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Social Services & Benefits
Social Services & Benefits
EmpoweredNYC
Free, Trustworthy Financial Counseling for People with Disabilities. EmpoweredNYC is a new initiative to help New York City Residents with disabilities and their families take control of their finances and become more financially stable.
BankOn
Bank On is a safe and secure bank account to get unemployment money and other benefits faster and safer than a check.
Learn More about BankOn
NYC SafeStart Account:
The NYC SafeStart Account is a savings account for all New Yorkers. Each Safe Start Account Features:
- NO overdraft fees
- NO monthly fees, provided minimum balances are met
- LOW minimum balance requirements ($25 or less)
- ATM card (No debit card)
More Information on NYC SafeStart
ACCESS NYC
ACCESS NYC is a free service that helps you find out if you may qualify for over 30 City, State and Federal benefit programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps or help with utility bills.
Social Security Disability
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities.
- Information on Disability Benefits on the Social Security Website
- What You Need To Know About Your SSI When You Turn 18
- Contact your local Social Security Office
Public Assistance
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 may receive benefits under the New York State Safety Net Program.
You may also be eligible for:
- Food Assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Medical coverage under one of New York State's Public Health Insurance Programs.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a program for New Yorkers who can't afford to pay for medical care. Medicaid pays for a number of services, but some may not be covered for you because of your age, financial circumstances, family situation, transfer of resource requirements, or living arrangements.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of New York, a US national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be either pregnant, a parent or relative caretaker of a dependent child(ren) under age 19, blind, have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or be 65 years of age or older.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps) is a critical work support, which provides food assistance for nearly 1.8 million low-income New Yorkers including families, the elderly and people with disabilities.
More Information on SNAP and how to apply on the HRA website
Senior Benefits
The passage of the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965 created a nationwide aging network consisting of the federal Administration on Aging, State Offices for the Aging and local Area Agencies on Aging. In NYC we have the Department for the Aging (DFTA).