|
Public Assistance (PA) and HIV/AIDS Services
administration (HASA, formerly DASIS)
What is Public Assistance?
Public Assistance (PA), also known as Welfare, is a program that
provides cash assistance and Food Stamps to people who have limited
or no income and resources. PA assists people who are not disabled
or who are HIV positive but not symptomatic enough to be served
by HASA. In New York City, PA is administered by the Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Applications for assistance
are filed at local Income Support centers which are located throughout
New Your City. Your PA caseworker should also assist in obtaining
Medicaid and Food Stamp benefits (see Medicaid and Food
Stamp fact sheets).
PA provides Family Assistance (FA), for up to five years, to families
where there is one or more dependent child through a federal program
called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Individuals
and childless couples are assisted through the Safety Net Assistance
(SNA) program in the form of cash assistance. If you are an SNA
recipient and HIV positive, PA will provide cash assistance with
no time limits unless you are determined to be abusing illegal
substances or engaging in habitual consumption of alcohol, in which
case, you would be eligible for Public Assistance only through
the voucher system. SNA recipients who are not HIV positive receive
PA cash assistance with a two year lifetime limit and after that
they would only be eligible to receive for the most part, non-cash
assistance such as direct vendor or two party checks for shelter
or utility payments.
Who does Public Assistance work with?
PA serves all eligible individuals and families who need help,
regardless of HIV status. However, PA will pay enhanced rent (rent
which exceeds the standard allowance) only to residents of New
York State who are HIV positive and symptomatic. It is important
to note that anybody who resides in New York City (the area that
HASA serves) who was eligible for enhanced rent from regular PA
should now be eligible for enhanced rent plus enhanced
nutritional and transportation PA benefits through HASA. This is
because of the HASA local law #49 which was passed in August 1997.
PA allows you to have resources (money in the bank, IRAs, CDs,
investments etc.) of up to $2,000 OR $3,000 if there is someone
in the household who is 60 years of age or older. Your car usually
does not count. You can have a burial account, at a bank, of up
to $1,500. A clinic, Health Service Systems (HS Systems), tests
and reviews an individual's HIV-related symptoms. If they determine
that you are eligible, they will inform PA who will provide enhanced
rent payments. (If you live in NYC, PA should refer you to HASA.)
IMPORTANT: HS Systems is required by law to inform you
about testing for HIV and also has a professional responsibility
to discuss with you the details of any other testing they plan
to do. If you have any doubts about what tests you are being
asked to take, ask for an explanation.
How much will I receive for rent, nutritional needs and
transportation (food and other allowance)?
What follows are two examples of monthly Public Assistance budgets
for Individuals. Family allowances are higher. If you are a family
and would like to know what Public Assistance would allow for you,
we can calculate the budget. For information, please call the GMHC
Advocacy Helpline at 212/367-1125.
| |
Example 1: |
|
| |
PA budget for an individual
who is HIV negative or HIV positive but not symptomatic: |
|
| |
Maximum food and other allowance |
$137
|
| |
Maximum rent allowance |
$215
|
| |
|
|
| |
Total monthly allowance (would be
reduced if you have other income) |
$352
|
| |
Plus up to $155 in Food Stamps |
|
If your rent is higher than $215, you would have to get a third
party to agree to pay the amount that PA is not willing to approve.
| |
Example
2: |
| |
Enhanced Rent
PA budget for an individual who is HIV positive and symptomatic
and lives outside of NYC: |
| |
Maximum food and other allowance |
$137
|
| |
Maximum enhanced rent allowance |
$480
|
| |
|
|
| |
Total monthly allowance (would be
reduced if you have other income) |
$617
|
| |
Plus up to $155 in Food Stamps |
|
If your rent is over the maximum of $480, you could request that
your PA caseworker ask for a special approval which may or may
not be granted. If it is not granted, you would have to get a third
party to agree to pay the amount that PA will not approve.
What is HASA and whom do they serve?
The HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) is part of the Human
Resources Administration (HRA). In an effort to expand services
to people with HIV/AIDS, the HRA renamed the Division of AIDS Services
and Income Support. The new name is HIV/AIDS Services Administration
(HASA).
Any person who has or has ever had AIDS or certain HIV symptoms
as defined by the New York State AIDS Institute (list available
through GMHC Advocacy Helpline) is eligible for services through
HASA which may include benefits such as enhanced nutritional, transportation
and rent allowances from Public Assistance. HASA also provides
housing assistance to those who are homeless or potentially homeless.
HASA works with people who either have:
- Not enough monthly income to pay rent, purchase food, pay
for utilities and whose resources (money in the bank, IRAs, CDs,
investments etc.) are less than $2,000 OR $3,000 if there is
a household member who is 60 years of age or older. Your car
usually does not count. You can have a burial account, at a bank,
of up to $1,500.
- a one time emergency situation (rent arrears or utility bills
that can't be paid);
- are homeless or pending eviction;
- are in need of homecare (need assistance with activities of
daily living and will rely on Medicaid to pay for it).
Unlike PA, HASA gives more personal service to its clients. A
caseworker is assigned to act as an advocate and counselor and
to assist with benefits such as enhanced Public Assistance, Food
Stamps and Medicaid. The caseworker will come to visit you at home
and if necessary, the caseworker can process the request for homecare
and nursing services. This request is usually routed through Visiting
Nurse Services.
Where do I go to apply?
Bring a diagnosis letter, M11Q form (medical request for home
care), or HASA referral form, which must be signed by your physician
and include the physician's license number to:
HASA/Serviceline
400 Eighth Avenue, at 30th Street
New York, NY 10001
212/971-0626
Note: The serviceline will confirm this information by calling
your physician.
If your physician or your social worker does not have an M11Q
or has a referral form, you can contact the GMHC Advocacy Helpline
at 212/367-1125.
How much will I receive for enhanced rent, nutritional
needs and transportation (food and other allowance)?
What follows is an example of an enhanced HASA monthly PA budget
for an individual. Family allowances are higher. If you are a family
and would like to know what HASA would allow for you, we can calculate
the budget. For information, please call the GMHC Advocacy Helpline
at 212/367-1125.
| |
Maximum food and other allowance
(higher than PA pays to non-HASA/DHAS clients) |
$330
|
| |
Maximum rent allowance |
$480
|
| |
|
|
| |
Total monthly allowance (would be
reduced if you have other income) |
$810
|
| |
Plus up to $155 in Food Stamps |
|
If your rent is higher than $480, you could request that your
HASA caseworker ask for a special approval for the full amount
of your rent which may or may not be granted. If it is not granted,
you would have to get a third party to agree to pay the amount
that HASA is not willing to approve.
If you are a GMHC client, you can request that the Advocacy
Unit advocate on your behalf to increase your chances of being
approved for the full amount of your rent.
What if I am homeless?
HASA must provide you with emergency housing in a commercial SRO
or hotel and then assist you in finding permanent housing. Be sure
to ask your HASA caseworker to help you prepare a housing application
that will be submitted to the HASA Housing Unit. You may also want
to look for an affordable apartment on your own. The GMHC Client
Advocacy Unit can provide you with a housing packet that includes
the Section 8 rent limits that HASA has adopted for HASA clients
seeking permanent housing. The packet also includes a realtor's
list and descriptions of other housing options.
What if I don't agree with a HASA decision or action on
my case?
As a result of a lawsuit, HASA has created a new unit, the Fair
Hearing and Appeals Unit (FHAU). The new unit gives HASA clients
the right to a formal appeal regarding HASA decisions and actions.
HASA clients can request a FHAU hearing by filing a client Request
for Hearing Form (available through the GMHC Client Advocacy Unit
(212/367-1125) or by calling the FHAU at 212/620-9893). The forms
are also required to be at all HASA centers and at the HASA Serviceline
at 400 8th Avenue at 30th Street. A hearing with the FHAU (or at
your home or hospital room if necessary) will be scheduled within
21 days. However, the FHAU claims that they will try to resolve
the complaint before the hearing.
The existing fair hearing system is run by the New York State
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and covers
only statewide benefits. OTDA fair hearings therefore cannot address
benefits received exclusively by HASA clients in New York City,
such as the enhanced Public Assistance benefits, intensive management
services, and housing placement Assistance.
The Client Advocacy Unit at GMHC is available to assist
you. For more information, please call our Helpline: 212/367-1125,
Wednesdays 2 pm to 5:30 pm. Walk-in services are availableTuesdays and Thursdays, 10 am to 1 pm.
Revised 4/07
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis
|
home 
