Greene County officials report SNAP cards being funded, warn HEAP limits and tout TANF work gains

An unidentified county staff presenter told the board on Nov. 10 that New York state began issuing full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following litigation in nearby jurisdictions and that cards were being funded and should be completed by the end of the week. "New York started, issuing full benefits to the SNAP charge yesterday. That will be completed by the end of the week," the staff member said.

The presenter cautioned that new SNAP applications still require normal processing and may take longer. The county also discussed the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): staff said there is no active HEAP allocation for Greene County at present and that HEAP office operations depend on appropriations; emergency fuel help (150 gallons) remains available for qualifying emergencies but is limited in scope. Staff emphasized that county employees inform residents honestly about HEAP availability and restrictions while state-level appropriations and procedural details remain in flux.

Separately, staff displayed an engagement report for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and safety-net loans showing Greene County at 35.5% for returning people from public assistance to work. The presenter called that ranking "number 1 in the state" and credited the county team for the performance. The board applauded the result and encouraged continuing efforts to improve the rate further.

Ending: Staff will continue to follow state guidance on SNAP and HEAP eligibility and will provide updates on HEAP allocations and emergency procedures as new information becomes available.