The New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to all eligible households. All eligible New York households should have received their full benefits by November 15, 2025.
If you need immediate food assistance:
- Food Help NYC maintains a list of food pantries and soup kitchens in an interactive map: Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens.
- Food Bank for NYC and City Harvest also have maps that include mobile markets and community fridges, in addition to pantries and meal service.
- Visit Access HRA to see if you are eligible for other benefits programs.
- The NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy have also created a comprehensive resource list for impacted SNAP recipients, with information for Medicaid participants and older adults.
Upcoming SNAP Work Requirement Changes
Beginning March 1, 2026, New York State will implement new federal SNAP rules that expand work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). Adults aged 18 to 64, formerly 54, will need to work, volunteer, or participate in an approved training program for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits for more than three months within a three-year period. The update removes prior exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth, and narrows the exemption for parents to those with children under age 14. March will serve as the first "countable month" under the three-month time limit, meaning SNAP benefits cannot be reduced due to ABAWD non-compliance until June 2026 at the earliest.
If you are subject to new work requirements:
You will receive, or have already received, a notice from NYC’s Human Resources Administration (HRA).
If you do not currently meet these new work requirements, you will be sent a separate notice to schedule an appointment with HRA's PACE provider for help in finding qualifying work activities.
If you do not meet the work requirement, you will only be able to receive SNAP benefits for 3 months within a 36-month period.
What Should You Do Right Now?
- Track Your Hours:
- Start keeping track of your work hours (whether you’re employed, volunteering, or participating in a training program).
- If you’re already working or volunteering, inform your SNAP caseworker and submit proof of your activities via ACCESS HRA.
- Get Assistance:
- HRA or a contracted provider can help you find and enroll in programs that meet the requirements.
- Find work, volunteer, or training programs that meet the requirements.
- If You Have a Disability:
- Fill out the ABAWD Medical Statement Form (available on the HRA website in multiple languages).
- Ask your clinician or therapist to complete it, and submit it through ACCESS HRA, by mail, fax, or in person.
Resources
- Access HRA: Use the ACCESS HRA app or website to submit documents, track your case, and get more information.
- For more help: Contact the SNAP Helpline at 718-762-7669 (718-SNAP-NOW) to ask questions about your work requirements and how to meet them.
- SNAP Program Info: Visit HRA’s ABAWD Page and NYC’s SNAP Program Page for more details
Additionally, NYC’s Department of Social Services will host several webinars providing an overview of the ABAWD SNAP work requirements and recent policy changes. Sign up for one here.
For any questions, reach out to Abigail Leonard, Policy and Communications Analyst, at aleonard@childrensaidnyc.org.
