We are pleased to announce the first phase of the full transition of the Fair Fares program to OMNY, the MTA’s contactless fare payment system, following the conclusion of a successful Fair Fares pilot on OMNY between the DSS and the MTA.
The Fair Fares discount is available to New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, between the ages of 18 and 64 whose income falls at or below 145 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Visit the Fair Fares website to check for eligibility, apply online and begin saving 50 percent on subway and eligible bus fares or MTA Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.
The switch to OMNY will make it easier for working-class New Yorkers to manage their transit funds and help participants save even more with automatic fare capping, which ensures that no Fair Fares client will pay more than $17 per week to ride the subway and eligible buses when using their Fair Fares-issued OMNY card.
During the first phase of the transition to OMNY, the Fair Fares discount will be available on Fair Fares-issued OMNY cards. All new program enrollees will receive a Fair Fares OMNY card instead of a MetroCard and will immediately be able to tap into the subway system or eligible buses after loading funds onto the card. Clients can add money to their Fair Fares OMNY card in the following ways:
at one of the more than 470 OMNY vending machines installed in subway stations across the city,
or by calling OMNY customer service at 877-789-6669.
Current Fair Fares Metrocard holders may request an OMNY card at their convenience via ACCESS HRA. Otherwise, they will automatically receive one when they renew their program enrollment or request a replacement card. Clients can continue to use any active Fair Fares MetroCard until they either expire, or 30 days after the OMNY card request or program enrollment renewal, whichever comes first.
In the second phase of the transition, participants will be able to apply their Fair Fares discount to preexisting OMNY cards, bank cards, or mobile devices, making it even easier and more convenient to save on transit costs.
Updated FAQs are now available for reference, along with an instructional video to help amplify this update.
As part of the switch to OMNY, the NYC Department of Social Services – Human Resources Administration (DSS HRA) is pleased to announce the following ACCESS HRA updates went live on Saturday, February 15, 2025:
Clients will receive a new OMNY card for their subways and eligible buses discount one of several ways via the ACCESS HRA Fair Fares portal:
Selecting the subways and eligible buses discount type in a Fair Fares enrollment application
Selecting the subways and eligible buses discount type in a Fair Fares renewal
Reporting a MetroCard lost or stolen
Switching discount type from Access-A-Ride to subways and eligible buses
Completing the new ‘Switch Fair Fares Discount from MetroCard to OMNY’ form found in the Quick Links section of the portal homepage
Other OMNY-Related Fair Fares Portal Enhancements:
Brand new re-designed Fair Fares portal homepage for OMNY clients
Viewable OMNY card information
New OMNY card statuses
OMNY card expiration date
OMNY card serial number and transit account number (TAN)
New links to open and manage an OMNY account and reload card
New ‘Card is Damaged’ option for clients reporting a card issue
New Fair Fares and OMNY help section
New and improved alerts and messaging for greater clarity on case activity
New functionality for clients to re-use previously issued Fair Fares OMNY card
Clients who have an unexpired FF OMNY card on file can choose to re-use this card at application, renewal, or when switching discount types from Access-A-Ride to subways and buses
To go directly to the Fair Fares NYC application or home page, go here.
We continue to offer trainings on ACCESS HRA, the Fair Fares NYC program and other topics. Community and advocacy organizations, municipal agencies, and Elected Officials' office staff can register for an upcoming sessionhere.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, and for all that you do every day to help New Yorkers in need.
Sincerely,
Office of Community Outreach
NYC Department of Social Services
NYC Department of Social Services | 4 World Trade Center | New York, NY 10007 US
