# Free Food Finder NY — 142-Tip Source Audit

Generated: 2026-08-02

- Total live tips: **142**
- High-risk tips rechecked in Phase 1: **26**
- Remaining rows retain the uploaded primary-source audit as their baseline and are queued for category-by-category web verification.

## Phase 1 findings

### Health Benefits #1: Got a Hospital Bill?
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** Official NYS page revised May 2026 confirms statewide hospital financial assistance through 400% FPL and a uniform application; application is not automatic.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — Hospital Financial Assistance: https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/hospital/financial_assist/
- **Rechecked official source:** https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/hospital/financial_assist/index.htm | https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/hospital/financial_assist/hosp_info/index.htm

### Health Benefits #2: Stop Losing Money From Your Social Security Check
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** 2026 QMB limit is $1,836/month single or $2,489/couple before the $20 disregard; QI is $2,474/$3,355. QMB covers Part A/B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — Medicare Savings Program: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/update/savingsprogram/
- **Rechecked official source:** https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/update/savingsprogram/medicaresavingsprogram

### Health Benefits #3: Working With a Disability?
- **Status:** correction needed
- **Finding:** The current MBI-WPD page gives gross-income ceilings of $80,820 single and $109,236 couple. The older $68,654 figure is the separate 1619(b) threshold, not the MBI-WPD ceiling.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — Medicaid Buy-In for Working People with Disabilities: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/buy_in/
- **Rechecked official source:** https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/buy_in/index.htm

### Health Benefits #4: Get a Free Air Conditioner Delivered and Installed
- **Status:** needs current status check
- **Finding:** The official Cooling Program page indexed by search still displays 2025 closure information and says 2026 depends on funding. Do not publish a specific 2026 closing date without a current agency page or phone confirmation.
- **Baseline official source:** NY State of Health — Cooling Program: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/CoolingProgram
- **Rechecked official source:** https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/CoolingProgram

### Health Benefits #11: Have Diabetes?
- **Status:** enhance copy
- **Finding:** Official NY State of Health guidance says all metal-level QHPs and the Essential Plan include $0 cost sharing for many covered non-hospital diabetes services, supplies, tests and formulary drugs, with stated exceptions.
- **Baseline official source:** NY State of Health — Pregnancy Cost-Sharing Initiative: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
- **Rechecked official source:** https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/2025costsavings | https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/2026invitation

### Health Benefits #12: Pregnant?
- **Status:** enhance copy
- **Finding:** Official guidance says QHPs waive most pregnancy/postpartum cost sharing except hospital, ambulance, inpatient, emergency and delivery services; Essential Plan removes copays more broadly through 12 months postpartum.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — CDPAP: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/longterm/cdpap.htm
- **Rechecked official source:** https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/2025costsavings | https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/2026invitation

### Health Benefits #13: Medicaid May Pay a Relative or Friend to Provide Your Home Care
- **Status:** verified with correction
- **Finding:** NYS confirms PPL is the sole statewide fiscal intermediary. A spouse, designated representative, or parent of a consumer under 21 cannot be the paid assistant; minimum-needs requirements changed Sept. 1, 2025.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — HCBS services: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/home_community_based_settings.htm
- **Rechecked official source:** https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/longterm/cdpap/

### Health Benefits #18: Medicare and Medicaid?
- **Status:** plan specific
- **Finding:** Keep strictly plan-specific. Benefit amounts and qualifying chronic-condition rules must come from the exact current Evidence of Coverage.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — Medicaid Managed Care model contract/resources: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/managed_care/

### Health Benefits #19: Just Left the Hospital?
- **Status:** plan specific
- **Finding:** Keep strictly plan-specific and tied to the current Evidence of Coverage or discharge authorization. Do not state a universal meal count.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS OTDA — HEAP Cooling Assistance: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

### Health Benefits #20: Low Income and Medically Vulnerable?
- **Status:** seasonal recheck
- **Finding:** HEAP Cooling is seasonal and funding-limited. The current tip should display open/closed status from OTDA rather than a permanent application instruction.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — CDPAP: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/longterm/cdpap.htm

### Caregiving, Senior & Disability #1: Getting Paid to Care for Mom?
- **Status:** headline correction
- **Finding:** The hook claiming a $50K/year government job is not supportable as a general promise. Pay depends on authorized hours and wage rules; remove the fixed-income headline.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Health — CDPAP: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/longterm/cdpap.htm

### Caregiving, Senior & Disability #5: Get Up to 12 Weeks of Paid Leave to Care for a Sick Relative
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** For 2026, PFL pays 67% of wages up to $1,228.53 weekly for up to 12 weeks, with job protection and continued health insurance.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Paid Family Leave — Family Care: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/family-care
- **Rechecked official source:** https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/2026

### Caregiving, Senior & Disability #8: NYC Seniors and Disabled Tenants
- **Status:** verified current limit
- **Finding:** The live NYC Rent Freeze eligibility page still lists a $50,000 household-income ceiling. Do not use $75,000 until NYC Department of Finance updates the application rules.
- **Baseline official source:** NYC Department of Finance — Rent Freeze Program: https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/benefits/landlords-scrie.page
- **Rechecked official source:** https://www.nyc.gov/site/rentfreeze/freezing/freezing-your-rent.page

### Bill Savings #1: Earn Too Much for HEAP?
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** DPS says EEAP began January 13, 2026 for customers below state/area median income who are not in traditional EAP; enrollment and discount amounts are utility-specific.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Public Service — Enhanced Energy Affordability Program: https://dps.ny.gov/enhanced-energy-affordability-program
- **Rechecked official source:** https://dps.ny.gov/node/10181

### Bill Savings #3: NYC Commuters: Cut Your Subway and Bus Costs in Half
- **Status:** verified current limit
- **Finding:** The live Fair Fares page lists 2026 limits equal to 150% FPL: $23,940 for one person and $49,500 for four. The proposed/funded 200% expansion is not reflected in current enrollment rules.
- **Baseline official source:** NYC Fair Fares: https://www.nyc.gov/site/fairfares/index.page

### Bill Savings #5: NYC Seniors and Disabled Tenants
- **Status:** verified current limit
- **Finding:** The live NYC Rent Freeze page continues to list $50,000 as the combined household-income ceiling.
- **Baseline official source:** NYC Department of Finance — Rent Freeze Program: https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/benefits/landlords-scrie.page

### Jobs & Training #1: Free College in NY?!
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** SUNY Reconnect covers tuition, fees, books and supplies for eligible ages 25-55 in approved fields. Starting fall 2026, eligible nursing students may qualify despite a prior degree; fields also expanded.
- **Baseline official source:** SUNY — Reconnect: https://www.suny.edu/communitycollege/reconnect/

### Jobs & Training #2: No Degree? No Problem.
- **Status:** time sensitive
- **Finding:** Exact MTA wages and filing windows must cite the current Notice of Examination; do not use an old exam notice as evergreen content.
- **Baseline official source:** MTA — Employment Exams: https://new.mta.info/careers/exam-schedule

### Jobs & Training #3: Long Islanders: Apply for a Paid Heavy-Equipment Apprenticeship
- **Status:** time sensitive
- **Finding:** NY HELPS vacancies remain active, but any stated program end date needs a current Civil Service or enacted-budget source rather than a job-search page.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Labor — Apprenticeship Announcements: https://dol.ny.gov/apprenticeship/announcements

### Jobs & Training #4: Get a Full Tech Bootcamp and Certification Training for $0 Tuition
- **Status:** time sensitive
- **Finding:** Local 138 recruitment and wage claims require the current NYS DOL recruitment notice or union wage schedule. Keep as a dated alert, not evergreen.
- **Baseline official source:** Per Scholas New York: https://perscholas.org/locations/new-york/

### Jobs & Training #22: Working Adults: Get Thousands From NYC for an Approved Career Course
- **Status:** time sensitive
- **Finding:** Individual Training Grant income ceilings, eligible courses and funding availability change. Require current NYC SBS/Workforce1 authorization before enrollment.
- **Baseline official source:** SUNY Workforce Development: https://www.suny.edu/workforce/

### Did You Know? #5: Earn Too Much for Public Assistance?
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** EEAP is active, but must be described as utility-specific and not available simultaneously with traditional EAP.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Department of Public Service — Enhanced Energy Affordability Program: https://dps.ny.gov/enhanced-energy-affordability-program

### Did You Know? #8: NYC Seniors and Disabled Tenants
- **Status:** verified current limit
- **Finding:** Live NYC eligibility remains $50,000 household income for SCRIE/DRIE.
- **Baseline official source:** NYC Department of Finance — Rent Freeze Program: https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/benefits/landlords-scrie.page

### Did You Know? #12: NYC Residents: Pay Half Price for Subway and Bus Rides
- **Status:** verified current limit
- **Finding:** Live Fair Fares 2026 income limits remain 150% FPL, not 200%.
- **Baseline official source:** NYC Fair Fares: https://www.nyc.gov/site/fairfares/index.page
- **Rechecked official source:** https://www.nyc.gov/site/fairfares/index.page

### Did You Know? #18: Get Up to 12 Weeks of Paid Leave to Care for a Sick Relative
- **Status:** verified current
- **Finding:** 2026 Paid Family Leave maximum is $1,228.53/week for up to 12 weeks.
- **Baseline official source:** NYS Paid Family Leave — Family Care: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/family-care

### Did You Know? #30: No Degree?
- **Status:** time sensitive
- **Finding:** Use the exact active MTA Notice of Examination for wage and filing dates. The prior Exam 6614 filing is closed; keep the permanent tip generic or turn exact wages into a dated alert.
- **Baseline official source:** MTA — Employment Exams: https://new.mta.info/careers/exam-schedule