SNAP Benefits

SNAP Benefits and COVID-19

Important Information about Recertifications

Recertifications: If you receive a Cash Assistance or SNAP recertification notice by mail or an ACCESS HRA alert that you need to recertify, you must submit your recertification or your benefits will stop. You can use ACCESS HRA, fax, mail, or a drop box at open centers to submit your recertification. Please make sure that we have your correct phone number. You can check it and update it on ACCESS HRA website or the ACCESS HRA Mobile App. Learn about the ways you can submit your recertification and supporting documents.

CA six-month mailer/SNAP periodic report: Starting in April 2022, all Cash Assistance and SNAP households that are due to return either a CA Six-Month Mailer or a SNAP Periodic Report must do so to keep getting benefits. Households who failed to return their mailer/report in January, February or March 2022 did not have their case closed for failing to return the mailer/report.

Returning or Submitting Documents

Need to return or submit documents? You can submit documents in the following ways:

Upload them using the ACCESS HRA mobile app. Go to nyc.gov/accesshramobile
Fax them to: 917-639-2544.
Mail them to:
Centralized Recertification Mail Unit
PO Box 29008
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Bring them to an open HRA Location.

Documentation Guide

This guide gives examples of documents you can use to give proof of information we need to decide on help for you. This guide doesn't mention every type of document. Other documents may be used, even if not on the list.

Download the guide in English, or: Español, 繁體中文, 简体中文, Русский, العربية, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 한국어, বাংলা, اردو, Polski, and Français.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as "food stamps") provides food assistance for nearly 1.8 million low-income New Yorkers including families, people who are aging and people with disabilities. The program helps families and individuals supplement the cost of their diet with nutritious foods.

All Cash Assistance and SNAP applicants that 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 the EBT card arrives. Please see this list of locations.

Regarding case inquiries, HRA requires submitting a Client Consent Form to verify a client's consent before releasing case information to a third party.

Please be aware that unscrupulous individuals may use COVID-19 as an opportunity to create a scam in order to steal your personal information. Learn more about this Potential Fraud Scam Alert and other EBT Scams Alerts.

View the Protect Your Benefits - Skimming Flyer (FLY-1095) in:

How to Apply

You can apply online on ACCESS HRA. Read the user guide for ACCESS HRA.
You can call our Infoline at 718-557-1399 to have an application mailed to you
You can pick up an application at one of our SNAP centers
SNAP Applicants can fax an application to MARU at 917-639-1111.
You can also print out an application and drop off at a SNAP center:

SNAP Benefits Application (LDSS-4826):
How to Complete the SNAP Benefit Application (LDSS-4826A):
Simplified SNAP Application/Recertification Form Now Available for Seniors and New Yorkers with Disabilities (LDSS-5166):

A simplified SNAP application/recertification form is now available for households where every person is age 60 or older, or has a disability, and no one in the household has earned income. You can download the simplified form below or request an application/recertification kit be mailed to you by calling Infoline at 718-557-1399.

Eligibility Factors

Here is a list of documents you may need to determine your eligibility for SNAP (W-129G):

View in Large Print:
- English
- Español
View Screen Reader version:
- English
- Español
Listen to Audio version:
- English
- Español

Community Based Organization (CBO) Locations for Returning Documents

Need to return documents for your application? Here's a list of community partners who can help:

You can also submit documents using the ACCESS HRA app.

SNAP Need to Know Brochure (BRC-100)

Looking for a helpful overview to the SNAP application process?

View the Interactive version:

View Large Print version:

View Screen Reader version:

Listen to Audio version:

SUNY/CUNY/EOC Verification Form

View the SUNY/CUNY/EOC Student Verification of Enrollment Form (LDSS-5172) in:

Recertification

Instructions for recertifying for SNAP via phone (BRC-901E):

View in:

Recertifying for SNAP via IVRS (BRC-1051):

View in:

SNAP Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? View our SNAP Frequently Asked Questions.

SNAP On-Demand

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an interview may not be required at this time. If we need additional information, HRA will contact you. If we have everything we need we will make a decision on your case and send you a notice. Please remember to submit as many documents as you can using the ACCESS HRA Mobile app. You can look at the documents page on Access HRA to see the kinds of documents HRA may need.

Shop for Groceries Online with your SNAP Benefits

Did you know that you can now use your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to shop online for fresh produce and groceries? Learn more.

Expedited Benefits

You may be able to get Expedited Processing if:

Your household has less than $100 in cash or other available resources and will have less than $150 overall during the month that you apply, or
Your combined income and available resources in the month of application are less than the sum of your rent or mortgage plus heat, utilities and phone, or
At least one person in the household is a destitute migrant or seasonal farm worker and his/her cash and bank accounts are not more than $100.

For more information call HRA's Infoline at 718-557-1399.

Emergency Food Assistance

For information about emergency food program locations and hours of operation please call the Emergency FoodLine at 866-888-8777. This is an automated hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Check out our Food Assistance Locator for a map of food assistance locations.

Want to work with HRA to provide food assistance? Find information on becoming a food provider.

Expanded SNAP eligibility for college students during the COVID-19 emergency

During the COVID-19 emergency, there are new rules for the SNAP program which will allow more college students to get benefits.

If you are a student eligible to participate in a state or federal work-study program, you may now also be eligible for SNAP, even if you aren’t currently employed in work-study.
If your "expected family contribution" (EFC*) is $0, and you meet other SNAP eligibility requirements, you are eligible for SNAP.

*Your EFC is found in your Student Aid Report and it is calculated based on information provided in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

These new SNAP eligibility rules will last until one month after the public health emergency from COVID-19 is officially lifted. If you are able to get benefits thanks to these new rules, your benefits will last until your next recertification even if the public health emergency is ended first.

Health Bucks

Health Bucks is a seasonal program that allows SNAP recipients to earn $2 coupons for every $5 spent on their EBT cards at farmer's markets. Learn more about the program, which is run jointly with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Read the SNAP Nondiscrimination Statement.

Emergency Broadband Benefit

If you receive SNAP or Cash Assistance, you may qualify for a $50 per month discount on your mobile or fixed broadband internet service, along with a one-time $100 discount for purchasing a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. To apply, visit getemergencybroadband.org.

View the Emergency Broadband Benefit flyer for additional information.