The Financial Assistance Division is responsible for the delivery of temporary assistance, Medicaid, food stamps and day care and for ensuring that only persons eligible for public assistance services are provided such aid. This division also includes employment, domestic violence and managed health care services.
Financial Assistance services are provided in the form of cash, rent, utilities, transportation, food/nutrition, housing, health insurance, child care, job search support, and job skills training to those who meet eligibility requirements.
Food Stamps
The Food Stamp Program is a state-administered federal nutrition assistance program. Federal Law governs the criteria for eligibility and levels of benefits. Each state is responsible for determining and documenting eligibility, issuing benefits, and maintaining records.
Applications and Instructions
- Application Instructions (1.8mbk PDF)
- Food Stamp Application (1.7mb PDF)
- Application Instructions (Spanish) (135k PDF)
- Food Stamp Application (Spanish) (450k PDF)
Medicaid
Q. Where do I get information about Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, Women-Infant-Children, or Prenatal Care Assistance Program?
Check out the information about Family Health Plus (FHP), Child Health Plus (CHP), Women-Infant-Children (WIC) or the Prenatal Care Assistance Program.
Learn more at New York State Department of Health–Consumer Info.
Q. Where do I get information about the New York State Partnership for Long Term Care?
For information about the New York State Partnership for Long Term Care visit their website.
Learn more at NYS Partnership for Long Term Care.
Q. Where do I call for an application for Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus?
To request an application or an appointment for Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus, please call 585 530-4215.
Q. Where do I call for information about home care services?
For information about Medicaid home care services programs, please call 585 274-6815.
Q. Where do I call for information about Medicaid managed care programs?
For information about Medicaid managed care programs, please call 585 464-6402.
Q. How do I apply for Medicaid?
To apply for Medicaid, call 585 274-6309 and an application will be mailed to you. Or, you may pick up an application from the Monroe County Department of Social Services waiting room at 111 Westfall Rd., Rochester, NY.
Q. How do I order Medicaid transportation to a medical appointment?
If you are a Monroe County Medicaid recipient, you may call 585 288-4680 (Medical Motor Service) to request transportation to medical appointments.
Q. How do I report Medicaid Provider or Consumer Fraud?
To report provider or consumer fraud, you may call 1-877-87FRAUD (1-877-873-7283).
Temporary Assistance
Q. How Do I Apply for Temporary Assistance?
To Apply: Phone 585 292-3960 to request to have an application mailed to you or you can stop at any of our offices and pick up an application.
The Financial Assistance Division received over 40,000 applications yearly. Applicants are scheduled to attend an Information Session about the application process and the applicants’ responsibilities. Applicants are required to look for work throughout the application process as well as pursue any other potential benefits such as Social Security and child support.
Important: To apply for Medicaid/Food Stamps or child care benefits only call:
Medicaid/Food Stamps: 585 292-3960
Child Care: 585 274-6142
Q. What is Meant by “Work First”?
“Work First” is the phrase used to convey the primary goals for applicants and recipients ... To consider work their first priority. “Work First” is based on the idea that finding a job and earning a paycheck is the best way for families to become self-sufficient.
The responsibility of this office and our partners in the community is to support work and help families overcome barriers. For job search assistance visit RochesterWorks! (585 258-3500) at 34 St. Paul Street.
Q. When I Work, Can I Still Get Temporary Assistance?
Yes! Partial benefits are available to families depending upon how much is earned. There are over 2,000 Temporary Assistance families who work and receive partial cash benefits and food stamps. DSS will also pay for child care.
Q. What Benefits Are Available When It Ends?
If you have children, you will still be eligible for Medicaid and Child Care. All child support collected will now go directly to you. Many families who leave Temporary Assistance will still be eligible for Food Stamps.
Q. What is the Earned Income Tax Credit?
The Earned Income Credit is a special tax benefit for people who work full or part-time. Even if you don’t owe income tax, you can get the credit. But, you must file a federal tax return. New York State also has an Earned Income Tax Credit.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists low income households in meeting the high costs of heating.
The Monroe County HEAP Office is located at:
111 Westfall Rd.,
Room 104,
Rochester, New York 14620
Appointment Line: 585 292-3960
General Information: 585 274-6477
Learn more at the New York State HEAP website.
Visit the Office for the Aging for Programs and Descriptions.
Quality Review Team (QRT)
Overview
The Quality Review Team was founded in 1986 as a result of the high error rate detected by a state audit. Throughout the years, Quality Review has expanded its view beyond simply “correcting” cases. The main focus is on unreported income: state matches of social security and unemployment benefit recipients, referrals from teams regarding unreported wages, child support, Workman’s Compensation and disability income are a few examples. Overpayment calculations are done on cases. In 2002, over $1 million dollars in overpayments were calculated.
This unit, in collaboration with the Special Investigations Unit, screens cases involving fraud and prepares them for prosecution. Evidence is gathered from the case record and a statement taken from the client involved. Employers are also interviewed. After a case is prosecuted and a deposition is received, the case is processed so that recoupment of the overpayment may begin or referral to collection.
Quality Review reviews cases that are prone to both client and agency error. These cases include sanctioned individuals, cases with children 18 and 19 years of age and cases were reported expenses exceed income. Regulatory reviews are also conducted.
This unit is providing direction and oversight to a project that is looking at health and safety issues among informal childcare providers. This ongoing effort seeks to ensure that unregulated childcare conforms to required health and safety rules and to ensure that the care is being provided as authorized. The results of that project have made the review of these providers to weed out felons and detect fraud, a process rather than a one-time project.
Quality Review also acts as a liaison for Rochester Housing Authority, to ensure correct budgeting of shelter expenses.
Quality Review also provides training to new examiners regarding social security, overpayment calculations and unemployment benefits. Training is also provided to experienced examiners on issues that have arisen from case reviews.
