Description:
Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) is the largest division in the Department of Human Services. Staff and administrators provide a continuum of services, through nine programs that serve different populations, aimed at providing clients with monthly benefits to assist them with such essentials as food, shelter, and child care, as well as employment support and work-training and dependency diversion and prevention. Programs include: Emergency Broadband Benefit Program;Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF); First-To-Work (FTW); Employment and Training (E&T); Child Care Program Office; General Assistance (GA); Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Hawaii Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program; Homeless Programs (HP) & Information; and Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP). The Public Assistance Information Line (PAIS) is a nation-wide toll-free number (1-855-643-1643) available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The PAIS website https://pais.dhs.hawaii.gov/PAIS/#!/ is accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They both provide basic information on a variety of assistance programs offered through the Department of Human Services.