The quickest way to apply or recertify for Cash Assistance benefits is online. You can use the ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App, from anywhere and at any time to apply or recertify for Cash Assistance benefits.

You will need to submit documents that prove your eligibility.

Find out what documents you may be asked to provide.

Application and Recertification Forms

You must submit a Cash Assistance application or recertification form and required documents to apply or recertify for Cash Assistance benefits.

You can get a Cash Assistance application form:

Online

Download a Cash Assistance application or recertification form from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website.

In Person

You can get the location of the nearest Benefits Access Center (formerly known as Job Center).

Find a Benefits Access Center near you.

By Phone

You can submit your completed and signed Cash Assistance application or recertification form and required documents using any of the methods below. The quickest way to apply or recertify for Cash Assistance benefits is online.

If you’re already receiving Cash Assistance benefits and you get a Cash Assistance recertification notice by mail or an ACCESS HRA alert that you need to recertify, you must submit your recertification form, supporting documents, and complete an eligibility interview or your benefits will stop.

You can also submit your completed form and documents by mail, by fax or in person.

Online

Use the ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App from anywhere and at any time to apply or recertify for SNAP benefits.

You can submit documents using the document upload feature on the ACCESS HRA App. Documents can also be submitted through the HRA Document Upload App.

If you submit a new application or a recertification for Cash Assistance benefits, you must have an eligibility interview.

You must call HRA for your eligibility interview to review your application or recertification. HRA staff will tell you which documents you must submit.

In-person face-to-face interview appointments are not available at this time. If you want to have your eligibility interview at an HRA Benefits Access Center, HRA will direct you to a telephone or to a customer service counter where you will have your interview.

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 if you are being evicted from permanent housing or must move from temporary housing

All requests for moving and storage expenses can be made online or at an open Benefits Access Center. You can also learn about the request process by phone.

Online

Visit the ACCESS HRA website or use the ACCESS HRA Mobile App.

In Person

Find a Benefits Access Center.

By Phone

Public Assistance clients can get case status information, request a budget letter, and request changes to certain information on their case online or by phone.

Examples of changes include:

• Adding family members
• Removing family members
• Changing the amount of household income
• Changing their residential address
• Updating any other personal information

You do not need to submit a new application or visit an office to make these changes, but you will need to upload, fax or mail HRA documents that prove why the change(s) is needed.

Online

Visit the ACCESS HRA website or use the ACCESS HRA Mobile App.

By Phone

You can call HRA to request a budget letter or to request changes to your case.

Cash Assistance 6-Month Mailer

If you receive a Cash Assistance "Mail-In Recertification /Eligibility Questionnaire" (commonly known as the 6-month mailer), you must submit your signed and completed form by the due date on your notice or your case will close.

You can submit a completed and signed form by taking pictures of all pages and uploading them using the ACCESS HRA Mobile App. If you prefer to mail it back, you can send it back to HRA using the postage-paid envelope that was sent with the form.

If you no longer have that envelope, you can mail the completed form to:

Family Independence Administration
P.O. Box 637 
Canal Street Station
New York, NY 10213-0195

If you are not using the envelope sent with the form, you will have to pay for your own postage. 

Keep Your HRA Appointments

You should keep your HRA appointments. Your Cash Assistance case will stay open even if you:

• Missed an HRA appointment, including HRA child support appointments. If you miss a child support appointment, you will get a lower benefit amount but your case will stay open. 
• Missed an HRA appointment for child care services
• Missed an HRA work or training assignment

If you miss a work related appointment or assignment without good reason, your case may be sanctioned. A sanction means your benefits may be lowered or stopped.

HRA will mail you a notice about the ability to have a conciliation or re-engagement appointment to help stop your case from being sanctioned. If you get this notice, do not ignore it.

You can contact HRA by email, phone, or by going in person to request a conciliation or re-engagement appointment. You should make this request before the date that is listed on your notice under the question "What do you need to do."

Learn more about conciliation or re-engagement appointments.

By Email

Send an email to the email address listed on your notice. Be sure to include your full name, case number, or Client Identification Number (CIN), and a phone number where you can be reached.

In Person

Report to the address listed on your notice.

By Phone

Call the phone number listed on your notice. You can reach staff Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages.

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

There are individuals who will use telephonic communications to scam you out of your EBT benefits. These communications can include spoofing and texting scams.

DSS will never call or text you to ask for your account info.

Stay safe and never share your EBT or personal information with anyone over the phone. Personal information includes your social security number, bank information, or SNAP electronic benefits transfer card or PIN number.

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

You can make a complaint about Public Assistance or Welfare, including:

• Delays in benefit determinations
• Staff behavior at a Benefits Access Center (formerly known as Job Center)
• How your case is handled

Online

Email the Human Resources Administration.

By Phone