New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) and Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU) are hosting free community resource and benefit enrollment fairs every Saturday from July through October in neighborhoods across all five boroughs through the “Benefits on Your Block” initiative. These events provide an opportunity for community members to get screened for benefits, apply for programs on-site, and connect with City resources and services. This information may be valuable to share with your neighbors and community members who could benefit from these services.
Dozens of NYC agencies participate in these events to provide on-site program application assistance and information about City resources, including:
- PEU and DSS offering support with ACCESS HRA benefit applications, including SNAP and Fair Fares
- Department of Veterans’ Services assisting with VA benefits and support services for veterans
- Department of Housing Preservation and Development sharing Homeowner Helpdesk information, with Housing Inspectors available for apartment condition questions
- NYC Emergency Management providing emergency preparedness information
For ACCESS HRA applications, residents will be typically required to upload clear images to their AccessHRA account before applications can be processed. Documents must prove name, age, income and assets, residency, citizenship/alien status, and other eligibility criteria specific to each program. To learn more about the required documents for each program, please see:
- Required documents for SNAP
- Required documents for Cash Assistance
- Required documents for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)
- Required documents for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)
- Required documents for Fair Fares NYC
- Required documents for health coverage
The upcoming schedule of Benefits on Your Block events includes:
- Saturday, 8/9: South Bronx
- Saturday, 8/16: Far Rockaway
- Saturday, 8/23: Canarsie/Starrett City
- Saturday, 9/6: Crown Heights/Bed-Stuy/Ft. Greene
- Saturday, 9/13: Washington Heights/Inwood
- Saturday, 9/20: Corona
- Saturday, 9/27: West Bronx (Tremont, Belmont, and West Farms)
- Saturday, 10/4: NE Bronx
Visit here for complete information about available benefits and services.
