Income:
See TANF, Eligibility Conditions: Income

ASSETS:
Resources except the following are counted in determining eligibility for SNA: a car valued up to $4650; $2000 in liquid assets ($3000 for households with a member over 60); a home (providing it is the household’s usual residence); 1burial plot per household member; property that the family is making a good faith effort to sell, but only for 6 months; personal property necessary for business or employment, Earned Income Tax Credits; and funds placed in Individual Development Accounts.

Age:
In most cases, persons must be over 18 and under 65.

Disability:
Not a condition, but disabled persons who fail to meet eligibility conditions for Supplemental Security Income (SSI Disability) are among those who are eligible for SNA.

Presence of Spouse:
Not a condition.

Presence of Children:
Not a condition.

Prior Contribution:
Not a condition.

Families who have exhausted their federal TANF benefits become eligible for Safety Net Assistance program.

Job Search:
Needy adults who are not aged, blind, or disabled, who do not meet the requirements for TANF, and who are not employed must comply with certain work rules.

Participation in Work Program:
Individuals receiving assistance through the SNA are required to meet stringent work requirements; they must be in one of the following work activities: unsubsidized employment; subsidized private or public sector employment; workfare; on the job training;, limited job search and job readiness;, community service (to be decided by district); up to 12 months of vocational educational training; job skills training directly related to employment; education directly related to employment if the individual lacks a high school diploma;, satisfactory attendance in secondary school or GED program; provision of child care to someone performing community service or limited educational activities.

School Attendance:
Not a requirement.

Citizenship/ Legal Alien Status:
The following immigrants are eligible:
• naturalized citizens;
• refugees, for the first five years or as otherwise provided by federal law;
• asylees, for the first 5 years or as otherwise provided by federal law; persons whose deportation is withheld, for the first 5 years or as otherwise provided by federal law;
l• legal permanent residents (LPR) who are credited with 40 quarters of employment, provided that after 12/31/96, no credit will be given for any quarter in which an immigrant receives the benefits of a federal "means tested" program;
• active duty service members or honorably discharged veterans and their immediate families

The following immigrants are eligible for safety net assistance:
• qualified aliens lawfully residing in the United States before 8/22/96;
• individuals entering the United States as qualified aliens on or after 8/22/96, once they have resided in the U.S. for at least five years.

Other Eligibility Conditions:

Limit on Cash Benefits:
There is a 24-month lifetime limit on receipt of cash SNA. After 24 months of assistance, any additional assistance, except for a small amount, will generally be sent directly to vendors (landlords, grocery stores, utility companies, etc.)

Although cash benefits are not payable for 45 days from the date of the application, emergency need may be met during this time-period.

Recertification:
All adults applying or recertifying for SNA are required to submit to drug screening. If the screening (not a formal drug test) leads the caseworker to believe the applicant is using drugs, then a formal drug test may be done. Failure to comply with the drug screening process makes an applicant ineligible for all assistance.

All applicants of SNA must undergo finger imaging as a condition of receiving assistance. Failure to comply results in denial of benefits.

Persons Not Eligible for Safety Net Assistance:

• Persons not legally residing in the US or those who cannot document that they are legally residing in the US;
• or aliens who are not eligible for public assistance;
• persons who are sanctioned from TANF or SNA;
• persons or families who fail to comply with eligibility requirements of either program;
• except as set forth above in the “eligible” section, persons residing with a minor child;
• persons eligible for 8 months of refugee Cash Assistance.

Type: See TANF, Benefits: Type
TANF recipients who have exceeded the 5-year limit on receipt of Federally-aided benefits become eligible for SNA. They are supposed to have cash allowances restricted to 20% of the Standard of Need and to have rent and heating paid directly to providers. However, that is not being done at this time by any county in the state because they do not have the capacity to restrict grants in this way. SNA recipients who have been on the rolls for 5 years are also subject to the restriction of cash benefits that is not presently being implemented.

Level:
For families with children, See TANF: Benefits:Level
Below are the standards for Safety Net for families of various sizes without children.
Benefit Levels for Selected Counties for Families Without Children*

*Figures are given for Nassau County, where this book is prepared; for New York City, the largest jurisdiction in New York State; Suffolk County, the highest-rent county; and Franklin County, the lowest rent county.

For Benefit Levels of Families without Children in other counties, add to the sum of Basic Needs, Home Energy and Supplementary Energy Allowances, the following rents for each county (These are also show on http://www.otda.state.ny.us/tanf/02 04/Attachment E 2002.pdf)

Local Agency Maximum Monthly Shelter Allowances for Families Without Children

Change in Recipient Status:
Continuing eligibiltiy for public assistance is established by investigation and documentation at specified intervals in a process known as recertification. The recipient must complete the State-prescribed form and submit appropriate supporting data. Recipients are responsible for notifying DSS immediately of any changes in circumstances, including changes in income, family status, employment, or any others that could affect eligibility.

Changes in Benefit Levels:
Benefits are changed by an Act of the New York State Legislature, which must be passed by a majority of both Houses of the legislature and signed by the Governor or if, vetoed by the Governor, overridden by a __ vote of both Houses. There is no automatic change in benefit levels.