Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA) program in New York.
Emergency financial assistance is offered to elderly, blind, and disabled people (and their spouses) in New York State who receive or qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The government money will help them pay for basic needs such as rent, utilities, food, transportation and more, among other expenses. Find more details on the New York Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA) program below.
Goal of the EAA program
EAA is a government benefit that meant for those older or disabled with urgent, unforeseen crises that put their health or safety at risk. The state benefit provides government grant money to help pay temporary bills. It is intended to help people that are in a crisis and that also meet program guidelines.
Emergency Assistance to Adults is also available to households that are in recipient of SSI or that are in the process of applying to SSI State Supplementation Program (SSP). This provides the disabled individual with maximum flexibility. The financial help can be used to pay a number of emergency expenses for qualified low income households in New York and the benefit is combined with other help for disabled people.
Beyond helping to address the immediate crisis, EAA grant money is designed to serve as a bridge, helping recipients stabilize while they seek or maintain housing, access long-term supports, or engage in Adult Protective Services when necessary. In some cases, applicants may also qualify for pre-investigation or predetermination grant money. There includes temporary assistance from the government, or even a local charity, that is aimed at resolving emergency needs while full eligibility is being established under Social Services.
Type of financial emergencies covered
EAA benefits can help pay for essential emergencies, including rental arrears, utility bills, heating oil or fuel costs, and temporary shelter such as for a motel. For instance, if an SSI recipient is facing eviction or needs immediate payment to prevent having their water shut off, EAA funding can resolve the crisis. Basic needs can be provided too, including clothing, food, medical equipment, or household supplies.
- The legal basis for this program is found in New York State Social Services Law and the corresponding regulatory code (18 NYCRR 397), which describe EAA as “grants of assistance to aged, blind or disabled individuals and couples” in qualifying situations.
Specifically, assistance can cover the others needs. These are examples of bills covered from this state of New York program is wide ranging, but usually focuses on people who need these needs met. The Department of Social Services can also provide more information.
- Renters who are faced with an eviction or people who are currently homeless, or if your landlord has given you eviction papers or told you that you must move. There are also referrals to other programs for immediate rent payment help in NYS.
- People who have little or no food, and need to provide for their next meal.
- If your utilities are currently shut-off or if they are about to be shut-off, or if you have a 72-hour disconnect notice for your utilities.
- Renters and homeowners who are at critical stages of fuel or have run out of heating fuel or oil in the cold weather period.
- Someone in your family, maybe even you, have been abused, beaten, or threatened with violence by a partner, husband, wife, or other member of the household. Vouchers for temporary housing, such as motel or hotels, may be provided too.
Once approved, the EAA grant is paid directly to relevant creditor such as a landlord or utility company. This is used to help ensure the financial assistance goes toward resolving the emergency. Because it is a grant from the government and not a loan, recipients usually do not have to repay these funds. Additionally, EAA is considered non-assistance in federal counting rules and does not count against SSI or Public Assistance time limits.
Applying for EAA in NYS
Applying for help from Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA) requires applications being done at the local Department of Social Services in New York. In some cases a person applying is entitled to an immediate interview, often within the same day. This is when the crisis is even more urgent, such as an eviction or loss of utility. In those instances emergency payments can be initiated pending full approval.
Documentation requirements include proof of SSI eligibility, verification of the emergency (like an eviction notice or shut-off warning), and identification. The agency may seek collateral contacts if the individual cannot provide documentation immediately. There are a number of other conditions that need to be met for an Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA) grant, and those include the following.
- The applicant needs to have some type of emergency that they are facing. It must be extreme, and threatens the welfare, health, or safety of the household. This can include facing an eviction, utility disconnection, lack of food, or some other similar crisis.
- A member of the household, or the applicant, must be either currently receiving or be eligible for SSI.
- There can’t be a history of repeated requests for emergency assistance, so the goal is to provide one-time only support.
- The program is a last resort, and the emergency that is being experienced cannot be met by other programs like SSI, EAF, or from your own income. There can’t be other non-profits or resources in New York that can help either.
- The applicant must meet the immigrant and citizen requirements for SSI.
Contact information
You need to apply at your local New York City Department of Social Services office. You can find the location of your local DSS center online, or call customer service of OTDA at 518-473-1090 or 1-800-342-3009.
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