New York City has helped about 223,000 New Yorkers maintain their access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid new federal work requirements that took effect this year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration reported Tuesday.
According to City Hall, an interagency community outreach effort was able to reduce by 65% the number of Big Apple residents projected to lose their SNAP benefits.
The possible cuts respond to new work requirements established by the Trump administration to receive this federally funded food assistance. A three-month grace period granted by the federal government to comply with expanded rules included in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended June 1.
The new rules went into effect March 1, beginning with a grace period, and require certain SNAP recipients to prove they work, volunteer or study for a specified number of hours per month to keep their benefits.
Authorities indicated that thousands of New Yorkers risk losing their benefits if they are unaware of the new rules. In response, the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement, created this year, conducted outreach to residents most at risk of losing food assistance under the revised requirements.
Thousands of previously exempt New Yorkers must now meet federal work requirements to keep their benefits:
• Work at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month);
• Participate in an approved job training or education program for at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month);
• Volunteer at an approved organization for the required number of hours based on the amount of your SNAP benefits.
According to city officials, staff from the Public Engagement Unit of the Office of Mass Engagement have knocked on more than 8,000 doors across the five boroughs over the past three weeks and made nearly 4,000 phone calls in a single week. The effort seeks to help residents understand the new requirements and connect them with resources that will allow them to continue receiving benefits.
Staff began a second round of outreach on June 1, when the grace period ended.
Starting this month, some recipients who do not meet the requirements could begin to lose benefits under the federal “three strikes” policy, which counts one strike for each month of noncompliance. After three months, benefits may be reduced or eliminated.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the SNAP program, took steps to make foods eligible for the program more nutritious.
Stores that accept SNAP must now offer seven varieties of staple foods in four categories: protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables. Federal officials noted that this measure duplicates previous requirements and eliminates legal loopholes that allowed some snack foods to be counted.
City officials are encouraging residents who believe they might qualify for a waiver or who are concerned about losing their benefits to seek help through SNAP support services. New Yorkers can call 718-SNAP-NOW for assistance. They can also get additional information through the ACCESS HRA app or at nyc.gov/ACCESSHRA.
