New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council’s new budget includes an expansion of Fair Fares, which provide half-price MetroCards to low-income citizens.
Currently, more than 300,000 people receive public transit rides through the program, which launched in 2019. With the expansion, nearly 200,000 more New Yorkers qualify for the program.
However, the Community Services Society, which lobbied for the extension, estimates that only 80,000 more people will sign up.
This is a sign that many eligible people are not using public transport or simply unaware that the scheme exists, according to the group’s economist Debi Chatterjee.
Who can qualify?
Citizens between 18 and 64 years old can apply.
Eligibility is determined by New Yorkers’ income. Under the new budget deal, eligibility will be expanded from 120 percent of the federal poverty line to 145 percent. This means that an individual must have an annual income of no more than $21,837. The threshold for a family of four is an income of $45,240.
The Community Service Society, which first proposed the program, estimated that 198,225 additional New Yorkers would be eligible to participate in the program once the extension is finalized. That translates to more than one million people being eligible to apply for the program.
So far, there are only about 335,966 people enrolled in the program, according to the city, Gothamist reported.
How MetroCard Fair Fares Works
The city’s website says it will take about 30 days to review an application. Once approved, the Fair Fares MetroCard is valid for one year. For now, applicants receive the MetroCard, but the MTA hopes to begin offering OMNY cards with the service by late 2024.
Once a passenger has the card, they can add value or time like any other MetroCard.
If you add time (such as a weekly or monthly pass), you only pay half the cost.
If the person adds money, the vending machine will still charge the full card, but each time the card is swiped only half of the cost of the trip will be deducted.
How can it be applied?
The easiest way is on the city’s website at this link.
Citizens can also obtain assistance in submitting their application at any Human Resources Administration office.
New York City says applicants must present identification, proof of residency and income. They will not be asked about their immigration status.
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