SNAP — Food Stamps
Monthly money on an EBT card to buy groceries, for low-income individuals and families.
Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov — official NY application site ↗Government Benefits · Apply Officially
Government benefits — apply on the official sites.
Every card below links directly to the official government application or program site — no middlemen, no fees to apply, no one should ever charge you to file. Tap a card, and you land on the real .gov page where applications happen.
HEAP — Home Energy Assistance
Helps eligible households pay heating (and some cooling) costs, plus emergency heat help.
OTDA HEAP — official program & application page ↗🏠 Free Insulation & Weatherization
New York seals and insulates homes free for income-eligible households — renters included. Covers attic/wall insulation, sealing cracks, heating-system repair, windows and doors.
- WAP: apply through your county provider — hcr.ny.gov/weatherization-applicants ↗ · provider list: hcr.ny.gov/wap-provider-list ↗
- EmPower+: apply online at nyserda.ny.gov ↗ or call 866-697-3732
- Who qualifies: low income; automatic if anyone in the home gets HEAP, SSI, SNAP or public assistance
- Local providers: Syracuse PEACE 315-470-3315 · Rochester ABC 585-325-5116 · Buffalo NHSSB 716-837-0071 · Albany CAP 518-463-3175 · Utica MVCAA 315-624-9930
Medicaid
Free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant people and people with disabilities.
Apply at NY State of Health — official marketplace ↗WIC
Healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for pregnant/postpartum women and children under 5.
NY Department of Health WIC — official page ↗Family Assistance (TANF) & Cash Assistance
Temporary cash help for families with children and for other eligible adults in financial hardship.
OTDA — official Cash Assistance application info ↗Or apply at myBenefits.ny.gov ↗
SSI — Supplemental Security Income
Monthly federal payments for people with limited income who are 65+, blind, or have a qualifying disability (including children).
Social Security Administration — official SSI page ↗Unemployment Insurance
Temporary weekly payments if you lost your job through no fault of your own, while you look for work.
NY Department of Labor — official “How do I file?” page ↗Child Health Plus (CHIP)
Free or low-cost health insurance for children under 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid.
NY Department of Health — official Child Health Plus page ↗Apply at NY State of Health ↗
Free School Meals
Free breakfast and lunch at school for eligible children — many NY schools now serve all students free.
NYSED Child Nutrition — official program page ↗Lifeline Discount
A federal discount on phone or broadband service for eligible low-income households.
FCC Lifeline — official consumer page ↗Apply / check eligibility at LifelineSupport.org ↗
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
Federal vouchers that help eligible families pay rent in the private market — run locally by housing authorities (see our Housing section).
HUD — official Housing Choice Voucher page ↗Medicare
Federal health insurance mainly for people 65+ and some younger people with disabilities.
Medicare.gov — official site ↗Find benefits you may qualify for
Answer a few questions on the official USAGov Benefit Finder and see everything you may be eligible for, federal and New York.
USAGov Benefit Finder — official tool ↗ACCESS HRA (NYC only)
New York City residents can apply for SNAP, cash assistance, Medicaid renewals and more in one place.
ACCESS HRA — official NYC application site ↗Rules change: eligibility, income limits and covered immigration categories for each program change over time — always confirm the current rules on the official site before you apply, and never pay anyone to file a benefits application for you. This directory is general community information compiled from official sources (verified November 2026) — not legal advice. Not sure where you stand? Call the free NYS New Americans Hotline 1-800-566-7636 or ask at the Service Exchange and we will sit with you while you apply.