You may apply for Temporary Assistance benefits by printing out an LDSS-2921 application and mailing it to:
ECDSS
PO Box 120
Buffalo, NY 14201-9903
You may also apply for Temporary Assistance benefits in person at:
Erie County Work Center
158 Pearl Street - First Floor
Buffalo, NY 14202
Hours of Operation 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
After you complete your application and submit it you will be advised where to report for further processing. You may also be given a follow up appointment to meet with an Employment Counselor and/or an eligibility worker.
You may be required to provide:
- verification of identity
- verification of citizenship status
- proof of age
- proof of address
- household composition information
- expense information
- proof of income, resources and employability
You may be required to have your photograph and/or fingerprints taken.
If your case is approved you will be required to recertify on a periodic basis, and you must inform your worker if your income, address or household composition changes.
You will generally receive a decision on your Temporary Assistance application 30 - 45 days after submission. Certification interviews can vary in length depending on individual case circumstances but generally take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. If an employment screening is required it will require an additional hour to complete.
Know Your Options: Kin Caring for Children