How to Apply for TANF in New York

New York doesn't administer TANF as one statewide cash program — it splits Temporary Assistance (TA) into Family Assistance (FA), which runs under federal TANF rules and carries the standard 60-month lifetime limit, and Safety Net Assistance (SNA), a state/locally funded program for single adults, childless couples, and others who don't qualify for FA. Applications are handled locally by each county's department of social services (or NYC's Job Centers) rather than through a single state office, though myBenefits.ny.gov offers a statewide starting point.

Updated August 2026

1. 1

   Check eligibility and start online at myBenefits.ny.gov

   Use the myBenefits portal to screen your eligibility and begin an application for Temporary Assistance.

2. 2

   Or apply in person

   Visit your local department of social services, or in New York City, a Job Center.

3. 3

   Or apply in writing

   Print the Temporary Assistance application form and mail or fax it to your local department of social services.

4. 4

   Contact your local district immediately for emergencies

   If you have an urgent need (eviction, no food, utility shutoff, homelessness, or domestic violence), contact your local department of social services right away — you can be interviewed and told the decision on your emergency request the same day.

5. 5

   Cooperate with program requirements

   Be ready for drug/alcohol screening and assessment, cooperation with child support enforcement, and work-related activities like job search, which are conditions of eligibility for both FA and SNA.

Verified against the official New York TANF agency site. View source