New York has always been expensive, after all, it’s one of the most densely populated cities in the Western world. If you add in some rampant inflation—as we have seen ever since the covid pandemic hit and the Federal reserve started printing bills to pay those stimulus checks—you get a skyrocketing high-cost of living. Which is why Kathy Hochul’s administration has decided to throw in some relief checks in New York
This money is just one piece of a bigger plan to make life in the state more affordable (at least, that’s what polititians say), adding to previous moves like middle-class tax breaks, a bigger Child Tax Credit, and funding for free meals in schools. For a lot of people living here, this payment serves as the clearest proof that help is actually coming.
Here is how the refund checks work—and when they will arrive
The state looks at your 2023 New York tax return to decide if you qualify. To get the money, you must have sent in your taxes for that year, and nobody else can list you as a dependent on their forms. If you sent your tax forms in late, or if the state is still working on them, your check might arrive after everyone else’s.
So, who really gets this extra cash before the holidays? The state wants to help people who don’t earn a huge amount of money, so the size of the check changes based on your income and how you filed. Leaders also promised that if you filed late but still fit the rules, you will get your money as soon as your paperwork is finished.
Where the money is going in New York
People in every part of the state are getting a share of the $2 billion that has been sent out. New York City is at the top of the list, where more than 3.5 million residents are receiving checks that add up to nearly $829 million.
Other areas are seeing a lot of payments, too:
- Mid‑Hudson: 924,000 people get $234.2 million
- Long Island: 1.2 million people get $316.4 million
- Western New York: 585,000 people get $152.7 million
- Capital Region: 475,000 people get $122.8 million
- Southern Tier: 251,000 people get $66.7 million
- North Country: 156,000 people get $42.4 million
You might ask why the numbers are so different from place to place. It mainly depends on how many people live there and how much money they make, but the main point is simple: every region is getting millions of dollars right when holiday costs are going up.
What to do if your check hasn’t arrived
If you fit the rules, you don’t have to fill out any forms or sign up for anything. The state sends the money automatically to people who qualify, and most of the checks are already in the mail. Governor Hochul’s team mentioned that they will keep sending out small batches of checks over the next few weeks as they find more people who should get one.
Your money goes to the address the Tax Department has on their list for you. The agency explained that they will mail the refund to the newest address they have, which is usually the one from the tax form you sent in last. They also noted that even though they look at your 2023 taxes to see if you qualify, they will send the check to your most current address.
For example, if you changes residence right after filing your taxes for 2023, the government might have a hard time trying to track you down to your newer, more updated current address.
Are you still looking for your envelope in the mail? If you turned in your 2023 taxes late, you are in for some waiting. After all, this is a “first come, first served” kind of situation, so you cannot blame anyone but past-you for taking their sweet time filing taxes years ago. But don’t fret, the check will arrive…eventually!