The New York (state) Welfare Management System receives, maintains and processes information relating to persons who apply for benefits, or who are determined to be eligible for benefits under any program administered by the department.
Fair hearings
Administrative reviews ("Fair Hearings") of decisions by a local social services agency are handled by the OTDA Office of Administrative Hearings.[4]
In 1867 a Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities was created to visit and examine into the affairs of all charitable institutions.[5][6] In 1875 the Children's Law removed children from poorhouses.[7][8] In 1894 a constitutional convention enacted a provision requiring the Legislature to establish a State Board of Charities to visit and inspect all institutions.[9][10][6] In 1909 the Poor Law was consolidated in chapter 42, and the State Charities Law in chapter 55, of the Consolidated Laws of New York.[11][12] The Public Welfare Law superseded the Poor Law in 1929.[13][14] In 1931 they were renamed as the Department of Social Welfare and the State Board of Social Welfare.[15][6] In 1940 the State Charities Law and the Public Welfare Law were consolidated and clarified in one Social Welfare Law.[16][17][6][18] In 1967 it was renamed as the Department of Social Services.[19]
On August 20, 1997, Governor Pataki signed the Welfare Reform Act of 1997 that, in relevant part, renamed it as the Department of Family Assistance, and also divided the department into Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).[3][20][21][22][23][24][25] These two offices assumed many of DSS' functions. Other functions of the former DSS were transferred to the Department of Labor and the Department of Health. In addition, as part of the reorganization of State government, OCFS assumed all of the functions of the Division for Youth (DFY).[26]
^Social Services Law § 5; "The state department of social welfare, provided for in the constitution, is hereby continued." Social Services Law § 2(1); "Department means the state department of social services[...]" Chap. 436 of the Laws of 1997, § 122; "[...] the department of social services [...] is hereby renamed the department of family assistance. [...]"
^Executive Law § 500. "There is hereby continued in the department of family assistance an autonomous office of children and family services. [...]"
^ ab"The Welfare Reform Act of 1997". Laws of the State of New York Passed at the Sessions of the Legislature. 220th sess.: III: 2806–2961. 1997. hdl:2027/nyp.33433017532999. ISSN0892-287X. Chapter 436, enacted 20 August 1997, effective immediately with provisos. § 122(a) at p. 2922: "Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law to the contrary, effective April 1, 1997, the department of social services, as established by chapter 55 of the consolidated laws of the state of New York, is hereby renamed the department of family assistance. Within the department there shall be the following autonomous offices: (1) the office of children and family services; and (2) the office of temporary and disability assistance. (b) The head of the office of children and family services shall be the commissioner of children and family services and the head of the office of temporary and disability assistance shall be the commissioner of temporary and disability assistance."