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

Section 385.4 – Page 7

Rev. 4/2025 used, the district must confirm that these resources are actually available to meet the applicant's need. If necessary, non-recurring payments may be authorized to divert a household from needing ongoing TA if the applicant is eligible for Emergency Assistance to Needy Families (EAF) or Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA), and the payment will resolve a crisis and enable the applicant to obtain or maintain self-sufficiency. Districts are reminded that payments made to divert a household from needing ongoing TA must not be used to circumvent normal ongoing TA eligibility requirements such as work rules. It is not mandatory that applicants for TA who are eligible to receive ongoing benefits accept a payment to divert the household. If the applicant agrees to accept a payment to divert a household from needing ongoing assistance, the applicant must withdraw in writing their application for ongoing assistance and the district must follow separate determination procedures. If the applicant refuses to accept the diversion payment instead of ongoing assistance, and the applicant is eligible for ongoing TA, the district must issue ongoing TA benefits. The purpose of the following WMS diversion payment types is to collect accurate data for federal reporting requirements. Therefore, these payment types must not be used under any other circumstance other than defined below: Upstate WMS payment type D9-Diversion Transportation Payment: This payment type must be used to authorize a nonrecurring diversion payment for employment related transportation expenses such as the cost of public transportation, car insurance or car repairs. This diversion payment type can be issued to employed applicants who have a transportation need that must be met to maintain employment and, if not met, may result in the opening of an ongoing TA case. This payment type may also be used to provide transportation for applicant job search activities while TA eligibility is being determined or for applicants with a bona fide job offer. To receive this benefit, the household must be categorically eligible for EAF and meet all income and resource requirements of EAF. Payment type "D9 - Diversion Transportation Payment" is allowed with TA case types 11,12 and 19 with transaction type 09 - Open/Close. This payment type is also allowed with TA case types 11, 12, 16, and 17 with transaction type 03 - Denial, and on active case types 20, 22, 24 and 31, with a required special claiming code of F. Payment type D9 must be authorized as a single issue payment and can be authorized as either a restricted or unrestricted payment. Upstate WMS payment type F5 – Shelter Related Expenses and Mortgage/Tax Arrears: This payment type is used to authorize a nonrecurring short-term diversion payment for expenses directly associated with resolving a housing related crisis or episode of immediate need for homeowners. These include mortgage or mortgage arrears, moving expenses, storage fees or household structural or equipment repairs. This diversion payment type can be issued only to applicants who have an emergency or immediate need that if resolved would enable the family