New York to increase fresh food incentives for SNAP recipients in 2027

Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York, announced that the city will increase the maximum daily amount of Health Bucks incentives by 40 percent starting in January 2027.

The program provides additional coupons for participants who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy fresh produce at local markets. The daily limit for these coupons will rise from 10 dollars to 14 dollars.

The incentive system works by providing a matching amount for every 2 dollars a person spends with SNAP at participating markets. This expansion does not change the base monthly SNAP amounts but expands local incentives available to those who shop at affiliated locations. Eligible residents, including immigrants who meet program requirements, can access these benefits through the Electronic Benefits Transfer card.

The New York Department of Health reported that nearly 80 percent of adults at risk of food insecurity struggled to afford balanced meals. To address this, the city plans to distribute nearly 2.3 million dollars in Health Bucks coupons in 2027. The administration will fund these incentives using municipal funds and 5.7 million dollars in new grants from the Gus Schumacher Nutritional Incentives Program.