Welfare & Public Benefits

MFY Government Benefits Project - For all low-income residents of New York City

Help with:

  • Public Assistance

  • Social security

  • SSI (Supplemental Security income for people who are either aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled)

  • SSD (Social Security Disability for people temporarily unable to work due to a disability, but who have accumulated a sufficient number of work credits)

  • Medicare & Medicaid

  • Food Stamps

Telephone Intake: Mondays, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Call: 212-417-3732

Legal Services NYC

LSNYC Government Benefits advocates assist individuals with legal problems relating to

  • Public Assistance

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or Food Stamps)

  • Medicaid/Medicare

  • Housing subsidies (including FEPS, SCRIE, DRIE, and HASA)

  • Unemployment Insurance/Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability (UI/SSI/SSD) benefits.

Advocates help clients whose financial instability stems from job loss or disability, and represent clients seeking federal disability benefits from the Social Security Administration and unemployment insurance benefits after a job loss.

LSNYC's Unemployment Insurance Project works to ensure that unemployed workers obtain Unemployment Insurance (UI), a critical income support for people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own or have had to resign due to domestic violence, a health condition or some other good cause.

Legal Assistance Hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm. Call 917-661-4500 to speak to an intake officer in any language.

Legal Aid Society's Disability Advocacy Project

For Legal Aid location closest to the participant, visit the Legal Aid page.

If you are in need of legal assistance and live in New York City, please call 212-577-3300 to receive information in English and Spanish how to access our services.

Could also try Legal Aid's Health Law Project

  • Health Law Hotline (New York City): (212) 577-3575

  • Health Law Hotline (Upstate): (888) 500-2455

  • The Health Law Unit is staffed during regular business hours (9 a.m. -5 p.m.) on Tuesdays