Who this helps: New Yorkers who need to recertify SNAP food benefits, renew Medicaid, or apply for either program for the first time — especially anyone who can’t complete the process online and needs to be seen in person.
Two of the most common reasons people lose food and health benefits in New York City have nothing to do with eligibility. They lose them because a recertification letter got buried in the mail, or because the ACCESS HRA portal froze in the middle of an upload and they didn’t know they could finish the job in person. The Human Resources Administration (HRA) runs both the city’s SNAP program and Medicaid enrollment, and walk-in service is still available at locations across the five boroughs. This is a plain-English map of how to use it.
The fastest path: ACCESS HRA online, with a backup
For most New Yorkers, the quickest way to recertify SNAP or renew Medicaid is the ACCESS HRA portal. You can upload documents, schedule an interview, and check the status of your case from a phone. If the portal works for you, use it. If it doesn’t — the upload fails, the interview never gets scheduled, or your letter says you must appear in person — you have two backup options: by phone or by walking into a center.
The HRA Infoline is 718-557-1399. You can also dial 311 and ask for HRA. For SNAP specifically, you can request a paper recertification form by phone at 718-557-1399 and return it by mail or fax, according to the HRA SNAP Application and Recertification Kit.
Verified SNAP Center locations across the boroughs
HRA operates SNAP Centers and Benefits Access Centers across the city. The locations below are confirmed on the official HRA SNAP Locations page. All are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Bronx — Hunts Point SNAP Center: 845 Barretto Street, B-Level, Bronx, NY 10474
- Brooklyn — Coney Island SNAP Center: 1912 Mermaid Avenue, 1st & 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11224
- Brooklyn — East New York SNAP Center: 2400 Fulton Street, 3rd & 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11233
- Brooklyn — Williamsburg SNAP Center: 2 George Street, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11206
- Queens — HRA Benefits Access Center Rockaway: 219 Beach 59th Street, Queens, NY 11692
For the full list of SNAP Centers and Benefits Access Centers in your zip code, the HRA center locations map is the authoritative source.
Medicaid Community Offices: where to walk in for renewal
Medicaid renewal is a separate process from SNAP, but the in-person infrastructure is similar. HRA operates Medicaid Community Offices listed on the official Medicaid Locations page. These offices accept renewals, new applications, and document drop-offs.
- Brooklyn South Medicaid Office: 495 Clermont Avenue, 4th Floor, Brooklyn
- Chinatown Medicaid Office: 115 Chrystie Street, 5th Floor, Manhattan
- Dyckman Community Medicaid Office: 4055 10th Avenue, Lower Level, Manhattan
- Queens Community Medicaid Office: 32-20 Northern Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Long Island City
- Jamaica Community Medicaid Office: 165-08 88th Avenue, 8th Floor, Queens
Most Medicaid offices operate Monday through Friday, with hours generally between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Kings County Hospital Medicaid location is currently closed; check the HRA Medicaid Locations page before you travel.
What to bring to either kind of appointment
Walking in unprepared is the second-most-common reason people leave without finishing. The exact list HRA wants varies by case type, but the documents below cover most situations. The full official guidance is on the Medicaid Renewal FAQ and SNAP Application FAQ.
- Photo identification (driver license, IDNYC, passport, or state ID)
- Social Security cards for everyone in the household, if available
- Proof of where you live (a lease, a recent utility bill, or a letter from your landlord)
- Most recent pay stubs, benefit award letters, or a statement of zero income
- Recent rent or mortgage receipts and utility bills
- Your case number and the recertification or renewal letter HRA mailed you
How to take action this week
- Find your renewal or recertification letter. The deadline is on the first page. If you can’t find it, log in to ACCESS HRA and check your case status, or call 718-557-1399.
- Try the online path first — ACCESS HRA lets you upload documents, request an interview, and recertify SNAP without leaving home.
- If you need to go in person, pick a center in your borough from the verified list above and bring the documents listed.
- If you cannot go in person, call 718-557-1399 and ask for a paper recertification form by mail or fax.
- Don’t miss the deadline. Even one missed recertification can interrupt benefits for months.
This article is general public-service information based on official HRA guidance. Contact your healthcare provider for medical advice and call HRA at 718-557-1399 or 311 to confirm hours and document requirements before you travel. Office hours, locations, and program rules can change.
