The umbrella agency overseeing the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). It administers cash assistance, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid enrollment, and rental assistance for New Yorkers in need. DSS is the city's primary safety net. It processes SNAP benefits for 1.8 million New Yorkers, runs the CityFHEPS rental voucher program, and is the first stop for anyone who falls on hard times. When this agency struggles, people go hungry or lose housing.
Spending
$8.98B
42,024 transactions →
Payroll
$622.7M
208,637 pay records →
Budget (Adopted)
$11.97B
$8.18B spent
Avg Salary
$70.9K
across 208,637 records
Did You Know
DSS overtime spending has more than tripled since 2014, from under $22 million to nearly $75 million, as the agency tries to compensate for roughly 1,455 unfilled positions with the staff it has left.
| STATE OF NEW YORK | $3.90B |
| N/A (PRIVACY/SECURITY) | $2.48B |
| DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE | $846.8M |
| ADMINISTRATION | $233.8M |
| PUBLIC ASSISTANCE | $227.9M |
| ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST | 36,090 staff | $49.7K avg |
| BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST | 28,507 staff | $56.7K avg |
| CASEWORKER | 20,769 staff | $53.9K avg |
| ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST | 12,549 staff |
| $74.9K avg |
| PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE - SUPVR FLSA E | 10,039 staff | $64.5K avg |
Headcount
~11,000 employees with a 12% vacancy rate -- one of the emptiest agencies in city government
Who It Serves
1.8 million SNAP recipients plus hundreds of thousands receiving cash assistance, Medicaid, and rental subsidies
Category
Health & Human Services