Emergency Assistance to Adults

In conjunction with the implementation of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program in January 1974, New York State established the Emergency Assistance for Adults (EAA) program to meet the emergency needs of NYS’ aged, blind and disabled population that cannot be met by a recipient’s basic SSI cash benefit. The EAA Program was originally approved on a temporary basis with the expectation that the federal government would take responsibility for the emergency needs of the SSI population. Since the federal government failed to act in this area, New York State has continued to reauthorize EAA every one to two years.

EAA is administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and administered locally in NYC by the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA).

EAA is a non-Federal participating program and is financed by state and local funds.

Emergency Assistance for Adults (EAA) is a New York State program intended to meet the temporary emergency needs of aged, blind or disabled SSI recipients, which if not met would endanger the health, safety or welfare of the SSI individual or couple.

To qualify for an Emergency Assistance Family (EAA) grant, a member of household must be eligible for or receiving SSI and meet the criteria of an emergency. Households in NYC can apply for an EAA grant at any local Job Center. A face-to-face interview will be conducted and the applicant will need to provide documentation to verify their eligibility.