Public Assistance or Welfare

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You can find out if you are eligible for Public Assistance, also known as Cash Assistance. You can apply for cash benefits and participate in programs that prepare you for self-sufficiency. Most benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card.

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 Assistance 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
  • Utility 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 (Cash Assistance).

EBT Card Information and Assistance

Visit the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Assistance for Clients page instead for information about:

  • How to use EBT cards
  • Replacing lost or stolen EBT cards
  • Checking EBT card balance
  • Changing/resetting a PIN number

You can get help submitting additional information, documentation, or grant request on a pending application. You do not have to submit a new application. 

Staff at participating Community Based Organizations (CBOs) can help you:

  • Upload additional information or documentation
  • Update your pending Cash Assistance application or recertification
  • Add a new emergency need request
  • With your eligibility interview

You can contact any of the CBOs below for help.

  • Agency: Montefiore Cash Assistance Call Center
  • Phone Number: (914) 294-6838
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Assistance is available by phone only.

  • Agency: Community Service Society (CSS)
  • Phone Number: (855) 481-9201
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Assistance is available by phone only.

  • Agency: BronxWorks
  • Phone Number: (347) 588-6090
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Assistance is available by phone only.

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

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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.

By Mail

Mail your form and copies of your documents to a Benefits Access Center.

Find the mailing address for your Benefits Access Center.

By Fax

Fax your form and documents to your Benefits Access Center.

Find the fax number for your Benefits Access Center.

In Person

Bring your application or recertification form and supporting documents to your HRA Benefits Access Center.

Find your Benefits Access Center.

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 where you will have your interview over the phone.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

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

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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.

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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.  

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.

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.

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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