Instructions for how to apply for all benefits are available through the HRA website.   

• For Cash Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, and transportation benefits: apply through the Access HRA website you can visit a Benefits Access Center.   
• For Medicaid and Medicare: apply online at NY State of Health: Official Health Plan Marketplace or call the Medicaid Helpline: (800) 541-2831.  
• For all other programs including Adult Protective Services, Burial Assistance, Career Services, Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Support, HIV/AIDS Services, Homelessness Prevention, or Supportive Housing see HRA website or this document for more information. 

Federal, state and local laws protect your right to get services even if you do not speak English well. Free translation services are available at every HRA office, and all benefits applications are available in six languages (including Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Korean, Haitian-Creole, and Arabic).   

HRA will not report your personal information to anyone, except if required by law. Your information is protected by the law if you are seeking City services.  HRA will only ask for your immigration status if it is necessary for your public benefits application or if required by law.  

What is “public charge”?  

• Under federal law, public charge is a test to decide if someone applying for permanent residence (a “green card”) or a visa to enter the United States seems likely to depend on the government as their main source of financial support in the future. If the U.S. government decides that the applicant is likely to become a public charge, the government can deny their green card or visa application.  

Who could be affected by public charge?  

• If you are or will be applying for a green card or a visa and your status is not listed below, public charge might apply to you. If public charge applies to you, it can be used to deny you a green card or visa. BUT depending on your immigration status, you and your family can still receive most public benefits without harming your green card or visa application.  

Who is not affected by public charge?  

• Green card holders: if you already have your green card, public charge does not apply when you are renewing your green card or when you apply for U.S. citizenship.   

• If you plan to leave the country for more than 6 months, public charge could apply when you return to the United States. You should talk with an immigration attorney before you leave.  

• Humanitarian immigrants and crime victims: if you have a U or T Visa, Asylum or Refugee status, Special Immigrant Juvenile status, or you are a VAWA self-petitioner, public charge does not apply to you.   

• Public charge is not part of the application process for any of these statuses and public charge cannot be used to deny green cards to anyone with these statuses.