While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, helps eligible low-income individuals and families buy the food they need to stay healthy in the form of monthly benefits.
SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to distribute the benefits.
The New York SNAP food assistance program is administered by the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Learn more about SNAP on the New York OTDA website here.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase approved food items. These include:
See a more comprehensive list of what you can buy with SNAP benefits here and a list of approved snacks and meal supplements here.
There are also food items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, including alcoholic beverages and hot prepared food. See a comprehensive list of what you cannot buy with SNAP benefits here.
SNAP provides monthly benefits, known as an allotment, to eligible households. The allotment amount you can receive is based on 1) the number of people in your household and 2) your household income.
To calculate your allotment amount, multiply your household’s net income by 0.3 and then subtract that number from the federal maximum monthly benefit amount in the table below.
| Household Number | Federal Maximum Allotment Per Month |
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each additional household member | +219 |
You have one year (365 days) to use your allotment or the benefits on your EBT card will be canceled.
To learn more about your benefit amount in New York, click here.
To qualify for SNAP in New York, you must meet the following requirements:
Learn more about New York’s income limits and other eligibility criteria here.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the New York government assistance website here. You can also view a copy of the application here to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on New York’s Benefit portal here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest New York Department of Social Services office location.
To apply for SNAP by mail or fax, fill out the SNAP Application found here and send it to your local Department of Social Services office. You can find the offices closest to you here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) at 1 (800) 342-3009 Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
You can also send an email to nyspio@otda.ny.gov.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.
If you applied in person at a local Social Services office, you will receive your determination and EBT card on the same day so long as you provide all the required information and documentation.
If documents are missing from your application, or the Social Services Office needs more information from you to finish processing your request, you will need to wait for your determination and EBT card to come in the mail. However, this process should take no more than 30 days.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (888) 328-6399. You can also check your balance online here.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), you can request a Fair Hearing to appeal your decision online, in person, by fax or by mail within 28 days of receiving your determination letter.
To apply for a Fair Hearing online, click here and choose an online form to fill out in the language you are most comfortable in.
To apply for a Fair Hearing by phone, call 1 (800) 342-3334. If you are a speech or hearing-impaired individual, call the TTD Relay at 711 and request they call the department for you at 1 (877) 502-6155.
To apply for a Fair Hearing by fax or mail, download and print a physical appeal form here. Once you have completed the appeal form, fax it to 1 (518) 473-6735 or mail it to the following address:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 1930
Albany, NY 12201-1930
To request a Fair Hearing in person, you will need to go to the OTDA location in New York City or Albany, as these are the only two offices that process Fair Hearing requests. You can find these two office locations here.
To learn more about Fair Hearings, click here.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (888) 328-6399. You can also check your balance online here.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the New York EBT card page here.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call New York’s EBT customer service number toll-free at1 (888) 328-6399 or by logging into your EBT account here.
You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at any Social Service Office in New York and must request a replacement by phone or online.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) SNAP department at 1 (800) 342-3009.
You can also contact the OTDA’s main office at (518) 473-1090 or send your inquiries via email to: nyspio@otda.ny.gov.
You can also visit or call a local Social Services Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Note: Keep in mind that regular office hours have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be subject to change. Because of this, we recommend calling your chosen office location before visiting to ask about operating hours and any new service procedures.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
Last Updated: February 2, 2024
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the New York government assistance website here. You can also view a copy of the application here to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on New York’s Benefit portal here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest New York Department of Social Services office location.
To apply for SNAP by mail or fax, fill out the SNAP Application found here and send it to your local Department of Social Services office. You can find the offices closest to you here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) at 1 (800) 342-3009 Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
You can also send an email to nyspio@otda.ny.gov.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.
If you applied in person at a local Social Services office, you will receive your determination and EBT card on the same day so long as you provide all the required information and documentation.
If documents are missing from your application, or the Social Services Office needs more information from you to finish processing your request, you will need to wait for your determination and EBT card to come in the mail. However, this process should take no more than 30 days.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (888) 328-6399. You can also check your balance online here.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), you can request a Fair Hearing to appeal your decision online, in person, by fax or by mail within 28 days of receiving your determination letter.
To apply for a Fair Hearing online, click here and choose an online form to fill out in the language you are most comfortable in.
To apply for a Fair Hearing by phone, call 1 (800) 342-3334. If you are a speech or hearing-impaired individual, call the TTD Relay at 711 and request they call the department for you at 1 (877) 502-6155.
To apply for a Fair Hearing by fax or mail, download and print a physical appeal form here. Once you have completed the appeal form, fax it to 1 (518) 473-6735 or mail it to the following address:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 1930
Albany, NY 12201-1930
To request a Fair Hearing in person, you will need to go to the OTDA location in New York City or Albany, as these are the only two offices that process Fair Hearing requests. You can find these two office locations here.
To learn more about Fair Hearings, click here.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (888) 328-6399. You can also check your balance online here.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the New York EBT card page here.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call New York’s EBT customer service number toll-free at1 (888) 328-6399 or by logging into your EBT account here.
You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at any Social Service Office in New York and must request a replacement by phone or online.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) SNAP department at 1 (800) 342-3009.
You can also contact the OTDA’s main office at (518) 473-1090 or send your inquiries via email to: nyspio@otda.ny.gov.
You can also visit or call a local Social Services Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Note: Keep in mind that regular office hours have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be subject to change. Because of this, we recommend calling your chosen office location before visiting to ask about operating hours and any new service procedures.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
Last Updated: February 2, 2024