Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget and help them afford nutritious food. In January 2025, nearly 3 million New Yorkers received $655.9 million of SNAP benefits for the month and approximately $7.35 billion total benefits in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024. SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program, is instrumental in the fight against hunger. As reported by the Office of the State Comptroller, 11.3 percent of New York households suffered from food insecurity in 2020 to 2022.

In New York State, SNAP is overseen by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Eligibility and benefits are based on income and family size. Maximum benefits range from $292 for a household of one to $1,756 for a household of eight, with an additional $220 per person for each additional household member above eight.

In January 2025, 61 percent of SNAP recipients were in New York City (1.8 million) and received $423.9 million in benefits for the month. Outside of New York City, Erie (142,028), Monroe (108,714), and Suffolk (130,456) Counties had over 100,000 recipients each, receiving monthly benefits totaling $28.3, $22.4 and $28.7 million respectively.

NYS SNAP Monthly Recipients and Benefits, January 2015 – January 2025

Source: OTDA

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides free, healthy foods and personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services. In New York State, WIC is overseen by the New York State Department of Health and administered by individual providers throughout the State. 

In FFY 2024, WIC in New York State benefitted 437,619 women, infants and children. The program received nearly $503.4 million in federal funding. Food costs make up the majority of WIC expenditures, totaling approximately $405.8 million in FFY 2024.

WIC is available to pregnant individuals, breastfeeding individuals up to 12 months postpartum, individuals up to 6 months postpartum, infants and children under the age of five and fathers and caretakers such as grandparents or foster parents can apply for infants and children under their care. To be eligible for WIC, an individual must receive benefits from Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, or have an annual gross income of under $27,861 for an individual or $97,532 for a household of eight. WIC is available to non-citizens and individuals who are working or have a working household member.

In calendar year 2024, more than half of the average monthly WIC participants in the State (233,703) were in New York City. Outside of New York City, Suffolk County had the largest number of average monthly WIC participants (22,742).

New York, Federal WIC Funding and Participation, FFYs 2020 – 2024

Note: Total Participation is the average monthly total for women, infants and children for the FFY.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture; Federal Funds Information for State

Note: WIC Expenditure Data is not available at the county level.

Source: OTDA and NYSDOH

Data Table

District	January 2025 SNAP Persons	January 2025 Total SNAP Benefits
Albany	32,544	$6,508,755
Allegany	5,319	$918,135
Broome	26,276	$5,071,458
Cattaraugus	10,630	$1,874,855
Cayuga	8,977	$1,649,132
Chautauqua	23,653	$4,485,327
Chemung	14,461	$2,818,947
Chenango	6,838	$1,180,196
Clinton	11,833	$2,232,539
Columbia	5,160	$978,689
Cortland	5,649	$1,056,098
Delaware	4,684	$822,915
Dutchess	17,152	$3,413,741
Erie	142,028	$28,295,909
Essex	3,030	$526,919
Franklin	6,681	$1,255,498
Fulton	8,095	$1,535,489
Genesee	4,864	$854,770
Greene	3,876	$782,515
Hamilton	373	$64,089
Herkimer	9,085	$1,659,171
Jefferson	14,507	$2,687,271
Lewis	2,925	$468,666
Livingston	5,537	$1,009,467
Madison	6,295	$1,141,722
Monroe	108,714	$22,358,035
Montgomery	8,430	$1,557,023
Nassau	44,106	$8,661,574
Niagara	27,303	$5,252,833
Oneida	34,917	$7,200,947
Onondaga	66,884	$13,166,244
Ontario	9,405	$1,740,508
Orange	45,530	$8,594,551
Orleans	5,292	$932,774
Oswego	17,156	$3,166,664
Otsego	6,634	$1,194,318
Putnam	2,885	$597,084
Rensselaer	15,892	$3,034,139
Rockland	53,004	$10,286,808
Saratoga	14,575	$2,669,983
Schenectady	21,073	$4,254,091
Schoharie	3,805	$680,418
Schuyler	1,937	$333,907
Seneca	3,593	$626,937
St. Lawrence	13,860	$2,536,625
Steuben	12,283	$2,142,272
Suffolk	130,456	$28,667,217
Sullivan	13,110	$2,679,440
Tioga	5,350	$881,888
Tompkins	7,737	$1,508,409
Ulster	17,521	$3,556,417
Warren	6,947	$1,272,495
Washington	6,944	$1,222,424
Wayne	8,606	$1,551,906
Westchester	74,181	$15,587,852
Wyoming	2,570	$423,286
Yates	2,101	$360,750
New York City	1,801,636	$423,861,133