myBenefits is the fast and easy way to find out about many health and human services programs and how to apply for them, anytime and anywhere. The site is aimed at helping low income working families and individuals make ends meet. Programs include: food stamps, home energy assistance, earned income tax credits, child and dependent care credits, Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus and school lunch programs, among others.
Get involved in education and training programs that enable you to secure entry level employment within a specific industry in the Albany area and to advance over time in that industry.
Find disability resource specialists who help individuals with disabilities ‘navigate’ through available programs and services in the local One Stop Career Center system.
We introduce you to a man who served time for running an illegal drug operation but is now determined to find honest work to put food on the table for his two sons, as well as a man who was able to overcome his record and find stable work with the help of a career training program. Finding a job is particularly difficult for those with a criminal record, but as our experts attest, it is possible.
What can you do if you lose your job and, with it, your health coverage? Dan Bazile discusses the options, from COBRA to catastrophic coverage to discounted prescription programs, with Martin Rosen, author of the ‘Healthcare Survival Guide.’ In addition, Peter Newell, author of ‘Hard Times and Health Insurance’ joins us to discuss public health insurance programs available in New York State.
Do you need help in reading, writing and math? Do you want to try a home study program? Get your high school equivalency diploma (GED) with help from the Adult Literacy/GED preparation program at Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Herkimer-Essex BOCES now. Or, call (518) 581-3310 for information on exam dates and more.
Do you need a GED diploma, or do you need to learn how to speak English? Classes are free for all adults ages 21 and over. Washington Irving offers day and evening classes as well as study-at-home options. Call (518) 370-8230 for more information.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) may help you pay for electricity, propane, natural gas, wood, oil, kerosene, coal or any other heating fuel so that you can reduce your energy expenses and keep your heat on when needed during winter months.
Mackenzie is a single mother of two young children who felt stuck when she became unemployed last year. She spent months looking for any kind of job at all with no luck. Fortunately, Mackenzie was able to move back in with her parents, and her local One Stop Career Center helped her explore a new career. Mackenzie says: ‘By doing this program, it kind of picked me up from where I left off.’ | • Watch Video
If you are having trouble feeding your children, you are not alone and help is available. Use this resource to explore your options, which include school breakfast and lunch programs, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Eat Smart New York (ESNY), food banks and food stamps.
