Whole-of-government initiative reduces by 65% the number of New Yorkers at risk of losing SNAP benefits due to new federal requirements
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced early results from the City's coordinated effort to help eligible New Yorkers maintain access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following new federal eligibility requirements. Through an unprecedented interagency response, the City has reduced by 65% the number of New Yorkers projected to lose their benefits.
But the work is far from over. Beginning this month, the administration is expanding a citywide canvassing and phone-banking effort to reach the remaining New Yorkers still at risk of losing food assistance. The federal legislation known as H.R. 1 is one of the most significant attacks on the social safety net in recent memory. The law eliminated automatic work requirement exemptions for homeless people, veterans and young adults formerly in foster care. These changes do not address unemployment; they make it harder for people to access food.
“Food stamp work requirements don’t create jobs, they create hunger. If the federal government wanted to help people find work, it would invest in public jobs programs and guarantee a living wage. Instead, it's punishing people who are already struggling to survive,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Here in New York, we refuse to stand by while Washington takes food away from our families. We are using every tool available to keep New Yorkers connected to the benefits they deserve.”
Most SNAP recipients already work. Recent data show that 82% of single adult SNAP recipients had earnings, while 91% of SNAP households with children had earnings. Without intervention, New Yorkers stood to lose approximately $823 million in food assistance over the course of a year.
In response, Mayor Mamdani directed a whole-of-government effort involving the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), NYC Health + Hospitals, the Department of Homeless Services, the City University of New York (CUNY) and other agencies to help residents document medical, caregiver and other exemptions, connect with qualifying educational opportunities and comply with federal requirements.
Ahead of the March 1 expansion of federal work requirements, the Mayor launched a whole-of-government strategy that combined cross-agency coordination with neighborhood-based outreach to identify residents who might need assistance navigating the new rules or documenting exemptions for which they are eligible.
The City has also partnered with community based organizations and launched direct outreach efforts – including phone calls, text notifications and door-to-door canvassing – to reach the remaining 40,000 New Yorkers who could lose their benefits this month.
“Food insecurity is among the most pressing issues facing our city, and the federal government's implementation of laws that make accessing high-quality, nutritious food even harder for working-class families is shameful,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “In response, the Mamdani Administration has taken unprecedented measures to directly contact those who may be at risk of losing their benefits, and while we've made remarkable progress in reducing that number, our ultimate goal is to make sure that no one who relies on SNAP goes without it.”
“Government should make it easier, not harder, for people to access the benefits they are eligible to receive,” said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. “These early results demonstrate what is possible when agencies work together, use information responsibly, and partner with communities to reach people. By combining data-driven and community-based approaches, we are creating a more effective, more responsive, and more customer-focused public benefits system. And it’s still not too late: if you get a notice or find that your SNAP card didn’t load, call us at 718-SNAP-NOW. We are here to help.”
City data indicate that young, single men face the highest risk of noncompliance under the new federal work requirements. Mayor Mamdani has prioritized reaching New Yorkers through trusted messengers and platforms they already use.
The Mayor has:
- Delivered a SNAP public service announcement during his first “Talk With the People” livestream;
- Partnered with Morris from Subway Oracle (@subwayoracle) to raise awareness about the new SNAP work requirements;
- Shared informational videos on Twitter and Instagram
Department of Social Services:
DSS has undertaken a comprehensive outreach effort to help impacted New Yorkers understand the new work requirements and maintain eligibility.
The agency has:
Office of Mass Engagement/Public Engagement Unit:
DSS and the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement are conducting targeted outreach to New Yorkers most at risk of losing benefits, including door-to-door engagement and direct assistance.
Since January 2026, DSS’ Office of Community Outreach has:
- Conducted nearly 30 training sessions for community-based organizations, reaching more than 1,000 representatives;
- Organized nearly 40 pop-up events in communities serving at-risk New Yorkers, including NYCHA developments, faith institutions and anti-hunger organizations; and
- Knocked on thousands of doors across the five boroughs, connected residents with assistance and driving calls to 718-SNAP-NOW.
Department of Health and Mental Health/NYC Health + Hospitals
DSS is working closely with NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH), to identify SNAP recipients who may qualify for medical exemptions and ensure they remain connected to benefits.
Office of Technology and Innovation
OTI’s Office of Data Analytics recently launched a new data-sharing initiative with H+H and DSS that is helping identify SNAP recipients who qualify for exemptions and can retain their benefits.
About the Federal Work Requirements
On March 1, as part of President Trump’s “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 satisfy federal work requirements to maintain benefits.
Recipients may comply by:
- Working at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month);
- Participating in an approved job training or education program for at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month);
- Volunteering with an approved organization for the required number of hours based on their SNAP benefit amount.
Beginning in June, newly affected recipients may start losing benefits under the federal government’s “three-strike” policy, which reduces or terminates SNAP benefits after three months of noncompliance.
New Yorkers who lose 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.
