If you are a New York City resident, you may be eligible for a Fair Fares NYC discount if you:

• Are between (and including) the ages of 18 and 64, and
• Are in a household that meets the income guidelines listed below:

• Are not receiving (or are not eligible for) full carfare from the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (DSS/HRA) or any other NYC agency, and
• If choosing the Fair Fares NYC subway and bus discount, are not currently participating or eligible to participate in any other transportation discount program **

** If choosing the Fair Fares NYC discount for Access-A-Ride trips, you may still be eligible even if you receive a discount (or free rides) on subways and buses from the MTA.

Fair Fares NYC will not ask about immigration status or record any information about immigration status.

Check your eligibility and apply for Fair Fares NYC.

If eligible, you can use a Fair Fares NYC subway and bus discount to pay half the current price for a single fare on approved NYC transit systems and use a free transfer after each single fare payment within the NYCT guidelines. The current discount fare on approved NYC transit systems is $1.50.

When you use your Fair Fares NYC discount, the OMNY card reader will know to charge you $1.50.

If you take 12 paid rides within a consecutive 7-day period and use the same payment method to pay for each individual ride, all additional rides during that timeframe will automatically be free. This is known as the 7-day fare cap.

You can use your Fair Fares NYC subway and bus discount for:

• New York City subways
• Eligible New York City buses, including local, limited, and Select Bus Service (SBS)
• The Staten Island Railway (SIR)
• Roosevelt Island Tramway
• Hudson Rail Link

The Fair Fares NYC subway and bus discount is not available for:

• Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Express Buses
• The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)
• Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)
• AirTrain
• Metro-North Railroad

An OMNY card that was issued by Fair Fares NYC can be used to pay the full fare on MTA Express Buses and AirTrain.

Choosing a Payment Method

When you submit an application or renewal, you will be asked to choose how you want to pay the discounted fare on approved NYC transit systems. You can pay the fare using one of the following payment methods:

• A Fair Fares NYC issued OMNY card
• A personal OMNY card
• Credit card or debit card or mobile device

If you want to use a personal OMNY card, credit or debit card, or mobile device, you must have the OMNY transit account number associated with that payment method. The Fair Fares NYC program will need that number to ensure that you are charged the discounted fare and not the full fare.

Create an OMNY account.

MTA Access-A-Ride customers who meet the eligibility requirements for the Fair Fares NYC program can pay half the current price for a single fare on their Access-A-Ride trips. The current discount fare on an Access-A-Ride trip is $1.50. Access-A-Ride drivers only accept cash payment for Access-A-Ride trips.

Access-A-Ride customers who already have a reduced fare card through the MTA are still eligible for a Fair Fares NYC discount if they meet the other eligibility criteria and are applying for a discount on their Access-A-Ride trips. If you are not participating in the Fair Fares NYC program and you are an Access-A-Ride customer, visit the Fair Fares NYC website to check your eligibility and apply.

You can apply for a Fair Fares NYC discount online or in person.

The application process has two steps:
1.    Check your eligibility and submit the application.
2.    Submit required documents, if any, within 10 calendar days of submitting your application using the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app.

Your application is not complete until you submit required documents, if any.

The Fair Fares NYC application process does not require an eligibility interview.

How to Apply

You can apply for a Fair Fares NYC discount online. If needed, you can get help completing an application and submitting required documents at a Fair Fares location.

Online
Use the ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC website or NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app from anywhere and at any time to apply for Fair Fares NYC.

In Person

Find a Fair Fares NYC location.

What Happens Next

Applications are sent to the program for review and an eligibility decision when you affirm on ACCESS HRA that you submitted all documents for your application or when the 10 calendar day period to submit documents ends, whichever happens first. The review can take up to 30 days.

You must submit an annual renewal and be found eligible to continue getting your Fair Faires NYC discount.

Your ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC account will display reminder messages and you will be mailed a notice when it's time to renew your enrollment. The notice and reminder messages will include your deadline to submit the renewal. You may also receive notifications by text and email if that information is included in your ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC account.

Renewals should be submitted as early as possible. If your renewal is submitted timely and approved, your discount will continue without interruption.

If you miss your renewal deadline, you will have to submit a new application.

Renewal Process

The renewal process has two steps:

1. Submit your renewal.
2. Submit required documents, if any, within 10 calendar days of submitting your renewal using the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app.

The Fair Fares NYC renewal process does not require an eligibility interview.

The quickest way to submit your renewal is online. If needed, you can get help completing your renewal and submitting required documents at any Fair Fares NYC location.

Online

Use the ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC website or NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app from anywhere and at any time to submit your renewal for Fair Fares NYC.

In Person

Find a Fair Fares NYC location.

What Happens Next

Renewals are sent to the program for review when you confirm on ACCESS HRA that you submitted all documents for your renewal or when the 10 calendar day period to submit documents ends, whichever happens first. The review can take up to 30 days.

If your renewal is approved, your enrollment in Fair Fares NYC program will be extended for one year. 

You may be asked to provide supporting documentation to verify your identity, age, residency, and income.  

If you are required to submit supporting documentation, you must submit the documents within 10 calendar days from the date you submit your application or renewal. If you do not submit the documents within this timeframe, you will have to submit a new application. 

Documents can only be submitted through the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app. If you need help using the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app, you can go to any Fair Fares NYC location and a staff member will help you upload your documents. 

Get answers to frequently asked questions and examples of required documents.

Online

Using the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app, you can upload images from the gallery of your smartphone or tablet or take pictures of your documents and submit them as part of your application. You can download the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app for free to any smartphone or tablet.  

The status of the uploaded document is updated in real time. If the document upload is successful, your ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC account will display “Documents Received” on the Documents page on the ACCESS NYC website or Required Documents page on the NYC ACCESS HRA mobile app. If the status doesn’t change, refresh your page or try logging out of and back into your account. 

You can view the status of your application or renewal anytime online by logging into your ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC account. 

You will be mailed a notice once a decision is made on your application or renewal. You can also see the decision in your ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC account. 

Application Approved 

If your application is approved, you will be enrolled in the Fair Fares NYC program for one year. 

• If you selected the subway and bus discount and asked to:  
  • Get a Fair Fares NYC OMNY card, you will receive your card in the mail 2 to 3 weeks after your application is approved. The card cannot be picked up in person. 
  • Use a personal OMNY card, a credit card or debit card, or mobile device as a payment method, you can start using that payment method immediately after your application is approved. 
• If you selected the Access-A-Ride discount, you will be able to use the discount on Access-a-Ride trips booked starting 3 calendar days after the MTA verifies that you are an Access-a-Ride customer. 

Renewal Approved 

If your renewal is approved, your enrollment in the Fair Fares NYC program will be extended for one year. 

• If you have a Fair Fares NYC issued OMNY card, you can use it for several enrollment years if you remain eligible for the program. You will only receive a new card in the mail if:  
  • This is the first time you requested a Fair Fares NYC issued OMNY card, or 
  • Your current Fair Fares NYC issued OMNY card is going to expire (the new card will arrive before your current card expires) 
• If you use an OMNY card you already have, a credit card or debit card or mobile device as a payment method, the discount will continue automatically when your renewal is approved. 
• If your discount is for Access-A-Ride trips, it will continue automatically when your renewal is approved. 

Application or Renewal Denied 

Your application or renewal may be denied if you do not meet the program eligibility requirements. You can log into your ACCESS HRA Fair Fares NYC account to view the reason for the denial. Fair Fares NYC will also send you a notice if your application or renewal is denied. The notice will explain why you are not eligible for a Fair Fares NYC discount. 

If you think the denial was a mistake, you can make a request to review your application or renewal in person at a Fair Fares NYC location or by phone. You must make this request within 14 calendar days from the date on the notice you received. If it has been more that 14 calendar days, please submit a new application. 

By Phone

Fair Fares NYC Locations are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, except city holidays.