Table 1: Public Benefits Benefit or Program
What It Does
Eligibility of US Citizens
Eligibility of Undocumented Immigrants
Eligibility of Legal Immigrants
Where to Apply
Food Stamps
Food stamps provide credits to buy food. Food stamps are no longer paper coupons – they are Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, which look and work like bank debit cards.
Eligible
Not Eligible. However, ineligible members of a household CAN receive benefits for eligible members, such as most children under 18.
Some adults and seniors are eligible; many children are eligible.
Call the Human Resources Administration’s Hunger Hotline 1-866-8888777 or call 311 to find the Food Stamp office near you. Call NYCCAH for pre-screenings and referrals 212-825-0028.
Women, Infants, Children Program (WIC)
WIC provides vouchers to obtain certain nutritious, free foods for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and children under age five.
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children up to age five are eligible.
Eligible
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children up to age five are eligible.
Call the toll-free WIC Hotline at 1-800-522-5006 to find the WIC Clinic nearest you.
School Meals
School Meals provides free meals for children, available at their schools.
Virtually all children from low-income families are eligible.
Eligible
Virtually all children from low-income families are eligible.
Apply at your children’s’ schools.
Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC)
EITC provides cash refunds to working people with children.
Eligible
Not eligible
Workers who paid US Federal income taxes, must have valid Social Security numbers that permit legal work in the US
File form with the US Internal Revenue Service. Call 311 for a list of sites to get free assistance.
Soup Kitchens / Food Pantries
EFPs provide free prepared meals or distribute food for preparing at home.
Eligible at virtually all sites
Eligible at virtually all sites
Eligible at virtually all sites
For a referral to a program near you, call the toll-free Hunger Hotline: 1-866-888-8777.
Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry Best Practices Guide
Section 4
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