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New SNAP standards will go into effect on October 1, 2025. These changes are a result of federally required changes to the following standards and deductions. The information below outlines the new standards:
- The Standard Deduction for households of one to three persons is $209.
- The Standard Deduction for households of four persons is $223.
- The Standard Deduction for households of five persons is $261.
- The Standard Deduction for households of six persons or more is $299.
- The SNAP Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction is $744.
- The SNAP Maximum Homeless Shelter Deduction is $198.99.
- The Boarder/Lodger Exclusion is $298 for one person and $546 for two persons
The standard deduction amounts that are now used in the annual SNAP mass re-budgeting effective October 1, 2025, are linked below.
The minimum allotment for one and two-person households is $24.
The new Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) amounts for NYC, as of October 1, 2025 are:
Heating/Air Conditioning SUA
- Old SUA : $1,034
- New SUA : $1,062
Basic Utility SUA
- Old SUA : $408
- New SUA : $419
Phone SUA
These changes may affect the amount of SNAP benefits New Yorkers get. Depending on their individual circumstance, the amount of their monthly SNAP benefit may not change, or it may decrease or increase as a result of these changes.
Learn more about updated federal poverty levels and October 2025 changes to SNAP.
Affordable Broadband Act Information and Outreach to SNAP Households
The Affordable Broadband Act (ABA) is a permanent New York State law guaranteeing discounted internet for eligible households. This law requires large internet providers to offer 25 Mbps (or more) plans for no more than $15 per month, or 200 Mbps (or more) plans for no more than $20 per month, including taxes and equipment fees (mobile and dial-up services are not included). Plans, speeds, and providers will vary by location. Clients may qualify based on household income, or if they receive SNAP, Medicaid, the Senior Citizen Rent Increase or Disability Rent Increase Exemption, HEAP, or free or reduced-price lunch through the National School Lunch program. For more information about eligibility requirements, required documents, and how to apply, click here.
SNAP clients may soon receive a text message from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) about the availability of affordable broadband (internet) access based on the ABA.
Please inform clients that if they receive this message, it is legitimate. If they would like more information, they can either click on the link in the text message or they can go directly here. Clients can also call 311 and request “low-cost internet” for more information.
Benefits Access Center (BAC) Update for Clients with SNAP and Cash Assistance Cases
In order to expand access for all New Yorkers, HRA has moved to a universal model for both SNAP and Cash Assistance cases. NYC residents who are either new applicants or existing clients who need to visit a Benefits Access Center (BAC) or SNAP Center in person may visit any location, respectively, in the five boroughs. CA and SNAP clients are no longer assigned to specific centers unless otherwise noted. As a reminder, it is not necessary to visit a Center – New Yorkers can apply or recertify on ACCESS HRA, complete their interview by phone using on-demand, and submit documents using the ACCESS HRA mobile app.
Please note that assigned centers will no longer appear in clients’ ACCESS HRA accounts. A list of Benefit Access Centers and SNAP centers is available on the HRA locations website.
Transition to New Career Services Workforce Development Program, Pathways for Access to Careers and Employment (PACE)
Work-required applicants/participants will no longer be referred to Career Pathways (including Youth Pathways, CareerCompass and Career Advance). Effective immediately, work-required applicants/participants will be waitlisted for completing employment plans and will get an appointment in the mail for some time after October 1, 2025.
Career Pathways programs officially close their doors on September 30, 2025, and will continue to provide client services through that date.
The new Workforce Development Program, Pathways for Access to Careers and Employment (PACE), will commence on October 1, 2025. Beginning on September 22, 2025, work-required applicants/participants will be referred directly to PACE.
On October 1, 2025, the following PACE providers will begin providing services in their boroughs of operation, as listed below:
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America Works of New York (AWNY) – Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx (Also expected to provide services in Staten Island through December 31, 2025.)
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Career Team LLC – Staten Island (Expected to begin providing services on January 2, 2026)
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DB Grant Associates – Brooklyn and the Bronx
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Fedcap, NYC Inc. – Manhattan
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Goodwill Industries of New York and New Jersey – Queens
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National Association for Drug Abuse Problems (NADAP) – Brooklyn
The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Needs Assessment and Public Hearings
As part of the Community Needs Assessment (CNA), the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and volunteer Neighborhood Advisory Board members will host 41 Public Hearings over the coming weeks. Each is a valuable resource and helps DYCD gather information about the highest priority needs of New Yorkers. This information will be used in various ways, including informing decisions about which federally-funded anti-poverty programs will be funded in each of the target neighborhoods.
Each Hearing is open to all who work, play, and live in the neighborhood. Below are the dates and locations scheduled so far (with all hearings taking place from 6:00 – 8:00 PM):
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Monday, September 16: Bronx 7 and Bronx 8 Public Hearing, 20 W Mosholu Parkway South, Community Room A, Bronx, NY 10468
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Tuesday, September 17: Bronx 12 Public Hearing, Community Board 12, 4101 White Plains Rd., Bronx, NY 10466
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Monday, September 23: Staten Island 1 Public Hearing, Carter Center, 230 Broad Street, Staten Island, NY 10304
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Tuesday, September 24: Queens 3 and Queens 4 Public Hearing, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, 79-01 Broadway, 1st Floor (Auditorium), Elmhurst, NY 11373
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Sunday, September 29: Brooklyn 16 Public Hearing, P.S. 184, 273 Newport Street, Brooklyn, NY 11212
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Monday, September 30: Brooklyn 14 Public Hearing, YMCA Flatbush, 1401 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11210
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Tuesday, October 21: Brooklyn 12 Public Hearing, Borough Park YM-YWHA 4912 14th Avenue, Brooklyn NY, 11219
Additional hearings will be announced once scheduled. DYCD encourages New Yorkers who are ages 14 and older from across the City to complete the survey as well as attend the public hearings.
Reminder: ACCESS HRA Technical Assistance Available through the “Contact Us” Form
Clients and applicants experiencing technical issues with the ACCESS HRA website or mobile apps can request help using the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the ACCESS HRA webpage. Community providers may also submit requests on behalf of clients.
The form will request certain details (such as ACCESS HRA username, confirmation number, and a description of the issue). However, the Help Desk may need additional information to fully investigate. When they follow up, please be prepared to share:
- The ACCESS HRA account “Username” or “Email Address” used to log in
- A screenshot or the full text of any error messages
- A brief description of the steps taken before the issue occurred (e.g., which button or link was clicked)
- The case number or ACCESS HRA confirmation number, along with the client’s full name and date of birth
- A concise description of the issue
- Device type (Computer, iPhone, Android, etc.) and operating system version
Note: This form is only for technical support. It should not be used for case inquiries or application status questions.
Updated FHEPS Payment Standards and Utility Allowance Amounts
The Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) program assists families with children and survivors of domestic violence at risk of entering or remaining in the shelter system, to maintain and/or secure permanent housing by issuing them a rental supplement in addition to their Cash Assistance (CA) shelter allowance.
Updated payment standards (maximum rent amounts) and utility allowance amounts can be found here.
All applicable forms have been revised to reflect the new payment standards and utility allowance amounts. Please refer to the FHEPS website for the relevant forms.
New Resource: CityFHEPS Online Road Map
We are excited to announce a new resource for helping New Yorkers experiencing or at risk of homelessness navigate the CityFHEPS process. The road map offers guidance for clients who have found their housing unit (or need to stay in their current housing) and have their CityFHEPS shopping letter.
The road map includes guidance based on whether the client is:
- receiving help through a DHS or HRA DV shelter, or a community provider
- using CityFHEPS to stay or to move
- has found housing through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)
- has found a new housing unit through a housing lottery
The road map is available in English, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.
DSS Office of Community Outreach Trainings & Event Requests
Community Partner Trainings and Presentations
The DSS Office of Community Outreach offers specialized training and presentations tailored for staff, advocates, and volunteers working across community-based organizations, elected officials' offices, and municipal agencies. These sessions are held multiple times a month, offering flexible scheduling options. The OCO currently offers the following trainings:
- ACCESS HRA General Overview Webinar
- ACCESS HRA Provider Portal Webinar
- ACCESS HRA Benefit Application Webinar
- CityFHEPS Program Overview and Renewal Application Webinar
- DSS Overview Webinar
- Electronic Benefit Theft and Replacement Claim Process Webinar
- Fair Fares Program Overview and Application Webinar
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Webinar
- IDNYC Program Overview and Document Requirement Webinar
- Medicaid and Medicare Savings Program Overview and Application Webinar
- Medicaid Renewal Process Webinar
Click here to view training descriptions and register for an upcoming virtual session.
Organizations interested in requesting any of the trainings listed above specifically for their staff (10 or more) should complete and submit the DSS Training Request Form and someone will be in touch to schedule. Contact CommunityEducation@dss.nyc.gov if you have any questions or encounter issues submitting the form.
Community Partner Event Requests
The DSS Office of Community Outreach (OCO) welcomes requests to participate in events hosted by community partner organizations. Please complete and submit the Community Partner Event Attendance Request Form to request DSS presence at your event and the Outreach Events unit will follow-up on a first come, first serve basis to arrange for DSS representation. Contact OutreachEvents@dss.nyc.gov if you have any questions or encounter issues submitting the form.
Resources/Helpful Links:
ACCESS HRA Client Portal: ACCESS HRA is an online benefits portal and mobile app for New York City residents. With ACCESS HRA, clients can apply or recertify for many HRA benefits, manage their case(s), and much more. Clients can also submit and keep track of documents for their application(s) using the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app.
ACCESS HRA Help Desk/Online Support: For answers benefit/site-related questions, use the Contact Us form linked or email: accesshrahelpdesk@dss.nyc.gov.
ACCESS HRA Technical Support: For technical issues with ACCESS HRA, email: accesshrasuppapp@dss.nyc.gov. In the message, please include a screenshot of the error, a description of the issue and the ACCESS HRA username.
ACCESS HRA Provider Portal: a provider-facing website that allows clients to grant permission to community-based organizations providing direct social services benefit enrollment assistance and/or ongoing case management to New Yorkers in receipt of HRA-administered benefits. To learn more, visit the Provider Tools section of the DSS/HRA website. If you’d like to request access to the Provider Portal, please begin with submitting an expression of interest via the ‘Interested in Joining the ACCESSHRA Provider Portal?’ form.
Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS): Community Partners interested in ordering outreach materials (in bulk and delivered free of charge) from HRA and are ordering for the first time, should email DPOS Customer Service at DPOSCustomerService@dss.nyc.gov to have their organization/agency registered in the system. Once completed, the requestor will receive an email with a link to create an account, allowing their organization/agency the ability to order from HRA's catalog.
Organizations and agencies with already existing DPOS accounts, should log into their account using the appropriate link below:
DSS Disability Access: HRA can help by providing supports or accommodations to client’s with disabilities to make getting the services they need easier. This type of help is called a reasonable accommodation. Click here to learn more about how to request one.
DSS Office of Community Outreach (OCO) Virtual Training Sign-Up: Intended for community-based organizations, elected officials and their staff, and other municipal agencies. These trainings are conducted multiple times per month and allow for flexible scheduling. Use the DSS Training Request Form if interested in requesting a training session specifically for your organization (for groups of 10 or more).
DSS OneNumber (formerly Infoline): 718-557-1399
DSS/HRA Provider Tools & Supports
DSS - HRA - DHS Webpages
EBT Customer Service Helpline: 1-888-328-6399
ebtEDGE: Cardholder portal and mobile application that allows clients to manage their EBT cards, check their balances/transactions, change their PIN, lock/unlock/replace their cards and more!
Find a Partner Organization: Includes Community-Based Organizations who can help complete applications and screen applicants for eligibility to the various programs. Some locations also assist with submitting documents to DSS electronically. Contact the organizations listed for more information.
NYC 311: Non-emergency municipal services are available online, by texting 311-692, or by calling 3-1-1 from within the City or 212-NEW-YORK outside the five boroughs. TTY service is also available by dialing 212-504-4115.
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA): responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals. OTDA’s functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State’s child support enforcement program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations.
Sign up for important updates from DSS/HRA: If you received this newsletter by way of a partner organization or colleague and have yet to sign up on your own, click here to receive relevant resources, agency updates, and opportunities that may interest you and the communities you serve.
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
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