As part of a recent city initiative, New Yorkers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may now be eligible for an additional $500 each month. The “Money in Your Pockets” campaign was introduced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday with the goal of raising public awareness of the advantages that locals can obtain through a range of city initiatives.
Twenty communities will be included in the effort, which aims to reach out to those who might not be aware that they qualify for these benefits.
As he recalled how his single mother had to work numerous jobs to make sure his family’s basic necessities were fulfilled, Mayor Adams emphasized his personal connection to the hardships experienced by many New Yorkers.
“I was raised by a single mother who had to work several jobs to make sure my siblings and I had a roof over our heads and food on the table. The hustle was real. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers are still doing the same today and far too many New Yorkers continue to feel that the deck is stacked against them. But our administration won’t allow that to be the case — we are looking out for New Yorkers and working to make this city more affordable. Today, we are launching our ‘Money in Your Pockets‘ initiative to help New Yorkers find out which benefits they are eligible for and build on the billions of dollars we have helped put into the pockets of hard-working families. We are building a city that expands opportunity and prosperity to every neighborhood and community because New Yorkers deserve their fair share, and we’re going to deliver that to them.”
Initiatives to support SNAP
The city provides extra benefits to SNAP-eligible individuals, including up to $270 in monthly groceries that are qualified for SNAP and can be picked up or delivered. Additionally, all fresh fruit and vegetable purchases are eligible for a 50% discount, which may save participants an additional $30 each month.
Residents must be both Health + Hospitals NYC Care members and residents of New York City in order to take part in the Groceries to Go program. Through a different initiative called Get the Good Stuff, qualified purchases of fruits, vegetables, and beans can earn New Yorkers a dollar-for-dollar match.
On their “Get the Good Stuff” loyalty card, users can earn up to $10 daily, one dollar for each dollar they spend using SNAP benefits on eligible items.
The Adams administration claims that through this scheme alone, New Yorkers have redeemed almost $1 million.
The city estimates that over $30 billion in savings have been realized by people as a result of these measures, demonstrating the significant impact they have had. Even still, a lot of locals are still ignorant of all the advantages that are accessible to them, which is why the “Money in Your Pockets” campaign is being introduced in some of the city’s most impoverished areas.
The mayor’s chief advisor, Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin, stressed the significance of the government meeting the demands of its constituents. “When the people we are elected or chosen to represent receive the best treatment possible, government is functioning at its finest.
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Additional programs for residents of New York
In addition to food assistance, the city provides a range of other services designed to lessen people’ financial problems. These include help with child care, housing aid, and the Big Apple Connect program, which uses a $153 million budget to give public housing residents free high-speed internet and basic television services.
A further $1.9 billion has been set aside for child care vouchers, in addition to free tax preparation services offered all year long and roughly $1.8 billion in medical debt relief that will help about 500,000 residents of New York.
Given that 1.71 million people in New York City were estimated to have depended on SNAP benefits in 2022, it is evident that these programs are necessary.
The Adams administration wants to make sure that more New Yorkers have access to the tools they need to prosper in an increasingly costly city. This is why they are launching programs like “Money in Your Pockets.”
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