Public Assistance or Welfare

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) is trying to eliminate, whenever possible, the need for clients to come into their offices.

You can use the ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App from anywhere and at any time to submit requests to HRA.

New Applicants and Current Recipients

You can apply or recertify for Cash Assistance or apply for Emergency One-Time Assistance using the ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App. HRA will call you for your eligibility interview. In-person interview appointments at Job Centers are not available at this time.

Get more information about COVID-19 and your HRA benefits.

Current Recipients Only

If your case is due to recertify on or after September 30, 2020 and you would like to continue getting Cash Assistance, you must complete the recertification process to see if you are still eligible. You will get a letter in the mail with detailed instructions that says you need to submit your recertification form by August 31, 2020.  You can always check ACCESS HRA, or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App to see if you need to recertify.

If you receive a Cash Assistance 6-month mailer, you must submit your signed and completed form by the due date on your notice.  Please mail it back to HRA using the postage-paid envelope that was sent with the form.

If you currently receive Cash Assistance, your case will stay open even if you:

  • Were due to complete your Cash Assistance recertification interview between March and August and you did not submit a recertification form. Your certification period has been or will be extended. HRA will send you a letter telling you when you need to recertify.
  • Miss an HRA appointment, including for child support or child care services
  • Miss an HRA work or training assignment (even if you are or were sanctioned)

All scheduled in-person appointments have been cancelled. You will get a text or email from HRA letting you know your next steps.

If you receive Cash Assistance and have lost your job or had a change in your income, you do not need to submit a new application. You will need to submit documents that prove the change to your income.

Learn about the documents you can use and the ways to submit them.

Get more information about COVID-19 and your HRA benefits.

Keep Your Information Up-to-Date

Use the ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App to view your case information and update your contact information. It's very important that HRA has your current contact information.

HRA Locations  

The number of HRA Centers and Offices open to the public has been reduced. Please only visit an HRA Center or Office if your needs cannot be met online or by phone. Hours and locations may change.  Visit the HRA Center Locations website for more information.

EBT Cards

Applicants who have been approved for benefits will receive an EBT card in the mail. If your EBT card has not yet arrived, you can go to the Brooklyn OTC site for your permanent card, or one of seven open center locations for a temporary card that will have all benefits available until your EBT card arrives. Visit the HRA Center Locations website for more information.

Replacement EBT cards can only be sent via the mail or picked up at the Brooklyn OTC site. For more information, visit the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card page.

Supplement for Some SNAP Households

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 is providing funding for a supplement to all SNAP households that did not receive the maximum SNAP benefit amount allowed for their household size in March, April, May, June, July, August and/or September.

If you already received your March, April, May, June, July, August and/or September SNAP benefit payments, and it wasn’t for the maximum for your household size, you will receive another payment. The supplement payments previously occurred in April, May, June, July and August and will occur in September to ensure all households who are eligible for the supplement receive it.

SNAP Households that received the maximum benefit, based on their household’s size, are not eligible for a supplement payment.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about the supplement benefit.

Need something else?

You can find out if you are eligible for public assistance. You can apply for cash benefits and participate in programs that prepare you for self-sufficiency. 

Eligible families may receive up to 60 months of federally funded cash assistance under the Temporary Aid to Needy Families Program (TANF). Single individuals without children and families who have already received cash assistance for 60 months may receive benefits under the New York State Safety Net Program.

Caregivers who are not foster parents but are financially responsible for children in their care may also be eligible for cash assistance.

Temporary benefits include:

  • A cash grant that includes a shelter portion
  • Energy assistance grants 
  • Additional money to assist with other expenses

You can learn more about eligibility and the application process from the Human Resources Administration (HRA). You can also find out your case status.

Learn more about public assistance.

Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information.  The text might say you were chosen to receive food stamps or SNAP.  

If you are a New York City resident and do not know if a request for information about SNAP is real or not, contact HRA by phone.

Never share personal information with individuals or organizations that you do not know. Personal information includes your social security number, bank information, or SNAP electronic benefits transfer card or PIN number. If you think the text is a scam, do not reply at all.  Just delete the message.

If you gave your personal information using the link in the text, you should file an Identity Theft report.

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. Most languages are available through a staff person.

You can get information about eligibility requirements online, by phone, or in person at a Job Center. (Job Centers used to be called Welfare Offices.) 

You can apply by mail or in person at a Job Center.

If you’re already receiving cash assistance, you can complete an online recertification application.

Online

Use ACCESS NYC to pre-screen for Cash Assistance and other programs and learn how to apply.

Find out what documents you need to apply.

In Person

You can get the location of the nearest Job Center.

Find a Job Center.

By Phone

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. Most languages are available through a staff person.

You must meet the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements if you apply for or receive SNAP benefits and are an ABAWD, as defined by federal SNAP rules. 

ABAWDs are only eligible to get SNAP benefits for three months in a 3-year period unless they meet certain special work requirements or are excused. In New York State, this 3-year period began on January 1, 2019.

As of April 1, 2020, all ABAWDs who live in New York City will have to meet one of the activities listed below to fulfill their work requirement.  

If you are an ABAWD you must complete and give us proof of one of the following each month:

  • Work, including "in-kind" and volunteer work, for at least 80 hours per month.
  • Participation in an employment and training program for veterans operated by the Department of Labor or Department of Veterans Affairs for at least 80 hours per month.
  • Participate in a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or TradeAct program, including job search, job readiness, occupational skills training, and education activities for at least 80 hours per month.
  • Participate in a combination of work or qualifying work programs for at least 80 hours per month.

Proof is not required for the following work requirements because they are tracked by HRA:

  • Participate in a work activity approved by HRA for no more than 12 hours per month.
  • Participate in an HRA-approved work or training program for at least 80 hours per month.

The work requirements listed above apply to each ABAWD in the SNAP household.

If you are an applicant or recipient of cash assistance and you must move, you may be eligible for help with: 

  • Moving expenses
  • Security deposit voucher
  • Broker’s fees
  • Temporary storage for furniture and personal belongings

All requests for moving and storage expenses must be made at the Job Center. You can also learn about the request process by phone.

Find a Job Center.

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. Most languages are available through a staff person.

Public assistance clients can get case status information, can request a budget letter, and can requests to have their budget information changed.

Examples of changes include:

  • Adding family members
  • Removing family members
  • Changing the amount of household income
  • Changing address

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. Most languages are available through a staff person.

If you owe HRA money on a closed public assistance case, you can set up a payment plan by phone.

Call 311 for assistance.

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