How does NYC Financial Empowerment Centers work?

Your financial counselor will work with you to: Manage your money Check your credit Set up a spending plan Open a safe and affordable bank account Contact your lenders about debt, including student loans Develop a strategy to reduce your debt or lower payments Access emergency government resources In your first session, you will develop a list of action steps to help you reach your financial goals. Your counselor will ask you about your financial history and ask to see any financial documents. You may attend as many follow-up sessions as you want with your counselor. You can meet with a counselor in person or over the phone. You can choose your preferred language for services. Services are secure and confidential. Financial Empowerment Centers do not provide loans or grants.

Am I eligible for NYC Financial Empowerment Centers?

You are eligible for free financial counseling if you: Live or work in NYC; and Are at least 18 years old Income and immigration status do not matter.

What do I need in order to apply to NYC Financial Empowerment Centers?

Your financial counselor can better support you if they have more information about your finances. If you don’t have your documents with you, that’s OK too! Financial documents you can show your counselor include: Bills or statements Copies of your credit report Collection notices Copies of your tax returns Paystubs Court papers Student loan bills or loan information, which can be found on studentaid.gov

How do I Apply to NYC Financial Empowerment Centers?

Book an appointment online for an in-person or phone financial counseling session. You can also set up a Portal account to: manage your appointments securely share information and documents with your financial counselor review and update your personal financial Action Plan Call 311 and say “financial counseling”. Choose a location to make an appointment . You can choose your preferred language for services. Financial Empowerment Centers will take walk-ins when possible. It is best to book an appointment first.

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers

How it works

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free, one-on-one professional financial counseling and coaching to help you reach your goals.

Your financial counselor will work with you to:
- Manage your money
- Check your credit
- Set up a spending plan
- Open a safe and affordable bank account
- Contact your lenders about debt, including student loans
- Develop a strategy to reduce your debt or lower payments
- Access emergency government resources
In your first session, you will develop a list of action steps to help you reach your financial goals.
- Your counselor will ask you about your financial history and ask to see any financial documents.
- You may attend as many follow-up sessions as you want with your counselor.
You can meet with a counselor in person or over the phone.
- You can choose your preferred language for services.
Services are secure and confidential.
Financial Empowerment Centers do not provide loans or grants.

Eligibility requirements

You are eligible for free financial counseling if you:

Live or work in NYC; and
Are at least 18 years old

Income and immigration status do not matter.

Required documents

Your financial counselor can better support you if they have more information about your finances. If you don’t have your documents with you, that’s OK too!

Financial documents you can show your counselor include:

Bills or statements
Copies of your credit report
Collection notices
Copies of your tax returns
Paystubs
Court papers
Student loan bills or loan information, which can be found on studentaid.gov

How to apply

Book an appointment online for an in-person or phone financial counseling session.

You can also set up a Portal account to:

manage your appointments
securely share information and documents with your financial counselor
review and update your personal financial Action Plan

Book an appointment

Call 311 and say “financial counseling”.

Choose a location to make an appointment. You can choose your preferred language for services.

Financial Empowerment Centers will take walk-ins when possible. It is best to book an appointment first.

Book an appointment

Get help

Learn more online

Go to the DCWP webpage about Financial Empowerment Centers or read the FAQ.

Call 311

Say “Financial Empowerment Centers” or “financial counseling”

Call the Financial Empowerment Center hotline

212-487-4583

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

Last Updated August 20, 2024

Get help now

Free financial counseling and coaching