New York to send millions of checks from September to December: who qualifies for up to $200

Millions of New Yorkers will receive checks of up to $200 as the state seeks to ease the pressure of high utility bills on working families. The payments will go out between September and December under a program known officially as the Energy Affordability Protection Checks.

The state Legislature approved $1 billion to fund the reimbursement program. Eligible taxpayers will receive a single payment of $100, $150 or $200, with the amount determined by household income and filing status.

The benefit is expected to reach about 8.2 million people. Applicants must be full-time New York residents, and the Hochul administration will assess household information using 2024 tax returns. People whose income exceeds the program’s thresholds, or who do not have a valid tax return, will not qualify.

The checks will be mailed automatically to the address listed in state tax records. Eligible residents will not need to apply, complete a digital form or take any additional step to claim the money. Residents who recently changed addresses should notify the state tax department to avoid delivery delays.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie defended the $1 billion allocation as a way to return money directly to taxpayers. He also reaffirmed the legislative majority’s commitment to countering the rising cost of living.