Recertification for the Child-Only Grant in New York

When Recertification Happens

New York sets a 24-month Temporary Assistance certification period for cases classified as non-parent caregiver (NPC) cases. At the 12-month midpoint, HRA or your county DSS sends an LDSS-4887 Eligibility Questionnaire for the household to report changes. The formal TA recertification is due at the end of the 24-month period; follow the notice for your response deadline.

If the district proposes to discontinue your case, read the notice and respond by its deadline. If you do not respond within the 10-day period in a timely notice, the case closes; an assistance request made after closure is treated as a new application.

What the Recertification Requires

The recertification is simpler than the initial application because the district already has your baseline information on file. You are confirming that the child's circumstances have not changed in ways that affect eligibility. Expect to verify:

• The child still lives with you. At recertification, the LDSS-4887 lets you attest to household composition and residence. The district should not require documents for these facts unless the information is questionable.
• The child's income has not changed significantly. If the child receives Social Security survivor benefits, SSI, or child support, bring a current award letter or payment stub. If nothing has changed, say so — the caseworker will check state databases (SDX/BENDEX) to confirm.
• Your relationship to the child. This was established at initial application and rarely needs re-documented unless the living arrangement has changed.
• School enrollment for children over compulsory attendance age. If the child is 16 to 18, some districts ask for proof of school enrollment to continue benefits past the standard cutoff.

You do not need to provide your own income documents for a child-only recertification. If the caseworker requests your pay stubs or tax returns, the same rule applies as at initial application: your income is excluded under 18 NYCRR Parts 350-352, and you can point that out.

How to Complete It

In New York City, you can recertify through ACCESS HRA online (nyc.gov/accesshra), by submitting documents at an HRA office, or by completing the recertification interview by phone. Outside NYC, check whether your county DSS offers phone or mail recertification — some do, particularly for cases classified as stable.

Regardless of method, do not wait until the last week. Submit documents and schedule the interview as soon as the notice arrives. Postal delays, missed calls, or a caseworker on leave can eat through your deadline faster than expected.

What Happens If You Miss It

If your case is at risk of closing, HRA or your county DSS will send a Notice of Intent to Discontinue showing the effective date. You can request a Fair Hearing and Aid Continuing — which keeps the cash grant at its current level during the appeal — by filing before the effective date or, if the notice is delayed, within 10 days of its postmark.

The better path is not to miss the deadline. Set reminders for the 12-month questionnaire and the recertification date listed in your notice.

Reporting Changes Between Recertifications

You do not need to wait for recertification to report changes. Report immediately if the child moves out, returns to a parent, or the household composition or living arrangement changes. For SNAP households subject to Change Reporting, a gross monthly income increase of more than $125 must be reported within 10 days after the end of the month in which it occurred. Follow your notices for any other reporting duties; unreported changes can lead to overpayments the district may recover.

The New York Kinship Financial Help Guide covers the full recertification process alongside every other benefit program, so you know exactly what each renewal requires and when to expect it.

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