US Citizens and Green Card holders may be eligible for New York City Benefits: SNAP Food Stamps, Fair Fares (discount on Subway MetroCards), Cash Assistance (help paying rent, utilities and emergency expenses), Medicaid (free health insurance) + more!
Please note: International Students (F-1 visa holders) are only eligible for the Fair Fares program (discount on Subway MetroCards).
To begin the process to obtain benefits, candidates should go to Access HRA at https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/
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- Candidates can apply for SNAP Food Stamps, Fair Fares, Cash Assistance and Medicaid on this website
- Information to have on hand can include but is not limited to: New York City housing lease, ID, birth certificate, social security card, recent tax returns, recent bank statements, recent rent invoices, recent utility bills (electric, internet, other, etc.), letter of employment, recent paystubs, and proof of academic enrollment.
- Required documents are uploaded through the “Access HRA” app
- Once benefits are obtained, periodic recertification (of an unclear pattern) is mandatory to retain benefits. Recertification includes sending updated requested documents, also uploaded through the “Access HRA” app.
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Fair Fares
What it is: a half-priced MetroCard for the subway and eligible bus fares.
Available for pay-per-ride, weekly unlimited and monthly unlimited. A specific Fair Fares card must be used to get the discount, not available through OMNY pay or a MetroCard purchased from a machine on a train platform.
For more information and to see if you qualify click HERE
Apply HERE
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SNAP Food Stamps
What it is: money on a card that can be spent at stores that accept EBT. Food must be “not hot.” Liquor and nonfood items are ineligible SNAP purchases, even if the store accepts EBT.
A fixed amount is paid to the recipient every 2 weeks.
Apply HERE
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Cash Assistance
Regular Cash Assistance Benefit
What it is: money on a card that can be spent on any nonfood items at a store that accepts EBT. Nonfood items can include: over-the-counter medications, toiletries, appliances, furniture, clothing, school supplies, etc.)
Money can be withdrawn from the card for physical cash in addition to a purchase. Limits on quantities that can be withdrawn vary from store to store.
Money is paid to the recipient every 2 weeks.
Rent/Housing Payment
What it is: money paid directly to your landlord. Records of monies sent are available on your benefits account.
A fixed amount is paid to the landlord every 2 weeks.
HEAP – Utility Payment
What it is: money paid to your EBT card. It is labeled as money for a utility payment but can be used at the recipient’s discretion.
No clear pattern for benefit distribution.
Apply HERE
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Culture Pass
Explore local museums & attractions with Culture Pass! If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library (serving the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC.
Reserve a Pass HERE
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NJ Transit Student Pass
If you reside in New Jersey and commute via NJ Transit, Academy students are eligible for a 25% discount on monthly rail passes!
Please note: the discount is 25% off rail monthly passes only and does not apply to bus or light rail passes.
You can obtain a discounted Rail monthly pass by going to any NJ TRANSIT ticket window to pick up a paper application form. Once the application is complete, you will need to submit the completed application to a NJ TRANSIT window/agent along with a VALID Academy Student ID.