Beginning November 1, 2025, the receipt of a qualifying HEAP payment will only grant presumptive Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowance (HCSUA) eligibility to SNAP households (HH) that include a member who is aged (60+) and/or disabled member (under SNAP rules). All other HH must establish that they have a separate heating or cooling utility expense [...]

This food referral guide for New York City is a useful resource for social service providers as they work with clients facing food insecurity.Resources include hotlines, apps, maps, and directories to find free food locally at soup kitchens, food pantries, mobile markets, community fridges, etc.There are also a range of special programs and resources for these [...]

New York State has increased its maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit (UIB) from $504 to $869.This change is possible because New York paid off its $7 billion federal loan to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund through the 2025 state budget. As a result, benefits can increase, and employers will no longer have to pay the Interest [...]

Annual ChangesIncome guidelines have increased, click here for a chart of the updated income guidelines.SNAP benefit amounts have increased slightly.Certain deductions have increased: the shelter cap, as well as the homeless deduction.We have updated our SNAP Budget Worksheet and free SNAP Calculator to reflect all of these changes.SNAP Changes as a Result of H.R. 1NYS OTDA has released a [...]