TO:	  Commissioners; TA Directors; FS Directors; Medicaid Directors; WMS Coordinators; CAP Coordinators, HEAP Coordinators

FROM:	Patricia A. Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance

SUBJECT:	New Client Informational Letters

EFFECTIVE DATE:	Immediately

CONTACT PERSON:	Central Team (TA) at 1-800-343-8859; extension 3-9344, Eastern Team (FS); extension 3-1469, Western Team (HEAP); extension 3-0332.

The purpose of this message is to advise districts of the pending release of two direct to client letters by this Office.  There are no specific actions required of any district because of the release of these letters. However, districts may experience an increase in the number of inquiries from people who receive these letters.

The first letter (Attachment 1) is being sent nightly on a continuous basis to all temporary assistance (TA) cases that have closed since December 1, 2001 and remain closed 14 calendar days prior to the actual date the letter is generated and mailed.  For example, a case may have closed for any reason effective February 28, 2002.  If the case remains closed 14 calendar days later on March 14, 2002, a letter will be generated and mailed to the former recipient.  The purpose of the letter is to provide former TA recipients with information on programs and services they may wish to explore to help them strive for greater financial security and self-sufficiency.  Districts are not required to provide this informational letter when a TA case closes.  Since no direct action is required of districts, no lists of the letters generated will be available.

The second letter (Attachment 2) is a one-time letter that is being sent to TA cases that closed November 30, 2001 or later with one of the following reason codes listed page 2 of this message, and remain closed at the time this letter is generated and mailed.  This letter apprises former recipients of the availability of the Safety Net Assistance (SNA) program, and provides a brief summary of SNA program requirements.  Again, this is not a recurring letter.  Districts are not required to provide this informational letter when a TA case closes due to time limit requirements.  Since no direct action or special application processing procedures are required of districts for those seeking to apply for SNA as a result of receiving this letter and these persons are subject to the SNA 45-day application period, no list of the letters generated will be available.

Reason Code	Data Element Descriptor	
G30	Close FA due to 60 month limit-No Safety Net Application Filed	
G31	Close FA due to 60 month limit/deny SNA-separate SNA Notice required	
G32	Close FA due to 60 month limit/deny SNA-refusal to sign repayment agreement/earnings assignment	
G33	Close FA due to 60 month limit/deny SNA-refusal to apply for a child	
P30	Close FA due to 60 month limit/deny SNA-failure to comply with Job Search	
P31	Close FA due to 60 month limit/deny SNA-failure to comply with employment assessment	

It is anticipated that Attachment 1 will be ready for printing and distribution within the next week from the date of this GIS.  Attachment 2 will be ready for printing and distribution within the following two weeks from the date of this GIS.

If you have questions please contact your contact as directed above.

Attachment 1
Dear Former Recipient:

The purpose of this letter is to remind you of the various services and programs available to you as a former temporary assistance recipient.  It is not intended to imply that you are actually eligible for any of these services and programs.

You are not alone as you move toward greater financial security.  Sometimes you may need help to make ends meet, but you don't want to give up your independence by returning to welfare.  In NYS you have options that allow you to remain independent.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Federal and State EITC is money that is available to low-income working families to help pay for household expenses.  You may choose to get your EITC back all at once or receive it in your paycheck.  You may wish to call the Internal Revenue Service toll-free at 1-800-829-1040 or the NYS taxpayer information line at 1-800-225-5829.  You may also receive help at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center (VITA).  To locate a VITA near you, contact the IRS number above.  You may also contact your employer's personnel office.

Child Care Tax Credit
If you pay for childcare so that you could work, you may be eligible to take a child and dependent care credit on your Federal and/or NYS tax form.  This may reduce your taxes and provide more money to pay for household expenses.  For information, contact the above IRS and NYS taxpayer information lines or the VITA near you.

Child Care
Actual payments for childcare may be provided to qualified low-income families who are working.  Sometimes you may be guaranteed payment and other times you may only qualify for payments if the funds are available.  You should check with your local department of social services to see what is available, if you are eligible and how to apply.

Health Care Coverage
If you do not have health insurance at work, or have insurance but need help paying the premiums, you and/or your children might be eligible for Medicaid or another health care program such as Child Health Plus B or Family Health Plus.  You should contact your local department of social services for more information.  For information on Child Health Plus B you may also call toll-free 1-800-698-4543.  For information on Family Health Plus you may also call toll-free 1-877-934-7587.

Food Stamps
Food Stamps is a nutrition program which can help low-income working people purchase food.  You probably received food stamps while you were receiving temporary assistance, but may not realize that you may still be eligible for food stamps now that you are no longer in receipt of temporary assistance benefits.  For information on food stamps, you should contact your local department of social services or call toll-free 1-800-342-3009.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
HEAP is a program that may help you meet your heating or other energy costs.  HEAP is generally only available for a specific time period that varies from year to year.  For more information, contact your local department of social services or call toll-free 1-800-342-3009.

Child Support
Although you no longer receive temporary assistance benefits, you may still use the services provided by your local office of child support enforcement.  They may be able to locate the absent parent of your children, establish paternity and support obligations, collect and pay child support payments to you and provide other services to you.  For more information, please contact your local department of social services or call toll-free 1-800-846-0773.

Telephone numbers you may find helpful and may want to keep
Child Health Plus
Child Support Enforcement
Federal EITC and VITA-Internal Revenue Service
EITC-NYS Taxpayer Information
Family Health Plus
Food Stamps
HEAP	1-800-698-4543
1-800-846-0773

1-800-829-1040
1-800-225-5829
1-877-934-7587
1-800-342-3009
1-800-342-3009	

Your local department of social services may be located by looking in your telephone directory or by calling toll-free 1-800-342-3009.

You may decide that you need help with employment.  Throughout NYS, there are One-Stop Centers offering a wide range of help to persons trying to find work, a better job, training or other employment services.  Locations, contact information and hours of operation for One-Stop Centers in NYS can be found in your local telephone directory, or on the NYS Work Force Development website at www.wdsny.org.

Remember that you are not alone as you strive for greater self-sufficiency and independence.  If you need help, the resources listed above as well as other kinds of help available to you and your family from friends and your local community, can make the difference and keep you from having to apply for cash assistance.

Attachment 2
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SAFETY NET ASSISTANCE
Dear Former Temporary Assistance Recipient:

Your Temporary Assistance case under the Family Assistance program or non-cash Safety Net Assistance/Federally Participating program recently closed. It closed because the Welfare Reform Act of 1997 limited to sixty months the amount of time an adult and his or her family could receive Temporary Assistance under these programs. You reached the sixty-month time limit.  However, you may be eligible to receive Temporary Assistance under the State Safety Net Assistance (SNA) program. 

If you would like to apply for SNA you can do so by contacting your former Social Services District Office. State law requires a forty-five day waiting period for SNA benefits from date of application. You may be able to get help to meet an emergency during the forty-five day waiting period. 

SNA has no time limit.  The amount of benefits would be similar to what you previously received. However, in most cases, the following amounts must be taken out of your cash grant and be paid directly to a vendor by social services.

1.	Your shelter expense.
2.	Your fuel for heating allowance, if you pay this separately from rent.
3.	Your domestic utility cost for lights and cooking, if you pay these separately from your rent.
4.	Your water payments, if you pay these separately from your rent.

After all these amounts are taken out of your grant, you will receive the remainder in cash. 

As an applicant or recipient of SNA, you would have a continuing responsibility to pursue available resources to reduce your need, work toward self-sufficiency and comply with work activities.

Your Food Stamps should have continued unchanged unless you received a notice about a change in the amount of your Food Stamps. Your Medical Assistance should have also continued unchanged unless you received a notice about changes in your Medical Assistance.  If you are not receiving Food Stamps or Medical Assistance, you could apply at the same time you apply for SNA.

You may also apply for Medical Assistance only and Family Health Plus health insurance coverage at your local office or through facilitated enrollers in your community.  If you have questions about continuing health care coverage, please call your worker.

If you have questions concerning this letter, please contact your former Social Services District Office.