Fair Fares NYC cuts subway and eligible bus fares in half, to $1.50 a ride, for New York City residents aged 18 to 64 with household incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. The City’s FY2027 budget approved raising that limit to 200 percent, but the expanded limits are not yet open for enrollment.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 income limit for Fair Fares NYC is $23,940 for a single person and $49,500 for a household of four.
- A Fair Fares OMNY card charges 50 percent of the $3 base fare on each tap, and the City pays the other half.
- The FY2027 budget agreement raises eligibility from 150 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, adding an estimated 340,000 eligible New Yorkers.
- The Independent Budget Office estimates that about 41 percent of the nearly 940,000 eligible New Yorkers are enrolled.
- Eligibility ends at age 65, and riders eligible for the MTA’s Reduced-Fare program cannot also use Fair Fares.
- Approved applicants should receive a Fair Fares OMNY card in the mail within three weeks.
How Fair Fares NYC Cuts the Cost of Every Tap
New York City has run Fair Fares since January 2019 through the Human Resources Administration. The design is simple. Each tap of a Fair Fares OMNY card charges the rider half the fare, and the City covers the rest. At the current $3.00 base fare, that works out to $1.50 a ride.
The discount applies to the subway, local and Select Bus Service buses, the Staten Island Railway and the Roosevelt Island Tram, and it also covers Access-A-Ride paratransit trips. It does not work on Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road or Port Authority services. Participants can still use free transfers and OMNY fare capping, which makes rides free for the rest of a seven-day period once a rider has paid for 12 trips.
That matters in a system whose ridership keeps climbing, marked most recently by the subway crossing one billion rides for 2026 a week earlier than last year. For low-income commuters, the discount and the cap together limit what a heavy week of riding can cost.
Fair Fares NYC Income Limits and Age Rules for 2026
Applicants must live in New York City, be 18 to 64 years old, and have a household income at or below the posted limit for their household size. The current limits are $23,940 for one person, $32,460 for two, $40,980 for three, $49,500 for four, $58,020 for five and $66,540 for six, plus $8,520 for each additional person.
Two exclusions catch many riders off guard. People eligible for another transit discount, including the MTA’s Reduced-Fare program for seniors and riders with disabilities, cannot use Fair Fares. Neither can people who already receive full carfare from a City agency. Eligibility also ends at 65 for everyone, when most riders move to the MTA’s own half-price program.
The Income Threshold Has Risen Four Times Since 2023
Fair Fares started at 100 percent of the federal poverty level. The threshold rose to 120 percent in December 2023, 145 percent in January 2025 and 150 percent in November 2025, with each increase coming out of City budget negotiations.
The 200 Percent Fair Fares Expansion Is Approved but Not Yet Open
The City’s FY2027 budget agreement permanently raises the Fair Fares limit to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, the largest single increase in the program’s history. The City Council estimates the change makes about 340,000 more New Yorkers eligible, close to the Independent Budget Office’s estimate of roughly 343,000.
Based on 2026 poverty guidelines, the new ceiling would sit near $31,920 for one person and $66,000 for a household of four. Those figures remain expected rather than official. As of October 13, 2026, the City’s ACCESS NYC eligibility page still listed the 150 percent limits, and no enrollment date for newly eligible households had been announced.
Two Ways to Enroll Through ACCESS HRA
Fair Fares NYC runs on two enrollment tracks. Residents who already receive SNAP or Cash Assistance through ACCESS HRA can join through Fast Track, since their identity, residence and income are already verified. Everyone else goes through Open Enrollment, which means creating an ACCESS HRA account and submitting proof of identity, age, residency and income within 10 days of applying.
Applications can be filed online or in person at a Fair Fares NYC office. Approved applicants should receive a Fair Fares OMNY card in the mail within three weeks, while Access-A-Ride customers have the discount applied directly to their accounts.
Fair Fares NYC Enrollment Still Trails Eligibility
Paperwork is where many applications stall. HRA testified that about 27 percent of Fair Fares applications were incomplete in fiscal year 2025. The Independent Budget Office estimates that roughly 385,000 of the nearly 940,000 eligible New Yorkers are enrolled, about 41 percent.
Usage varies widely among those who do enroll. MTA analysis cited by the IBO found that 12 percent of Fair Fares riders reach the weekly fare cap, while two-thirds take fewer than five trips a week. The expansion will test whether a larger eligible pool translates into more riders, or simply widens the gap between who qualifies and who signs up.
FAQs
How much is NYC Fair Fares?
Fair Fares charges half the standard fare, which comes to $1.50 per subway or local bus ride at the current $3.00 base fare. After 12 paid rides in a seven-day period on the same OMNY card, further rides that week are free.
Is Fair Fares on OMNY?
Yes. New enrollees receive a Fair Fares OMNY card in the mail, and the program has stopped issuing Fair Fares MetroCards. The discount is applied automatically each time the card is tapped.
How do you apply for Fair Fares NYC?
Applications are submitted online through ACCESS HRA or in person at a Fair Fares NYC office. Applicants need documents showing identity, age, New York City residency and household income.
How long does Fair Fares take to get approved?
Open Enrollment applicants must submit all documents within 10 days of applying. After approval, the Fair Fares OMNY card should arrive by mail within three weeks.
When does the Fair Fares expansion to 200 percent start?
The expansion was approved in the City’s FY2027 budget agreement, but no enrollment date had been announced as of mid-October 2026. Until the City updates its eligibility page, the 150 percent income limits remain in effect.
