For 2025, there will be a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security and SSI benefits.The following are the federal monthly SSI benefit amount for 2025 (there is no increase to the NYS state supplement amount):For an individual living alone: $967, plus the NYS supplement of $87, for a total of $1,054.For a couple [...]

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) program is open and accepting applications! NYC residents can apply via ACCESS HRA.HEAP (known as “regular HEAP”) provides assistance to low-income households to help pay for energy expenses. HEAP benefits are either sent as a direct payment to the household’s heating/utility vendor, or as a one-time cash benefit directly to [...]

Monday July 22, 2024On Friday, due to the widespread global IT outage, some government agencies were impacted but now have resumed normal operations.  Please see links for current agency status.Social Security: https://www.ssa.gov/agency/emergency/Currently all Social Security offices are open in NYC.NYCHA: https://x.com/NYCHA/status/1814324890272444758.CCC and MyNYCHA are now fully operational again.NYC Human Resources Administration:The ACCESS HRA Client Portal and [...]

For many years the Benefits Plus Leaning Center has offered an Immigrants’ Eligibility Chart which is designed for social service professionals working with individuals who are non-citizens.  The chart contains the immigration criteria for over 25 public benefit programs and is newly designed to identify programs that provide cash, food, health, etc.The chart, as well as [...]