Last verified: May 1, 2026. The “stimulus check” era of 2020–2022 is over. There is no fourth federal stimulus payment. But that doesn’t mean New Yorkers have nothing coming. Right now, in May 2026, several real relief programs are either mailing money, accepting applications, or quietly sitting in your file waiting for you to claim them. This guide walks through every active program — what it pays, who qualifies, the exact phone number to call, and the deadline you cannot miss.
The big one: New York’s Inflation Refund Check (2025–2026)
This is the closest thing to a state stimulus New York has ever issued. It is a one-time check, not a tax credit, not a deposit. You don’t apply. The state mails it automatically based on your 2023 tax return.
Amounts (set by your 2023 New York Adjusted Gross Income on Form IT-201, line 33):
- Single, married filing separately, or head of household with AGI of $75,000 or less: $200
- Single, married filing separately, or head of household with AGI between $75,001 and $150,000: $150
- Married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse with AGI of $150,000 or less: $400
- Married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse with AGI between $150,001 and $300,000: $300
Who qualifies: You must have filed Form IT-201 (the resident return) for tax year 2023, reported income within the brackets above, and not been claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return. Part-year residents do not qualify — you had to be a full-year New York resident in 2023.
When it arrives: The Department of Taxation and Finance began mailing checks at the end of September 2025. Over 8 million were mailed by Thanksgiving 2025, and the Department continues to mail smaller batches as late-filed 2023 returns are verified. There is no zip-code or borough order. The check is mailed to the most recent address on file — usually whatever address you used on your 2024 return.
Common problems:
- Moved since 2023? Update your address through your Individual Online Services account at tax.ny.gov before the check is mailed. After it’s mailed, you’ll need to follow USPS forwarding rules.
- Got direct deposit on your refund? Doesn’t matter. The inflation refund is mailed as a paper check regardless of how you got your regular refund.
- Owe a state debt? The inflation refund is not applied to outstanding debts. It comes to you in full.
- Never filed a 2023 NY return? You will not get a check. There is no late-application path.
How to check status: The Department’s contact center cannot give a delivery date. Watch your mailbox. The check looks like a standard tax refund check from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
HEAP Cooling Assistance: Free air conditioner, open right now
The Home Energy Assistance Program’s cooling benefit opened April 15, 2026, and is the most underused relief program in the state. It will buy and install an air conditioner — or a fan — in your home, at no cost to you, if you qualify. The benefit cap is up to $800 for a window unit, portable AC, or fan (including installation), and up to $1,000 for replacement of an existing wall-sleeve unit.
Who qualifies: Households with gross monthly income at or below the HEAP guidelines, OR any household receiving SNAP benefits, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI. At least one household member must have a documented medical need for cooling, or there must be no working air conditioner in the home (or the working unit must be more than five years old).
This is first-come, first-served. The cooling benefit funding runs out fast — historically by mid-summer. Apply now, not in July. NYC residents apply through the Human Resources Administration. Statewide applications go through your county’s Department of Social Services or online at mybenefits.ny.gov. The OTDA HEAP information line is 1-800-342-3009.
For the full play-by-play on the cooling benefit specifically, see our companion guide on HEAP Cooling Assistance for NYC renters.
SNAP — the program most New Yorkers don’t realize they qualify for
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the closest thing to a recurring monthly stimulus that exists in New York. The 2026 federal-fiscal-year numbers raised income limits and benefit caps modestly.
Income limits (gross, 130% of the federal poverty level):
- 1-person household: $1,580 per month
- 2-person household: $2,137 per month
- 4-person household: $3,250 per month
Maximum monthly benefit:
- 1-person household: up to $292
- 4-person household: up to $973
- Minimum benefit for 1- and 2-person households: $24
The trap most people fall into: they look at gross income, see they’re over the limit, and don’t apply. SNAP allows deductions for rent, utilities, child care, and out-of-pocket medical costs (for elderly or disabled household members). After deductions, many “over-income” households qualify. Apply through ACCESS HRA at access.nyc.gov if you live in the five boroughs, or mybenefits.ny.gov if you live anywhere else in the state. The NYC Infoline for SNAP questions is 311; statewide, call the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance at 1-800-342-3009.
For the full eligibility breakdown and the new ABAWD work-rule changes, see our 2026 SNAP guide for NYC.
Fair Fares NYC: 50% off subway and bus
This is the city’s transit relief program and it expanded in 2025. As of 2026, NYC residents ages 18 to 64 can qualify with household income up to 145% of the federal poverty level — roughly $22,692 for a single person and up to $46,617 for a family of four. (Specific income thresholds adjust each year when HHS publishes new poverty guidelines.)
What you get: 50% off subway, local bus, express bus, Staten Island Railway, Roosevelt Island Tram, and Hudson Rail Link fares. The benefit now loads onto an OMNY card.
How to apply: Online at nyc.gov/fairfares. Submit documents through the ACCESS HRA mobile app. Or apply in person at a Fair Fares NYC office. There is no annual deadline — the program runs year-round.
CityFHEPS: NYC’s housing voucher
If you are facing eviction, in shelter, or at imminent risk of homelessness in the five boroughs, CityFHEPS is the largest active rental assistance program. It pays a monthly subsidy to your landlord so your share of rent stays at roughly 30% of household income.
Who qualifies: Household gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. If your household qualifies for Cash Assistance, you must be receiving it. There are work requirements with exceptions for households where a member receives federal disability benefits, is 60 or older, or is a veteran.
Duration: Five years of guaranteed assistance if you remain in good standing. Continued benefits past five years depend on funding availability.
How to apply: You generally cannot self-apply. CityFHEPS referrals come through the NYC Department of Homeless Services (if you are in shelter), HRA (if you are receiving Cash Assistance and facing eviction), or through Homebase, the city’s homelessness-prevention network. Call 311 and ask for “Homebase” to find your nearest office.
What is NOT happening in 2026
Be skeptical of anything you see online claiming the following — none of these are real as of May 2026:
- “$400 stimulus check confirmed for all New Yorkers, payments start February 18, 2026.” This is a misreading of the inflation refund check, which is not for “all” New Yorkers, was not a February program, and is governed by the eligibility rules described above.
- A fourth federal stimulus. Congress has not passed one. The IRS is not mailing one. Anyone telling you otherwise is running a scam.
- ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program). ERAP closed to new applications in January 2023. The portal for existing applications shut down November 17, 2025. If you applied during the active period and still have unresolved status, contact your county’s social services office.
Free help filing for any of these programs
If you don’t want to navigate this alone, free in-person help exists. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites can help with tax-related issues including the inflation refund. Catholic Charities, BronxWorks, the Legal Aid Society, and Mobilization for Justice all run benefits-enrollment counselors who will sit with you and complete applications. Call 311 in NYC and ask for “benefits enrollment help” or visit access.nyc.gov and use the screening tool to see what you qualify for in one pass.
For state-tax-specific issues, including problems with where your refund check went, see our companion guide to the NY State Tax Refund Tracker.
The deadline schedule to keep on your fridge
- Now (May 2026): HEAP Cooling Assistance is open. First-come, first-served. Apply this week, not in July.
- Rolling: SNAP, Fair Fares, CityFHEPS — no annual deadline; apply when you need them.
- Ongoing: Inflation refund checks are still being mailed in smaller batches as late 2023 returns are processed.
- October 2026 (estimated): The 2026–2027 Regular HEAP heating benefit typically opens in mid-November, with emergency benefits opening in early January. Watch otda.ny.gov/programs/heap for confirmation.
Where to appeal if you’re denied
Every one of these programs has a formal fair-hearing process. For state-administered benefits (SNAP, HEAP, Cash Assistance), call the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance fair hearings line at 1-800-342-3334 or request a hearing online at otda.ny.gov/oah. For CityFHEPS denials, request a fair hearing through HRA — the deadline is generally 60 days from the date of the denial notice. For inflation refund disputes, contact the NY Department of Taxation and Finance through your Online Services account, not by phone (the contact center cannot help with check status).
Free legal representation in fair hearings is available from the Legal Aid Society, Mobilization for Justice, and Catholic Migration Services. None of these programs charge for appeals, and you should never pay anyone who claims they can speed up or guarantee your benefits.
Last verified: May 1, 2026. Sources: NY State Department of Taxation and Finance (tax.ny.gov), NY State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (otda.ny.gov), NYC Human Resources Administration (nyc.gov/hra), ACCESS NYC (access.nyc.gov), NYC Fair Fares (nyc.gov/fairfares).
