&T/CCBG Comparison Chart
  • 16-LCM-01 Attachment 2 – SNAP E&T Dependent Care Request Worksheet