Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced a citywide outreach campaign to help New Yorkers who lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under new federal work requirements re-apply for SNAP as they become eligible beginning October 1.
"Food should not be a luxury in New York City. This year, our administration used every tool at our disposal to help New Yorkers hold on to the food assistance they rely on, and more than 220,000 people were able to keep their SNAP benefits," said Mayor Mamdani. "Now, we're getting back to work to help New Yorkers who were left behind by these federal cuts get their benefits back. If you lost SNAP, we want you to know: The City is here to help you re-enroll and put food on your table."
"Nutritious foods should be affordable and accessible to every New Yorker," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "At a time when too many New Yorkers are already struggling to make ends meet, the federal government has created new barriers to accessing food assistance. New York City has stepped up to help, and we will continue doing everything we can to connect New Yorkers with the benefits they need."
"I'm incredibly proud of the work our teams and community partners did to protect New Yorkers from federal changes that only make it harder for low-income Americans to put food on the table," said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. "We reduced the paperwork burden on New Yorkers and helped hundreds of thousands of people keep their SNAP benefits, preserving more than $800 million in food assistance. Still, 26,500 New Yorkers lost benefits, most of them young men without children. On October 1, they become eligible to reapply, and we're bringing the same smart, targeted approach to get that number as close to zero as we can. Through an awareness campaign and targeted outreach, we'll reach these New Yorkers directly and connect them to the city resources that can help."
This year, Mayor Mamdani directed an unprecedented, citywide response to new federal SNAP eligibility requirements. Since January, the City's efforts have included:
- Expansive door-knocking and phone-banking campaigns led by the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU) that resulted in 10,000 doors knocked and 40,000 person-to-person phone calls.
- Interagency coordination to help SNAP recipients identify and document eligible exemptions, including medical and caregiver exemptions.
- Partnerships with more than 100 community-based organizations to create volunteer, workforce training and service opportunities that satisfy federal work requirements.
- Public awareness campaigns using flyers and palm cards, social media, bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks, NYC Radio and other City-owned communications channels.
- Information sessions for community partners, including webinars for more than 6,500 partners, nearly 50 training sessions more than 40 pop-up events in communities serving New Yorkers at risk of losing benefits.
As a result, the administration assisted more than 220,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing SNAP benefits, reducing the number of people projected to lose their benefits by 65%. More than 98% of eligible SNAP recipients maintained access to food assistance.
Now, with the re-enrollment window opening, the administration is expanding community-based outreach to reach approximately 26,500 New Yorkers who lost SNAP benefits under the expanded federal work requirements, which took effect on March 1, 2026.
The City's efforts will focus on reducing administrative burdens, ensuring eligible SNAP recipients receive exemptions and connecting New Yorkers who must comply with work requirements to employment, education, and community service opportunities.
In New York City, 1.6% of SNAP households lost benefits, disproportionately affecting young, single men.
About SNAP Federal Work Requirements
On March 1, as part of President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," the federal government expanded SNAP work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). As a result, thousands of New Yorkers who were previously exempt must now meet federal work requirements to maintain their benefits.
Affected SNAP recipients can meet the requirements by:
- Working at least 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month.
- Participating in an approved job training or education program for at least 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month.
- Volunteering with an approved organization for the required number of hours based on their SNAP benefit amount.
- Participating in other qualifying activities, including approved job search activities.
Beginning in June, newly affected recipients began losing benefits under the federal government's "three-strike" policy, which reduces or terminates SNAP benefits after three months of noncompliance.
New Yorkers who have lost their SNAP benefits or believe they may qualify for an exemption should call 718-SNAP-NOW (718-762-7669) for assistance. Additional information is available through the ACCESS HRA app, or at nyc.gov/ACCESSHRA.
