New York City paid $2.6 billion in cash assistance in 2025

New York City distributed more than $2.6 billion in cash assistance to residents in 2025, according to a review of city records. The payments reached 864,999 people, the highest total since before former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's welfare changes in the early 2000s.

The $2.6 billion amount was 71% higher than the $1.57 billion recorded in 2022. When combined with SNAP benefits, the city distributed more than $7 billion in welfare payments during 2024.

Budget and policy context The city's 2026 budget allocated $14.63 billion to the Human Resources Administration, which manages welfare and social services. That figure equals 14% of the overall city budget and exceeds the prior year's HRA funding by more than $2.6 billion.

A hedge fund manager criticized a video in which the mayor announced a tax on second homes valued above $5 million. The manager said the video placed him in harm's way and described it as inappropriate. Fox News Digital contacted the Human Resources Administration and the mayor's office for comment.