Benefits Navigation & Support · Surprise rank #448
One Free NY State Screener Checks You for Food, Heating and Other Benefits
myBenefits.ny.gov can prescreen New Yorkers for multiple assistance programs instead of making you guess one program at a time. It covers programs such as SNAP, HEAP and other state/local benefits, but NYC residents are redirected for some applications.
Who
New Yorkers who want to check whether their household may qualify for public benefits before applying program by program.
Where: New York State, with different application routes for some New York City programs.
What to do
Start here: Open myBenefits.ny.gov and complete the prescreening questions. Follow the site’s program-specific instructions for any benefits that appear worth applying for.
Eligibility: Anyone can use the prescreening tools. Actual eligibility is determined separately under each benefit program’s rules.
What you get
A New York State online benefits portal and prescreener that helps people explore possible eligibility for food, cash, heating, health and other assistance programs and, where supported, start or manage applications.
Benefit: One free screening process can surface several potential programs, including food and heating assistance, and can direct users to the correct application route.
Possible value: No direct cash value from the screener itself; its value is identifying benefits that can range from small supports to hundreds of dollars a month depending on what the household qualifies for.
Good to know
Important: A screening result is not an eligibility determination. NYC residents may be directed to ACCESS NYC or ACCESS HRA for certain programs; in particular, use the current NYC application route rather than assuming myBenefits processes every NYC benefit application.
Availability: Online year-round; individual benefit programs can have their own open/closed periods.
Why people miss it: People often search for one benefit at a time and never run a broader screen that could reveal several programs.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026