NYC Department of Social Services

Rule Changes

Administers SNAP and runs the re-enrollment outreach

New York City will raise the Health Bucks cap for SNAP recipients from $10 to $14 a day in January 2027, a 40% increase. The program gives $2 in coupons for every $2 of SNAP money spent on produce at more than 100 farmers markets and farm stands.

Updated Nov 2

New Capabilities

Runs Community Food Connection and the pantry network

New York City is giving away free dog and cat food at 22 city-funded food pantries, the first time it has done so. The $500,000 program launched Oct. 19, four days after Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the City Council, the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare and the Department of Social Services announced it. It sits inside a wider expansion: the city tripled baseline funding for the Community Food Connection, its network of more than 700 pantries, and put $78 million toward food distribution in fiscal year 2027.

Updated Oct 27