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Public Benefits

Cash Assistance
Food Assistance
Who is eligible?
Where do I apply?
What is public charge?

For eligible individuals, public benefits give access to receive food and cash assistance through federal and state-funded programs. Below is a brief overview of some programs available through public benefits. Not all individuals are eligible to receive benefits – please read below for eligibility guidelines.

Cash Assistance

You may be eligible to receive monetary assistance through the following programs depending on the size of your family and your current situation.

Family Assistance: Federally-funded program for families with children who have qualifying immigration status.

Safety Net Assistance: New York state-funded program for childless households, families not eligible for family assistance due to immigration status, and individuals who have reached their time limit for family assistance.

Food Assistance

Food Stamps
Food stamps are part of a federal benefits program that allows low-income individuals and families to receive food items from participating grocery stores and supermarkets for free. The “stamps” are received through an electronic benefits card. Funds are deposited monthly into the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account. The monthly amount for food allowance is determined by the need demonstrated in the food stamp application. For more information and to determine eligibility, you can call the HRA Info Line at 1.877.477.8411.

Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
This program provides food vouchers for low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or post-partum. Mothers can use the vouchers to purchase food items for the child (infant formula, milk, cheese, juice, cereal, etc.) at neighborhood grocery stores. The program is available for children up to the age of 5 and also covers nutritional counseling and referrals to health and social service providers.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility for these programs depends largely on your immigration status. Citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible for all mentioned programs but special circumstances may apply. Asylees, refugees, VAWA petitioners, T-visa holders, and undocumented individuals may also qualify for certain benefits. Click here to download a PDF of an eligibility chart for more specific guidelines.

Where do I apply?

You can apply for these benefits at various locations in New York City. Please call the HRA Info Line at 1-877-477-8411 to find the office closest to your home.

What is public charge?

Although these benefits are available to individuals with various immigration statuses, it is important to be careful of dependence on the programs and thus be seen as a public charge. This is especially true for individuals who are “self-petitioning” and waiting to adjust to permanent resident status. Long-term dependence on public benefits can result in a public charge inquiry by USCIS during adjustment of status. Please consult your immigration attorney for more information regarding public charge.

For more information about public benefits, please visit the New York Immigration Coalition website at:
www.thenyic.org/templates/documentFinder.asp?did=18