Under certain emergency circumstances, you may be eligible for payments from the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA).

After a prolonged period during which “work activities” were not mandatory in New York City, work rules are now being reintroduced. The penalty for not complying with work rules is that you can lose all or part of your Cash Assistance. This is called a “sanction.” This Know Your Rights gives you some basic information about the return of work rules and how to avoid a sanction.

For a limited time, New Yorkers who had their SNAP or Cash Assistance benefits stolen due to “skimming” can apply to have stolen funds returned to them.

HRA may collect overpayments of cash assistance benefits you may have received.  HRA recovers these overpayments through a process called recoupment.

The Regular Arrears Supplement (RAS) HEAP benefit is a one-time payment for gas or electric bill arrears. If you are eligible, you can get up to a maximum of $10,000 per household. Benefits are paid directly to the gas and/or electric company. You do not have to repay this benefit.

If you currently reside in a homeless shelter, you may be eligible to have the Human Resources Administration (HRA) pay the fees for your furniture and belongings held in a storage unit.

Here is information on applying for and keeping cash assistance (also known as welfare or public assistance or “PA” or cash assistance or “CA”), Medicaid, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly food stamps). These benefits are available through HRA to persons who are eligible. See below for the steps you can take on your own, and what to do if you need help from The Legal Aid Society.

In New York, coverage is available for hormone therapy (including cross-sex hormones and pubertal suppressants), surgeries, and other procedures. To receive coverage, you have to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and your doctor’s notification that the treatment you seek is medically necessary. The process can feel complicated and overwhelming, but you are entitled to this coverage. Here’s what you need to know.

An overpayment occurs when the Social Security Administration (SSA) states that you received more social security or SSI benefits than you were supposed to receive. Here’s what you need to know to get the benefits you deserve.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that pays benefits to adults with disabilities who have limited income and resources, and who have little or no work history.

Adults with a work history might also be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD). The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs both programs. While there are differences in the two benefits, the rules for being found “disabled” are the same for both. Learn more about eligibility and how the process works below.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that pays benefits to children and adults with disabilities who have limited income and resources. Learn more about how to apply and how to appeal a denial below.