Money, food, benefits and taxes
Which benefits you can get in New York depends on your immigration status. We explain how to apply, where to get free food when there is nothing at home, how to open a bank account without a Social Security number, file taxes, send money home and avoid scams.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The information is as of November 2026. Benefit and tax rules change; every fact links to an official source.
QARAVAN does not provide legal services and has no lawyers. We point you to organizations that help with applications and immigration questions.
Start here
- If you need food today, open the Food Help NYC map: finder.nyc.gov/foodhelp.
- Before you apply for benefits, check which ones are open to your status: the rules changed in October 2026.
- Do not pay for free forms or believe promises to speed up a case. Report fraud at 800-566-7636.
- 1Food right now
- 2Who can get which benefits
- 3Applying for benefits
- 4A bank account without a Social Security number
- 5Building credit from zero
- 6Taxes: filing, ITIN and free help
- 7Sending money home safely
- 8Debt and free financial counseling
- 9Avoiding scams
Sources, checked November 2026
- communications.cityofnewyork.us/dss-hra-dhs-updates-april-26
- communications.cityofnewyork.us/dss-hra-dhs-updates-june-26
- communications.cityofnewyork.us/dss-hra-dhs-updates-october-2026
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/cash-assistance.page
- access.nyc.gov/programs/cash-assistance
- nyc.gov/site/hra/about/immigration-faqs.page
- nyc.gov/main/services/snap-benefits
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/snap-benefits-food-program.page
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/snap-interview-instructions.page
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/snap-application-frequently-asked-questi…
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/able-bodied-adults-without-dependents.page
- nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/snap-locations.page
- nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/job-locations-and-service-centers.p…
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/food-assistance.page
- access.nyc.gov/programs/emergency-food-assistance
- finder.nyc.gov/foodhelp
- nyc.gov/site/foodpolicy/programs/programs.page
- access.nyc.gov/programs/women-infants-and-children-wic
- schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-meals
- schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/immigrant-famil…
- nyc.gov/site/fairfares/index.page
- nyc.gov/site/fairfares/faq/faq.page
- access.nyc.gov/programs/home-energy-assistance-program-heap
- otda.ny.gov/programs/heap
- otda.ny.gov/programs/temporary-assistance
- otda.ny.gov/policy/gis/2023/23DC039.pdf
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/stay-covered
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/HR1-Tool-Kit
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/EssentialPlan
- info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/information-essential-plan-en…
- healthcare.gov/immigrants/immigration-status
- nyc.gov/site/immigrants/legal-resources/public-charge-rule.page
- govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-20/html/2026-14539.htm
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g-chapter-2
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g-chapter-3
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g-chapter-7
- law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1641
- nyc.gov/site/idnyc/card/how-to-apply.page
- nyc.gov/site/idnyc/about/about.page
- nyc.gov/site/idnyc/benefits/benefits.page
- nyc.gov/site/idnyc/benefits/banks-and-credit-unions.page
- culturepass.nyc
- lespeoples.org/become-a-member
- lespeoples.org/share-savings
- lespeoples.org/saving-credit-builder-loan
- lespeoples.org/itinservices
- fdic.gov/getbanked
- access.nyc.gov/programs/nyc-financial-empowerment-centers
- nyc.gov/site/dca/talk-money/get-free-financial-counseling.page
- nyc.gov/site/dca/talk-money/talk-money-faq.page
- consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-free-copy-of-my-cr…
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-and-keep-a-good-cred…
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-some-ways-to-start-or-re…
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-c…
- annualcreditreport.com
- equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute
- experian.com/disputes/main.html
- dispute.transunion.com
- a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra
- consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/debt-collection
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-when-a-debt-coll…
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-if-im-sued-by-a-…
- consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-the-difference-between-cr…
- consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/sending-money
- irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-proposed-regulations-on-th…
- irs.gov/newsroom/working-families-tax-cuts
- law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/4475
- irs.gov/tin/itin/individual-taxpayer-identification-number-itin
- irs.gov/tin/itin/how-to-apply-for-an-itin
- irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit
- irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credi…
- irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/substantial-presen…
- irs.gov/individuals/check-if-you-need-to-file-a-tax-return
- irs.gov/filing/individuals/when-to-file
- irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/filing-past-…
- irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-ta…
- irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying…
- irs.gov/taxtopics/tc254
- access.nyc.gov/programs/nyc-free-tax-prep
- nyc.gov/site/dca/talk-money/file-your-taxes.page
- nyc.gov/site/dca/talk-money/file-your-taxes-itin.page
- nyc.gov/site/dca/talk-money/file-your-taxes-rights.page
- holyapostlesnyc.org
- holyapostlesnyc.org/soup-kitchen-and-pantry/pantry-program
- breadandlife.org/how-to-get-help
- foodbanknyc.org/find-food/community-kitchen
- masbia.org/faq_for_eating_at_masbia
- cityharvest.org/mobile-markets
- plentiful.org
- metcouncil.org/services/crisis-intervention-services
- nyc.gov/site/immigrants/legal-resources/avoid-immigration-serv…
- ag.ny.gov/resources/individuals/consumer-issues/immigration-se…
- justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports
- justice.gov/eoir/recognition-and-accreditation-program
- dos.ny.gov/office-new-americans
- uscis.gov/avoid-scams/common-scams
- access.nyc.gov/programs/fair-fares
- portal.311.nyc.gov/about-nyc-311
- nyc.gov/site/dfta/about/contact-aging-connect.page
- nyc.gov/site/hra/about/contact.page
- consumerfinance.gov/complaint
- nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-complaint.page
- freetaxassistance.for.irs.gov/s/sitelocator
- nyc.gov/assets/home/downloads/pdf/311/Local-Law-30.pdf
- nyc.gov/assets/immigrants/downloads/pdf/English-IAH.pdf
- lespeoples.org/contact-us
- dos.ny.gov/news/new-york-state-office-new-americans-announces-…
- westernunion.com/us/en/send-money-to-russia.html
- law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1158
- ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-208/subpa…
- justice.gov/eoir/list-of-currently-disciplined-practitioners