The Adult Care Unit assesses the need for and arranges for appropriate support services to eligible impaired individuals to enable them to remain safely in the community.

The Child Support and Enforcement Unit assists Albany County residents in the establishment of paternity and the collection and distribution of child support. We are also here to help those who have Albany County support orders, but are not presently County residents.

If you are looking for information on your child support check, please call the New York State 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-846-8773. Be sure to have your PIN handy.

Albany County residents who qualify for cash assistance and Food Stamps receive these benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). This approach works just like an ATM debit card and provides more convenience and security for low-income residents.

The Department's Employment Unit is responsible for the operation of the Welfare to Work program. This unit works with TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) as well Safety Net families and individuals to help them enter the workforce employment with the goal of achieving their self sufficiency.

Eligibility is generally based on household size, income, housing costs and in some instances, resources.

Some individuals are exempt from Food Stamp work requirements.

The eligible group for food stamp purposes is the food stamp household, which is based solely on food units.

The Food Stamp/HEAP Division's mission is to provide Food Stamps and Home Energy Assistance benefits and services to eligible low income residents of Albany County in a professional and timely manner in order to enhance their general nutrition and overall health and protect them from extremes of cold and heat.

Examples of countable income and excluded income in determining eligibility for HEAP.

Some renters may be eligible for Emergency HEAP.

A household is income eligible if at least one member of the HEAP household is in receipt of certain recurring benefits.

Household must be experiencing a HEAP-addressable emergency.

Requirement for repair or replacement of essential heating equipment.

Residents in certain living situations cannot receive HEAP.

Create a printable HEAP application on your own computer!

There is no resource test for regular HEAP.

Eligible households may receive only one regular HEAP benefit and one emergency HEAP benefit each season.

Listing of Albany County HEAP certifiers.

The Legal Division exists to provide legal services and representation within and for the Department, as well as investigative services for the Department. These services are necessary to carry out and/or support the mandate programs of the Department.

There are several Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs.

Provides placement of Albany County residents in Nursing Homes, pickup of Albany County residents already in Nursing Homes, Respites (past or present), courtesy applications for other counties and Long Term Home Health Care cases.

Medicaid eligibility levels are generally based on household size, income and resources.

Medical Assistance (Medicaid) comes in many varieties to serve varied clientele.

Additional information about Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Healthy NY are provided by New York State.

Income and resource standard rates are based on household size.

Medicaid pays for various medical services.

Medical Assistance strives to ensure the provision of health care to all eligible residents of Albany County.

All applicants and recipients of public assistance must participate in work activities assigned by the DSS official in accordance with Department of Labor regulations.

Safety Net was established to provide assistance for individuals and families who are ineligible for other federal public assistance programs. This program has a cash and a non cash component. Safety Net replaces Home Relief.

Public assistance benefits are generally based on household size, income and resources.

DSS must provide public assistance recipients with support services in order to reduce or remove as many barriers as possible to allow the recipient to find and/or keep a job.

Temporary Assistance works to provide benefits and services to eligible individuals/families in an efficient, professional and cost effective manner, according to applicable law and regulations.