New York City shelled out cash assistance to 787,400 residents last fiscal year — the most welfare checks it’s issued in at least two decades, dating back to the Giuliani administration.
While taxpayers have already been socked with a more than $5.5 billion tab the past two years to provide shelter and other services for a mass influx of migrants, they’ve also had to separately deal with a surge in New Yorkers seeking handouts.
Mayor Adams budgeted $2.46 billion in federal, state and city funds for cash assistance payments during the fiscal year that ended June 30 after previously budgeting $1.99 billion in Fiscal Year 2023, and $1.57 billion in Fiscal Year 2022.
The biweekly checks — $91.50 for single adults and $144.50 for households of three — are supposed to pay for utilities, rent, clothing and other necessities.