Temporary Assistance provides financial help to those families or individuals who qualify. Emergency assistance may also be available.

Family Assistance (FA)

Family Assistance (FA) provides cash assistance to needy families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative. FA operates under federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) guidelines.

Under FA, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, that adult and all members of his or her FA household are ineligible to receive any more FA benefits. The months need not be consecutive, but rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are received is included in the lifetime count. The counting of this 60-month limit began in December 1996 in accordance with the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Parents and other adult relatives who can work must be working or involved in work-like activities. Parents are also responsible for cooperating with the local department of social services in locating any absent parent. Non-cooperation without good cause could result in lower benefits.

In addition, all applicants for assistance are screened for substance abuse to determine the necessity of rehabilitation and treatment.

Safety Net Assistance (SNA)

If you are not eligible for other assistance programs, you may be eligible for SNA. SNA is for:

Single adults

Childless couples

Children living apart from any adult relative

Families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol

Families of persons refusing drug/alcohol screening, assessment or treatment

Persons who have exceeded the 60-month limit on assistance

Aliens who are eligible for temporary assistance, but are not eligible for federal reimbursement

Generally, you can receive cash SNA for a maximum of 2 years in a lifetime. After that, if you are eligible for SNA, it is provided in non-cash form, such as a 2-party check or a voucher. In addition, non-cash SNA is provided for:

Families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol

Families of persons refusing drug/alcohol screening, assessment or treatment

Provides undesignated temporary financial aid to low income people and families for daily necessities.

Offers a Credit Builder Loan that can improve credit scores through on-time monthly payments. A Home Appliance Loan from Chautauqua Opportunities is always for a new appliance with a fixed interest rate currently at 6.5%. Low interest rates can get a refrigerator for less than $40 per month. Qualified candidates must be residents of Chautauqua County, at least 18 years old, and able to deposit a minimum of $250.

Provides services relating to the following: Issuance/Filing of Vital Records (birth, death and marriage certificates),Building Permits, Certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates, conditional use permits, county landfill coupons, dog licenses, replacement tags, impoundment, fire and police alarm permits, garbage/trash licenses, junk licenses, notary public services,

Temporary Assistance (TA) is a form of temporary financial assistance available for needy children, families and single individuals. This program may be able to assist you if you are unable to work, cannot find a job or your income does not meet your basic needs. Temporary Assistance may be able to help pay for expenses such as food, clothing, rent/mortgage, heat and utilities.

Temporary Assistance is Chautauqua County's term for federal and state temporary assistance programs. These programs give short-term help to families and individuals as they work toward self-sufficiency; Family Assistance provides cash assistance to needy families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative; Safety Net assistance; Services and Assistance Programs for Non-Parent Caregivers; indigent burials (Indigent Burials The local district provides for burial when a Temporary Assistance recipient or other indigent person dies leaving no funds or insurance sufficient to pay the cost and there are no relatives, friends or other persons liable or willing to take responsibility for the burial expense.) **Temporary assistance for clients who actively receive cash assistance have the water bill vouchered in their name and have to be a home owner. Anyone is able to submit an emergency application for termination notices for water, but they need to go through the eligibility process.

Provides municipal services that include: Marriage licenses, dog licenses, handicap permits, town building, zoning and sign permits

Offers limited financial assistance to cancer patients for homecare, childcare and transportation for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Temporary help for needy men, women and children. If you are unable to work, can't find a job, or your job does not pay enough, TA may help to pay for some of your basic expenses.

Applicants may also be issued SNAP and Medicaid benefits and referred to other resources to help them overcome obstacles to becoming financially stable.