Our Mission Statement:
The Department of Social Services enriches the quality of life for Suffolk County citizens who find themselves in need of assistance and services by providing child support enforcement services, food stamps, temporary financial, housing, medical and home energy assistance as well as protective and preventive services for vulnerable children and adults.

 Our goal is to provide clients and applicants with the ability to gain self-sufficiency, to strengthen and preserve families, encourage personal responsibility and offering other services that will ultimately foster independence.

To apply for services, call or visit the local center serving your area. In addition, the New York State website My Benefits  is a quick and easy way to find answers to questions about New York State's programs and services. Click on the image below for more information. 
 

What to expect - Helpful Hints
Employment Opportunities
How Do I Report Welfare Fraud? 
Public Forms
Service Centers 

CHILD CARE APPLICATIONS
All individuals applying for child care who meet the appropriate criteria must complete the following NYS Local DSS application: LDSS-2921.  All other individuals must complete the Wait List Screening Application.  (For this form in Spanish, click here.)  Have questions?  Call the Child Care Unit at 853-3666 to determine the appropriate form to complete.

SERVICE CENTER LOCATIONS AND EVENING HOURS
Each Center will now be open one evening per month.
Click here for Center evening hours schedule and directions 
In addition, the South West Center provides additional services and outreach programs from various governmental and community agencies.
Click here to view schedule and decriptions of programs available.

DIRECTORY FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS
General information and telephone numbers
To View the Directory you must have Acrobat Reader

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM 

The Suffolk County Department of Social Services, the Town of Islip Community Development Agency, and the Town of Babylon Community Development Department have received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to assist individuals and families at risk of homelessness and those who are currently homeless. In a collaborative effort the Department and the towns have combined their grants, thus enabling the Department to award over $2.6 million to Family Service League (FSL) and the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk (EOC) to operate the Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Rehousing Program.

The Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Rehousing Program began October 1, 2009 and provides such services as rental assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance and legal fees to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Program participants’ total income must be at or below 50% of the Area Median Income, which will enable FSL and EOC to provide services to those who are ineligible for the Department’s traditional emergency assistance programs.   Click here for more information or contact Saba Mchunguzi at (631) 854-9542 or Saba.Mchunguzi@suffolkcountyny.gov