Benefits On Your Block - NE Bronx

From July through October, the NYC Public Engagement Unit is hosting free community resource and benefit enrollment fairs every Saturday in neighborhoods across all five boroughs. At each event, residents can get screened for benefits, apply for programs on-site, and connect with City resources and services.

What Resources Can I Access?

Benefits On Your Block events will bring together dozens of NYC Agencies who will provide on-site program application assistance and offer other information about City resources. Participating NYC Agencies include:

• The Public Engagement Unit (PEU) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) will be on site offering support with a range of benefit applications available through ACCESS HRA, including SNAP and Fair Fares.
• The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will share information about the Homeowner Helpdesk, and Housing Inspectors will be on site to answer questions about apartment conditions.
• The Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) will assist with VA benefits and connect veterans to a range of essential support services.
• NYC Emergency Management will provide information on emergency preparedness, staying safe during extreme heat and coastal storms, and how to find your hurricane evacuation zone.
• The Department of Finance (DOF) will offer assistance with Rent Freeze and Homeowner Tax Exemptions, and provide guidance on avoiding Lien Sales.
• The Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will have Health Insurance Enrollment Counselors available to help with enrollment and recertification for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan.
• Small Business Services (SBS) and Jobs NYC will be on hand to share information and resources about job support, including résumé and interview assistance, job search tools, and referrals, as well as support for small businesses, helping minority- and women-owned businesses get City-certified, access free resources, understand regulations, and apply for funding to start or grow their business.
• IDNYC will provide on-site application and renewal assistance for the free municipal ID card available to all New Yorkers aged 10 and up, regardless of immigration status. The card offers access to a wide range of City services, programs, and exclusive discounts at businesses and cultural institutions across the five boroughs.
• The Day Care Council of NYC will assist with childcare enrollment, MySchools and MyCity account creation, childcare voucher information, and connections to local childcare providers.

What Should You Bring?

In most cases, residents will be required to upload clear images to their AccessHRA account before HRA can process applications. Documents must prove name, age, income and assets, residency, citizenship/alien status, and other eligibility criteria specific to each program.

Example documents include:

• Identification: State-issued ID, Passport, Naturalization Certificate, or Birth Certificate
• Residency and expenses: Current lease or statement from landlord or primary tenant
• Income and Assets: Previous 30 days of: Earned income (pay stubs, employer letter, tax returns), Unearned income (VA, SSI/SSD, Family Court, Unemployment), Assets (bank accounts, settlements, tax returns–including EITC–owed)
• Citizenship Status: Social Security Number, Green Card, etc. (not required for all programs)
• Unpaid bills: Rent ledger, landlord demand letter, housing Court filing, Utility cut-off notices

To learn more about the required documents for each program, please visit on.nyc.gov/benefitsonyourblock and 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