Last verified: May 15, 2026.

The federal stimulus checks of the pandemic era are gone, and they are not coming back. What remains for New Yorkers in 2026 is a quieter but real patchwork of state and city relief: an inflation refund check still being reissued for people who never received theirs, a substantially expanded Empire State Child Credit, summer cooling assistance through HEAP, the STAR property tax benefit for homeowners, and SNAP food benefits through HRA. This guide lays out exactly who qualifies for each, the dollar amounts on the books today, where to apply, and the phone numbers that actually get you to a human.

New York State Inflation Refund Check: Still Worth Checking If Yours Never Arrived

The New York State inflation refund check was a one-time payment authorized in the 2025–2026 state budget and mailed to eligible households starting at the end of September 2025. The bulk of mailings completed before Thanksgiving 2025, but the program is still active for people who moved, never got their check, or had address issues. There is no application — the state determined eligibility automatically from your 2023 New York resident income tax return (Form IT-201).

You were eligible if, for tax year 2023, you filed Form IT-201, were a full-year New York State resident, were not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return, and reported New York adjusted gross income (Form IT-201, line 33) within the thresholds below.

Amount you should have received, by 2023 filing status and income:

• Single, married filing separate, or head of household with income of $75,000 or less: $200
• Single, married filing separate, or head of household with income over $75,000 but not more than $150,000: $150
• Married filing joint or qualifying surviving spouse with income of $150,000 or less: $400
• Married filing joint or qualifying surviving spouse with income over $150,000 but not more than $300,000: $300

Checks were mailed to the most recent address on file. If you filed a 2024 return with a new address, the check went there. If your check never arrived and you believe you qualified, update your address through your Individual Online Services Account at tax.ny.gov/help/contact/address.htm. The Tax Department will not direct-deposit this refund — it is paper check only — and the inflation refund will not be applied to any outstanding tax debt you may have. Watch out for scams: the Tax Department is not calling, texting, or emailing anyone to “verify” information for this check. If someone contacts you claiming to be from the Tax Department about the inflation refund, report it at tax.ny.gov/help/contact/fraud.

Empire State Child Credit: The Biggest Expansion in State History

The Empire State Child Credit is a refundable New York State tax credit for full-year residents with at least one qualifying child under age 17 on December 31 of the credit year. It was substantially enhanced for tax year 2025 and expands again for 2026.

For tax year 2025 (returns filed in 2026), the credit is:

• Up to $1,000 per qualifying child under age four
• Up to $330 per qualifying child age four through 16

For tax year 2026 and 2027 (returns you will file starting in 2027), the credit will be:

• Up to $1,000 per qualifying child under age four
• Up to $500 per qualifying child age four through 16

The full credit is available up to a federal adjusted gross income threshold of $110,000 for married filing joint, $75,000 for single, head of household, or qualifying surviving spouse, and $55,000 for married filing separate. Above those thresholds, the credit phases out at a rate of $16.50 for every $1,000 of federal AGI above the limit.

To claim it, file Form IT-213, Claim for Empire State Child Credit, with your state return. You must provide a valid Social Security Number or ITIN for yourself and for each child listed on the form. The credit is refundable, meaning if your tax liability is zero you still receive the full amount as a refund. Importantly, money from this credit does not count against eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, cash assistance, or housing assistance — and if you bank it, it is exempt from asset limits for 12 months. If you have not yet filed your 2025 return, this is the single largest piece of money on this list for households with young children.

HEAP Cooling Assistance: Opened April 15, 2026

The Home Energy Assistance Program’s regular winter benefit for the 2025–2026 season closed on April 10, 2026. The companion Cooling Assistance Benefit opened on April 15, 2026, and runs while funding is available — these dollars go on a first-come, first-served basis, so do not wait.

The cooling benefit pays for the purchase and installation of one air conditioner or fan per eligible household. The cap is $800 with installation for a portable air conditioner or fan, and $1,000 for a wall-sleeve unit in a home that already has the sleeve. If an air conditioner cannot be safely installed in your home, a fan will be provided instead.

You may be eligible if your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the limit for your household size or you already receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI (Living Alone) — and your household either contains someone with a documented medical condition worsened by extreme heat or a vulnerable member who is 60 or older or under age six — and you do not currently have a working air conditioner (or the one you have is five years old or older) — and you have not received a HEAP-funded air conditioner in the past five years.

2025–2026 HEAP monthly gross income limits (use the limit for your household size):

• 1 person: $3,473
• 2 people: $4,542
• 3 people: $5,611
• 4 people: $6,680
• 5 people: $7,749
• 6 people: $8,818
• 7 people: $9,018
• 8 people: $9,218
• Each additional person: add $687

How to apply. NYC residents apply online at access.nyc.gov. Statewide, you can apply by phone or in person through your HEAP Local District Contact. The OTDA statewide hotline is 1-800-342-3009. Bring proof of residency, recent pay stubs for every household member, photo ID for each household member, and documentation of any medical condition you are citing.

STAR: The Property Tax Break Most NY Homeowners Qualify For

The School Tax Relief (STAR) program is a state benefit that lowers the school property taxes paid by owner-occupants of a primary residence. It comes in two forms — a check or direct deposit (the STAR credit) or a direct reduction on your school tax bill (the STAR exemption, only for households who have continuously received it since 2015). Eligibility for the 2026 STAR benefit is based on income reported on your 2024 tax return.

Basic STAR is available with no age restriction. The income limit is $500,000 or less for the STAR credit and $250,000 or less for the STAR exemption. The income limit counts only the combined income of the owners and the owners’ spouses who live at the property.

Enhanced STAR provides a bigger benefit for households where at least one owner-resident is age 65 or older as of December 31 of the benefit year. The 2026 Enhanced STAR income limit is $110,750 or less. Surviving spouses age 62 or older at the time their age-eligible spouse passed away can retain Enhanced STAR.

For STAR purposes, “income” means federal adjusted gross income minus the taxable amount of total IRA distributions. From a 2024 federal Form 1040, that is line 11 minus line 4b. From a 2024 New York Form IT-201, it is line 19 minus line 9.

If you are a new homeowner — or never registered before — register for the STAR credit through the Homeowner Benefit Portal at tax.ny.gov/pit/property/homeowner-benefit-portal.htm. If you received a letter from the Tax Department about your STAR benefit, respond using the guidance at tax.ny.gov/star/letters.htm. The benefit goes out as a check or direct deposit in time for school tax bills — there is no reason to leave it on the table.

SNAP Through ACCESS HRA: Monthly Food Money If You Qualify

SNAP (formerly food stamps) is the largest ongoing federal-state food benefit, and it is the fastest one to apply for if you are a NYC resident. You can apply online at access.nyc.gov/accesshra, in person at a SNAP Center, or by mail. You have the right to ask for an application and to apply by mail, in person, online, or through an authorized representative.

After you submit your application, you must complete an interview. The fastest path to that interview is the SNAP On-Demand Interview line: 718-SNAP-NOW (718-762-7669). For general questions, call the HRA Infoline at 718-557-1399. To pick up a paper application by phone, use the same Infoline number.

What changed in 2025–2026. On November 1, 2025, HRA implemented federal Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements. People identified as ABAWD must comply with the ABAWD work rules beginning March 1, 2026. If you receive a notice that you are ABAWD-identified, do not ignore it — read the SNAP Work Requirements flyer at nyc.gov/site/hra/help/able-bodied-adults-without-dependents.page and follow the deadlines exactly. EBT skimming has surged: freeze your EBT card in the ebtEDGE app between purchases, change your PIN regularly, and check your balance often.

For emergency food the same day, the 311-operated Food Help NYC map shows pantries and community kitchens currently open near you. 311 takes calls 24 hours a day.

Eligibility Checklist: Before You Apply for Anything

Most NY relief applications ask for the same packet of documents. Pull these once and save copies — you will reuse them.

• Government-issued photo ID for each adult household member
• Social Security numbers or ITINs for everyone on the application
• Proof of NYC or NY State residency (lease, utility bill, mail showing your address)
• Most recent pay stubs for every household member with income
• Most recent federal tax return (2024 for STAR; 2023 if you are still chasing the inflation refund)
• Documentation of any medical condition you are citing for HEAP Cooling
• Bank statements for the past 30 days (asset-tested programs only)

Where to Appeal, Dispute, or Get Free Help

Every program in this guide has an appeals path and a free-help option. You do not have to fight any of these denials alone.

• Inflation refund disputes: NYS Tax Department Contact Center, listed at tax.ny.gov/help/contact.
• Empire State Child Credit / state tax refund holds: See our companion guide, NY State Tax Refund Tracker 2026, for what each hold code means and how to respond.
• HEAP denial: Request a fair hearing through OTDA at 1-800-342-3334 or otda.ny.gov/oah.
• STAR denial or “we intend to deny” letter: Respond at tax.ny.gov/star/letters — there is a specific portal for each letter type.
• SNAP denial or under-payment: Request a NY State Office of Administrative Hearings fair hearing within 90 days. Free legal help from Legal Aid Society Access to Benefits Hotline: 212-577-3300.
• NYC HRA Cash Assistance issues: See our guide on NYC HRA Cash Assistance in 2026.
• Need income because you lost a job? Start with our walkthrough on New York State Unemployment Insurance in 2026.

Deadline Schedule At-a-Glance

• HEAP Cooling Assistance: Open now — closes when funds run out. First-come, first-served. Apply this week, not next month.
• Empire State Child Credit (TY 2025): Claim on a 2025 NY return. If you have not filed your 2025 return yet, get it in to capture the credit — the standard filing extension is October 15, 2026.
• STAR 2026: Register through the Homeowner Benefit Portal anytime; benefit lands ahead of school tax bills.
• ABAWD compliance for SNAP: Already in effect as of March 1, 2026. Do not miss your work-activity reporting deadlines.
• Inflation refund check: No deadline to update your address, but the longer you wait, the longer reissue takes.

The Bottom Line

The relief landscape in New York in 2026 is no longer about waiting for one big federal check. It is about stacking smaller, currently-active state and city programs — the Empire State Child Credit, HEAP Cooling, STAR, and SNAP — that together can be worth thousands of dollars for an eligible household. The catch is that every one of them requires filing the right form on the right portal and meeting documentation requirements that the agencies do not chase you to complete. The phone numbers and links above are the working ones today. Use them.

Sources verified directly from primary government pages on May 15, 2026: NYS Tax Department — Inflation refund checks (updated Oct 15, 2025); NYS Tax Department — Empire State child credit (updated Mar 10, 2026); NY.gov — Apply for Cooling Assistance (HEAP); NYS Tax Department — STAR eligibility (updated Feb 10, 2026); NYC HRA — SNAP Benefits Information.