Cash help when you are in need

For the household, any one document:

One of these:

• Statement from landlord or primary tenant
• Current rent receipt or lease
• Mortgage records

If you don’t have one of the above list, bring two of these:

• Statement from another person
• Current mail
• School records

For each source of each income earner, any one document:

Wages & Salary

• W-2 form
• Income tax return
• Letter from employer on company letterhead, signed and dated
• Paycheck stubs (1 stub of earnings to date, 1 stub if you are paid monthly, 2 stubs if you’re paid a few times a month, or 4 stubs if you are paid every week)

Self-employment

• Signed and dated income tax return and all schedules

Military pay

• Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)

Severance Pay

• Self-declaration from the participant

Unemployment Income

• Award letter or certificate
• Current benefit check

Social Security Benefits (SSI, Dependent, Disability, Survivor’s, Retirement)

• Current award letter or certificate

Veteran’s Benefits

• Current award letter

Education Grants and Loans

• Statement from school, statement from bank, or statement from agency administering grant or award letter

Interest, Dividends, Royalties

• Statement from bank, credit union or financial institution
• Statement from broker or agent

For each expense, any one document:

Shelter Expenses

• Current rent receipt, lease, mortgage book, or records
• Property and school tax records
• Landlord statement
• Sewer and water bills, or garbage or trash collection bills or receipts
• Homeowner’s insurance records
• Fuel bills or fuel shut-off notice
• Non-heating utility bills
• Telephone bills (or a statement from the household that the expense is incurred)

Medical Expenses 

• Statement from provider of health insurance premiums
• Copies of medical bills (paid and unpaid)
• Medicare prescription drug card

Other Expenses or Dependent Care Cost

• Court order
• Statement from day care center or other child care provider
• Statement from aide or attendant
• Canceled checks or receipts

For each person applying, any one document:

• Birth certificate
• Baptismal certificate or records
• Hospital records
• U.S. passport
• Military service records
• Naturalization certificate
• USCIS documentation
• Evidence of continuous U.S. residence since before 1/1/72

For each person applying, any one document:

• Marriage or death certificates
• Separation agreement
• Divorce decree

For each person applying, any one document:

• Birth certificate (long form)
• Adoption papers or records
• Court records
• Medical records

For the household, any one document:

• Statement from non-relative landlord
• School records

For each absent family member, any one document:

• Death certificate
• Survivor’s benefit records
• Hospital records
• VA or military records
• Divorce papers
• Proof of remarriage

For each parent, any one document:

• Pay stubs
• Tax returns
• Social Security or VA records
• Monetary determination letters
• I.D. cards (health insurance)
• Driver’s license or registration

For each resource of each resource holder, any one document:

• Current bank and credit card records
• Stock or bond certificate and statement from financial institution for stocks, bonds, certificates and mutual funds
• Insurance policy and statement from insurance company for life insurance resources
• Burial agreement and burial plot deed for burial trust or fund
• Refund of EITC check and statement from tax office for income tax or EITC
• Deed statement from real estate broker and broker’s estimate of current value (for real estate other than residence)
• Vehicle registration, title of ownership, and appraisal of current value by dealer, and financing data for motor vehicles
• For lump sum payment, statement from the source of payment and lump sum check
• For all other resources, statement from household, statement from nursing home, or household statement of current value and sales slips

Download an application form, complete and mail it to a Job Center.

Download the form

1. Visit a Human Resources Administration (HRA) Job Center near you.
2. If you have a medical or mental health condition that prevents you from applying in person, you can call 212-331-4640 to make arrangements to have a worker do the interview at your home.
3. When you apply, you will need to provide proof of certain things. A Job Center worker will tell you which of these things you must prove. It will help if you bring proof of your identity, where you live, who lives with you, and your income with you.
4. You can apply for SNAP, medical help, and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) when you apply for Cash Assistance.

Find an HRA Job Center