NYC Eliminates 50K Backlog in Cash Assistance and SNAP Applications

By Hamodia Staff

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park announced on Monday, March 4, that the Adams administration has nearly cleared the backlogs of cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications, ensuring low-income New Yorkers can quickly and easily access the federal benefits they qualify for. While over 46,000 cash assistance applications and over 4,000 SNAP applications were pending on-time processing last summer, the Adams administration has eliminated the backlog of cases by 97percent of the cash assistance applications and 90 percent SNAP applications through investments in staffing, technology, and process improvements.

In total, the city processed more than 600,000 cash assistance and SNAP applications during this period. DSS hired nearly 1,000 new staff since January 2023 to process cash assistance and SNAP applications, doubled down on training for staff, and strengthened remote application processes to make it easier to apply for benefits.

“As a child, I watched my mother struggle to put food on the table, as she worked three jobs to care for me and my five siblings. The city wasn’t there for us when we needed help — we won’t let that practice continue under our administration,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration is putting working-class New Yorkers first, and ensuring they have full access to the benefits they are entitled to receive in a timely manner. A more just and equitable New York City is a city that works better for everyone, and that is something our administration is committed to and will continue to deliver on every day.”