Assistance Programs in New York
11 programs in NY, grouped by what you need help with. Each links to its official application site, and most have a plain-language how-to-apply guide.
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Utility Bill Help
- HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
New York's help with heating and cooling bills. The Regular benefit pays a seasonal credit toward your heating cost, and separate Emergency, heating-equipment repair or replacement, and Cooling Assistance benefits handle crises. Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov or your local HEAP office; the OTDA hotline is 1-800-342-3009.
- Weatherization Assistance Program (NYS HCR)
Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible New Yorkers: insulation, air sealing, and health-and-safety fixes that lower future bills, at no cost to those who qualify. Run by NYS Homes and Community Renewal through local agencies in all 62 counties, and combined with the EmPower+ application.
Food Assistance
- New York WIC
Healthy food on an eWIC card, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support for pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under 5. Apply through your local WIC office; chat with Wanda, the online WIC assistant, or call the NYS WIC Program at 518-402-7093 to get connected.
- SNAP Food Benefits (New York)
New York SNAP puts monthly grocery money on an EBT card. Check eligibility and apply at myBenefits.ny.gov, or through your local department of social services. Questions go to the OTDA toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3009.
Free & Low-Cost Healthcare
- Child Health Plus
New York's health coverage for children under 19 who don't qualify for Medicaid, with no income cap to enroll. Coverage is free for families under about 2.2 times the poverty level; higher-income families pay $15 to $60 per child per month. Apply through NY State of Health or call 1-800-698-4543.
- New York Medicaid
Free or low-cost health coverage for low-income New Yorkers. Adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, about $1,836 a month for one person in 2026. Apply through NY State of Health, the state's official marketplace, or call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-800-541-2831.
Cash Assistance & Benefits
- New York State Earned Income Credit
A refundable state tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers, worth 30 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, reduced by any New York household credit. Because it's refundable, you can get money back even if you owe no state tax. Claim it by filing a state return with Form IT-215.
- Temporary Assistance (Family Assistance & Safety Net)
New York's cash assistance for people who can't meet basic needs. Family Assistance helps families with children and carries a 60-month lifetime limit on federally funded aid; Safety Net Assistance covers single adults, childless couples, and families who have used up Family Assistance. Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov or your local social services district.
- Unemployment Insurance (NYS DOL)
Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own. File your first claim online through your NY.gov ID at the Department of Labor, or by phone with the Telephone Claims Center at 1-888-209-8124, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.
Free Legal Aid
- LawHelpNY.org (Eviction & Legal Help)
Free, plain-language legal information for New Yorkers and a directory of local legal aid, covering eviction, debt, public benefits, family law, and more. Search by your county or zip code to find the programs and hotlines that serve your area.
Crisis Support
- 2-1-1 New York
Dial 2-1-1 from any New York phone, or text your zip code to 898-211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance: food, rent, utility bills, health care, and more. Regional 211 centers cover all of New York State around the clock.