If you are paying full fare for the subway or bus and your income is anywhere near the poverty line, you are almost certainly leaving money on the table. The Fair Fares NYC program cuts your single-ride fare in half — currently $1.45 instead of $2.90 — and works on subways, buses, and Access-A-Ride. Yet city data and advocacy groups have estimated for years that fewer than half of eligible New Yorkers are actually enrolled.
That gap matters. If you ride twice a day, five days a week, Fair Fares saves roughly $58 a month, or about $700 a year. If you have ever skipped an interview or a doctor’s appointment because you could not afford the swipe, this is the program built for you.
What Fair Fares Actually Does
Fair Fares gives you a special OMNY card or MetroCard that automatically charges half the standard fare on every ride. It works on the subway, all MTA buses including express buses, and paratransit. It applies whether you pay per ride or buy a 7-day or 30-day pass. There is no separate “low-income lane” at the turnstile — it looks like any other tap.
Who Qualifies in 2026
The income eligibility ceiling is currently 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, an expansion that took effect in 2025 according to NYC Rules. As reported by THE CITY, that translates to roughly:
- Household of 1: up to about $18,072 per year (roughly $1,506/month, $348/week)
- Household of 2: roughly $24,360 per year
- Household of 3: up to about $40,980 per year (per THE CITY’s reporting)
- Household of 4: up to about $37,440 per year (federal poverty thresholds vary; check the official calculator)
Beyond income, you must be a New York City resident, age 18 to 64, and not currently enrolled in another reduced-fare MTA program (such as the senior or disability reduced fare). Immigration status does not matter — all NYC residents who meet the income test can apply, per Documented’s reporting on the program.
What’s Changing — and Why It Matters
There has been a major push in early 2026 to expand the program further. According to Streetsblog NYC, a transit advocacy coalition is pressing Mayor Mamdani to expand Fair Fares to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, which would extend half-fare rides to over a million additional New Yorkers. The proposal would cost roughly $60.8 million in additional baselined funding to bring total program funding to about $157.1 million annually, according to Reinvent Albany.
As reported by NY1, the Mayor’s preliminary budget did not include the expansion, citing the city’s $2 billion current-year deficit and a projected $10 billion gap next year. The City Council is still pushing the issue. Final budget negotiations typically conclude in June. If you currently earn between 150 and 200 percent of FPL, watch for updates this summer — but if you are already under 150 percent, do not wait. Apply now.
How to Apply — Step by Step
You have two options: online through ACCESS HRA or in person at a Fair Fares office in any of the five boroughs.
Online (faster for most people):
- Go to ACCESS HRA and create an account or log in.
- Select Fair Fares from the available benefits and start your application.
- Submit. You then have 10 days to upload supporting documents.
In person: Fair Fares offices in each borough are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. The current office list is maintained on the official Fair Fares page.
What Documents You Need
You will need to verify three things: who you are, where you live, and what you earn.
- Identity: Government-issued photo ID. IDNYC works.
- NYC residency: A utility bill, lease, or government letter showing your NYC address.
- Income: Most recent year’s tax return, recent pay stubs, a benefits award letter (SNAP, Cash Assistance, SSI), or a notarized self-attestation if you have no documented income.
Timeline and What Happens Next
After your documents are submitted, the city reviews the application and notifies you by mail. Review can take up to 30 days. If approved, your Fair Fares OMNY card arrives by mail within about three weeks. Tap it at any turnstile or bus and the half-fare applies automatically.
Action Steps
- Check eligibility today. Use the income table above as a starting point, then confirm with the official Fair Fares eligibility page.
- Apply through ACCESS HRA at access.nyc.gov. The online portal is the fastest route for most applicants.
- Gather documents before you start. Have your ID, proof of address, and most recent tax return or pay stubs scanned or photographed before you log in. You have 10 days to upload after submitting.
- If you receive SNAP or Cash Assistance, use the award letter. It satisfies the income verification requirement automatically.
- Watch for the 200% FPL expansion vote. If you earn between 150 and 200 percent of FPL, follow updates from Reinvent Albany and the NYC City Council through June budget negotiations.
- Tell someone who needs it. Most enrollment gaps are because people do not know the program exists. If you have a family member, neighbor, or coworker who would qualify, send them this article.
The Bottom Line
Fair Fares is one of the simplest, highest-return benefits New York City offers. There is no monthly check to track, no recertification headache mid-year, no separate line at the station. You apply once, your card arrives, you tap, and you save half on every ride for as long as you remain eligible. If you have been putting it off because the application sounded complicated, the truth is that most people finish the online form in under 30 minutes. The harder part is just deciding to start.
