Benefits On Your Block

From July through October, the NYC Public Engagement Unit is hosting free community resource and benefit enrollment fairs every Saturday in neighborhoods across all five boroughs. At each event, residents can get screened for benefits, apply for programs on-site, and connect with City resources and services.

What Resources Can I Access?

Benefits On Your Block events will bring together dozens of NYC Agencies who will provide on-site program application assistance and offer other information about City resources. Participating NYC Agencies include:

The Public Engagement Unit (PEU) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) will be on site offering support with a range of benefit applications available through ACCESS HRA, including SNAP and Fair Fares.
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will share information about the Homeowner Helpdesk, and Housing Inspectors will be on site to answer questions about apartment conditions.
The Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) will assist with VA benefits and connect veterans to a range of essential support services.
NYC Emergency Management will provide information on emergency preparedness, staying safe during extreme heat and coastal storms, and how to find your hurricane evacuation zone.
The Department of Finance (DOF) will offer assistance with Rent Freeze and Homeowner Tax Exemptions, and provide guidance on avoiding Lien Sales.
The Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will have Health Insurance Enrollment Counselors available to help with enrollment and recertification for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan.
Small Business Services (SBS) and Jobs NYC will be on hand to share information and resources about job support, including résumé and interview assistance, job search tools, and referrals, as well as support for small businesses, helping minority- and women-owned businesses get City-certified, access free resources, understand regulations, and apply for funding to start or grow their business.
IDNYC will provide on-site application and renewal assistance for the free municipal ID card available to all New Yorkers aged 10 and up, regardless of immigration status. The card offers access to a wide range of City services, programs, and exclusive discounts at businesses and cultural institutions across the five boroughs.
The Day Care Council of NYC will assist with childcare enrollment, MySchools and MyCity account creation, childcare voucher information, and connections to local childcare providers.

What Should You Bring?

In most cases, residents will be required to upload clear images to their AccessHRA account before HRA can process applications. Documents must prove name, age, income and assets, residency, citizenship/alien status, and other eligibility criteria specific to each program.

Example documents include:

Identification: State-issued ID, Passport, Naturalization Certificate, or Birth Certificate
Residency and expenses: Current lease or statement from landlord or primary tenant
Income and Assets: Previous 30 days of:
- Earned income (pay stubs, employer letter, tax returns)
- Unearned income (VA, SSI/SSD, Family Court, Unemployment)
- Assets (bank accounts, settlements, tax returns–including EITC–owed)
Citizenship Status: Social Security Number, Green Card, etc. (not required for all programs)
Unpaid bills: Rent ledger, landlord demand letter, housing Court filing, Utility cut-off notices

Learn more about the required documents for each program:

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SNAP & Cash Assistance

Helps pay for food and basic needs.

Who qualifies:
Low-income individuals and families living in NYC.

What to bring:

Photo ID (like IDNYC, driver’s license, or passport)
Proof of NYC address (lease, bill, or rent receipt)
Proof of income (pay stubs, benefits letter, tax return, child support, settlement, or unemployment)
Social Security Number or SSA letter
Immigration papers (if you have them)

Note: Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not affect your immigration case or lead to deportation.

To learn more about the required documents for each program, please see:

Required documents for SNAP

Required documents for Cash Assistance

Fair Fares NYC

Get 50% off subway and bus rides.

Who qualifies:
NYC residents, ages 18–64, with income at or below 145% of the federal poverty line.

What to bring:

Photo ID (like IDNYC, driver’s license, or passport)
Proof of NYC address
Proof of income (last year’s tax form or pay stubs from the last 30 days)
Social Security Number (if you have one)

To learn more about the required documents for each program, please see:

Required documents for Fair Fares NYC

Rent Freeze (SCRIE/DRIE)

Keeps your rent from going up if you qualify.

Who qualifies:

SCRIE: Age 62 or older, live in rent-controlled, rent-regulated, or rent-stabilized housing, your name is on the lease, your household income is under $50,000, and you spend more than 33% of it on rent
DRIE: Age 18 or older, get qualifying disability benefits, live in rent-controlled, rent-regulated, or rent-stabilized housing, your name is on the lease, your household income is under $50,000, and you spend more than 33% of it on rent

What to bring:

Photo ID (like IDNYC, driver’s license, or passport)
Proof of age (for SCRIE) or disability benefits (for DRIE)
Lease or rental agreement
Proof of household income (from last year)
Social Security Number or SSA letter

To learn more about the required documents for each program, please see:

Required documents for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

Required documents for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)

Medicaid

Free or low-cost health insurance.

Who qualifies:
Low-income individuals and families, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities.

What to bring:

Photo ID (like IDNYC, driver’s license, or passport)
Proof of income and assets
Social Security Number and immigration status (if you have them)
Health insurance or Medicare card (if you have one)

To learn more about the required documents for each program, please see:

Required documents for health coverage

Upcoming Events

Date	Location
Saturday, 7/12	Brownsville - Thatford Ave. Open Street
Saturday, 7/19	Jamaica - 165th Open Street
Saturday, 7/26	Staten Island - Minthorne Open Street
Saturday, 8/2	Harlem - Adam Clayton Powell Summer Street
Saturday, 8/9	South Bronx - 147th Street
Saturday, 8/16	Far Rockaway - Beach 21st Street Plaza
Saturday, 8/23	Canarsie - 100% Playground
Saturday, 9/6	CANCELLED: Bed-Stuy - Herbert Von King Park
Saturday, 9/13	Washington Heights - Audubon Avenue
Saturday, 9/20	Corona - Park of the Americas
Saturday, 9/27	West Bronx - E 189th Street
Saturday, 10/4	NE Bronx - Schieffelin Place

Help us spread the word! Use the sample messages and graphic below to let your community know about upcoming events.

Tag us: @mayorsPEU
Use the hashtag: #BenefitsOnYourBlock

Social Media Posting Text & Graphic

General / Citywide

@MayorsPEU is bringing benefits to the block this summer with a series of free resource and enrollment fairs happening weekly in neighborhoods across the city! Get help applying for SNAP, Rent Freeze, Fair Fares, and more.
Find an event near you: on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock #BenefitsOnYourBlock
Free City resource fairs with @MayorsPEU are popping up all summer!
Apply for benefits
Get tenant support
Learn about healthcare options
Find a Benefits On Your Block event near you: on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock
#BenefitsOnYourBlock

Neighborhood-specific

[Neighborhood] — @MayorsPEU is bringing benefits to the block!
Stop by this Saturday for a Benefits On Your Block resource fair offering free, in-person help with SNAP, Fair Fares, Rent Freeze, and more. No appointment needed.
Help spread the word: on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock
#BenefitsOnYourBlock
@MayorsPEU is bringing benefits to the block! Free resource and enrollment fairs are happening all summer long, including this Saturday in [Neighborhood].
Learn more at: on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock #BenefitsOnYourBlock

For on-site partners

This Saturday in [Neighborhood], we’re joining @MayorsPEU for Benefits On Your Block, a free resource and enrollment fair bringing City services right to the community. Get help applying for SNAP, Fair Fares, Rent Freeze, and more.
on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock #BenefitsOnYourBlock
We’re bringing [insert service] to your block! Join us this Saturday at Benefits On Your Block in [Neighborhood] with @MayorsPEU for free, in-person support from trusted City agencies and community partners.
on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock #BenefitsOnYourBlock

Social media graphic with the “Benefits On Your Block” logo and N Y C agency logos. Colorful city skyline with text about Saturday resource fairs from July to October, listing available programs and services.

Download printable flyers in: