Social Services

Beginning October 1, 2025, a Code Blue alert must be called when temperatures are expected to fall below 32° F (0° C) for two consecutive hours. When an alert is announced, Code Blue sheltering will be provided and can be accessed:

During business hours (M-F 8 am-4:30 pm):

• Visit DSS at 320 W MLK/State Street, or
• Call DSS Emergency Housing Services at (607) 274-5030

After hours and on weekends:

• Call non-emergency dispatch at (607) 272-2444 to be connected to DSS on-call.

Starting on November 24, 2025, the Code Blue shelter will be located at 227 Cherry Street, Ithaca, NY

Beginning October 1, 2025, some items used to figure the amount of SNAP benefits a household gets will change. These changes are a result of federally-required changes to the standards and deductions.

• LDSS-5006 Notice to All SNAP Recipients (English)(PDF, 170KB)(PDF, 149KB)
• LDSS-5006 Notice to All SNAP Recipients (Espanol)(PDF, 195KB)(PDF, 145KB)

• Start a Job, Increase Your Income, Keep Your Benefits(PDF, 170KB)(PDF, 170KB)
• Learn, Earn, and Keep Your Benefits(PDF, 195KB)(PDF, 195KB)

New Online Eligibility Questionnaire!

Just answer a few questions to see if you can get child care at low or even no cost - in 10 minutes or less!

• NYS OCFS
• Calculating Your Gross Monthly Income

New: There are now four (4) ways to obtain an application to receive a child care subsidy.

1. Apply now with our new online application
2. Download the State application in the form of a PDF file (unfortunately not 'fillable'; it will need to be printed out.)
3. Call us at 607-274-5612 to request that a hardcopy application to be mailed to you.
4. Pick up an application in person at the Reception window of the county's Human Services Building in downtown Ithaca (the street address is 320 W. Martin Luther King, Jr./State Street; but our public parking lot is on Seneca Street between Albany and Plain.)

Instructions for completing the application can be downloaded as a Word document from NYS Office of Children and Family Services.

There has been a change in federal Head Start policy that simplifies the process for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to be deemed eligible for Head Start programs.

In partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced on April 21, 2022, that SNAP recipients are now considered categorically eligible for Head Start programs.

• SNAP Head Start Flyer(PDF, 1MB)(PDF, 1MB)
• SNAP Head Start Flyer (en Español)(PDF, 669KB)(PDF, 669KB)

We are pleased to announce that a free State-sponsored mobile device app call NYDocSubmit is now available for use by applicants for and recipients of certain benefits programs to submit photos of their documents rather than coming to the Department in person to submit hardcopies. (Persons who can't download the app to their own device can permit others who have done so to upload their documents for them.)

For more information, please visit the the following links:

• NYS OTDA's Dedicated NYDocSubmit Webpage
• NYDocSubmit Quick Reference(PDF, 82KB)(PDF, 82KB)

When a child is unable to continue living with their family of origin, members of the extended family or even family friends are sometimes able and willing to become their primary caregivers. These arrangements are often more successful than those in which kids are placed in the care of persons whom they don't know.

For more information about non-parent caregiver placements and the financial and other supports for them that are available through the Department of Social Services, please visit our Kinship Care page.

Cash assistance program based on income and resources. Assistance can be issued on an ongoing basis or to meet an emergency need for housing or heat/utilities. Visit the NY State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website.

(607) 274-5201

Previously known as Food Stamps, the Federal SNAP program provides low-income households monthly benefits to purchase food. Income and resource standards vary according to age, health, household size and household expenditures.

You or your authorized representative can apply for SNAP online or by completing a New York State-prescribed form manually and mailing it to or dropping it off at the Department of Social Services.

The following links contain important information:

• Nutrition Education
• Non-Discrimination Statement(PDF, 28KB)(PDF, 28KB)
• SNAP Civil Rights Assurance(PDF, 26KB)(PDF, 26KB)

For more information -- including how to file a complaint if you feel that you've been discriminated against -- visit the SNAP page on New York State's Office of Family and Disability Assistance website.

Medicaid Programs - Information
(607) 274-5244

New York State of Health
1-855-355-5777

Medicaid Transportation
1-866-753-4543

Medicaid Managed Care
(607) 274-5245

Medicaid is an income-based assistance program for the medically indigent. Income and resource standards vary depending on age, health, household size, and certain household expenditures. Depending on the type of medical services sought, some applicants will not need to provide resource information; or they may be able to provide written attestation of their household’s resources. Medicaid coverage ranges from skilled nursing home care to routine medical care. Medicaid may pay for health insurance premiums including Medicare. Partial Medicaid coverage is available in some situations.

(607) 274-5264

This Federal program helps low-income households meet the high costs of home energy. Income and resource eligibility standards, as well as available funding, change from year to year. For more information, see our dedicated web page for the HEAP program, or access one of the following New York State websites:

• NY Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• myBenefits.ny.gov

New York State Child Care Block Grant-funded subsidies assist parents/caretakers to pay for child care while they participate in qualifying employment, training, or educational programs. Care my take the form of traditional 'day care' or on another schedule, depending on the schedules of parents/caretakers and of available providers. Please see our dedicated page for more information about this program.

To be screened and request an application, contact our Low Income Child Care Unit at (607) 274-5219.

For help either finding or becoming a child care provider, please contact the Child Development Council at (607) 273-0259.

If you are a client of the Department of Social Services, please contact your case manager for assistance. If you're unable to reach him or her, our county Human Services Coalition's Information and Referral service is staffed 24 hours a day and can be reached either by dialing 211 or through the HSCTC website.

Other transportation-related links which may be useful:

• Way2Go
• TCAT (Tompkins County Area Transit)

Child Support Unit
1-888-208-4485

Assists custodial parents in the establishment of paternity for children born out of wedlock; works to establish court orders regarding child support responsibilities of non-custodial parents; enforces child support orders through collection methods which may include income executions against absent parents' wages and unemployment benefits and seizure of income tax refunds and lottery winnings; receives and disburses child support payments.

NYS Hotline
1-800-342-3720
Toll-free, 24 hours/day

(607) 274-5610

CPS responds to reports of child abuse and maltreatment with an assessment or investigation and provides protective/preventive services to families and children.

Catholic Charities' Community Connections program (272-5062 extension 28) provides help & support for parents going through the CPS process and or who have had their children placed in foster care.

Foster Homefinding
(607) 274-5266

Adoption/Post Adoption Services
(607) 274-5615
(607) 274-5309

Foster Care Services Unit provides recruitment and retention of qualified, caring families who are willing to provide temporary foster care and work with families toward reunification. Available for our certified foster families when children cannot return to their parents. Information, referral, and clinical support provided

(607) 274-5270

Temporary placement in foster homes, group homes, or institutions for children who temporarily cannot live at home. Provides preventive services to families, and court diversion services for youth.

(607) 274-5323

Investigates reports of abuse/neglect of adults, provides financial management, case management, and legal interventions necessary for the protection of at-risk adults.

(607) 274-5278

Tompkins Care Connection provides information and referral about long term care and other services such as home delivered meals, respite, and home health care.

The program also provides in-home assessments, in-home aide service, and PRI (Patient Review Instrument) assessments to determine the level of care and type of skilled nursing facility most appropriate for the individual.