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NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance- TA and SNAP Employment Policy Manual

Section 385.4 – Page 4

Rev. 4/2025 Part B - Department Policy Supportive services are a critical tool to assist individuals with successfully participating in work activities. Supportive services are provided to applicants and recipients subject to the availability of federal and state funds and are offered to individuals assigned to work activities or to satisfy other employment requirements such as attending orientation or an assessment in accordance with the requirements of section 332-A of the SSL. The types of supportive services provided by each district are detailed in district biennial Temporary Assistance (TA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment Plans. Temporary Assistance Applicants and Recipients Districts are required to provide individuals with the supportive services needed to engage in work activity assignments including childcare, transportation and other supportive services for all TA recipients who are age 18 or older (including individuals who are 16 or 17 years old and not satisfactorily attending secondary school and have not completed high school or high school equivalency program). Transportation can be one of the most significant barriers to employment that individuals may face. Taking the time to review each individual’s transportation situation and needs while engaging in work/job placement activities will provide a realistic picture of the array of job opportunities available to them and possibly lead to higher job retention rates. It will likely also minimize some of the employment stops and starts individuals experience such as: • receiving a job offer but being unable to take the position because the job is not on the bus line; • not being able to afford the on-going cost of transportation to get to the position; • the transportation options do not operate during all of their scheduled work hours; or • the transportation does not meet other ancillary needs such as allowing for drop off and/or pick up of children at day care. By exploring transportation needs up front, ideally at the initial assessment, individuals will have a higher chance of overcoming their transportation barriers and achieving their employment goals. The selection of the correct payment type for each supportive service that is issued is important. Each supportive service is identified as an assistance payment type or a non-assistance type. The distinction between assistance and non-assistance payments has implications for families, districts, and the State. The federal regulations at 45 CFR 260.31 make a distinction between an “assistance” payment and a “non-assistance” payment. The term “assistance” includes cash payments, vouchers, and other forms of benefits designed to meet a family’s ongoing basic needs (i.e., for food, clothing, shelter, utilities, household goods, personal care