NYC Fair Fares 2026–27: Half-Price Subway and Bus Rides on OMNY, Who Qualifies and How to Apply
For a New Yorker who rides the subway or bus every day, fares add up quickly. Fair Fares NYC is a city program that cuts those costs in half for residents with low incomes. Eligible riders pay 50% of the fare on subways and eligible buses, or 50% off Access-A-Ride paratransit trips. According to the program, more than 372,000 New Yorkers have enrolled.
The program has fully moved from MetroCard to OMNY, which changes how you get and use the discount. This guide covers the 2026 income limits, who can and can't apply, how to apply, and how to avoid losing your discount.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: the Fair Fares NYC website (eligibility tool, About, How It Works, OMNY and Contact pages) and the official Fair Fares NYC FAQ (form FF-4, dated June 8, 2026). This is general information; check nyc.gov/fairfares for the latest rules.
The Short Version
Discount: 50% off subway and eligible bus fares, including the Staten Island Railway, Roosevelt Island Tram and Hudson Rail Link, or 50% off Access-A-Ride trips.
Free rides after 12: once you take 12 paid trips in 7 days on the same Fair Fares OMNY card, the rest of that week's rides are free.
Who: NYC residents ages 18 to 64 with household income at or below the limits below.
Apply: online at nyc.gov/accessfairfares, or get help at a Fair Fares office or by calling 311.
Immigration status: the program says it will not ask about your status or record it.
Renew: every year.
2026 Income Limits
Your household's gross annual income must be at or below these limits, according to the Fair Fares NYC eligibility tool:
1 person: $23,940
2 people: $32,460
3 people: $40,980
4 people: $49,500
5 people: $58,020
6 people: $66,540
7 people: $75,060
8 people: $83,580
Each additional person: add $8,520
If you're close to the line, the program says you can still apply.
Who Is (and Isn't) Eligible
According to the official FAQ, NYC residents may qualify if they:
Are between 18 and 64 years old;
Live in a household with gross income at or below the limit;
Don't receive, and aren't eligible for, another transit discount or transportation benefit, including carfare from DSS/HRA; and
For the subway and bus discount, aren't in or eligible for another transit discount program.
Two common reasons people are turned away:
MTA Reduced-Fare. If you're in or eligible for the MTA's Reduced-Fare program, you can't get the Fair Fares subway and bus discount. If you're an Access-A-Ride customer, though, you can ask for the Fair Fares discount on your AAR fares.
HRA carfare. If you already receive full carfare from DSS/HRA, you can't get the subway and bus discount or the Access-A-Ride discount.
The program is open only to residents of the five boroughs.
How to Apply
Check eligibility with the self-assessment tool at nyc.gov/fairfares.
Apply at nyc.gov/accessfairfares. You'll create an ACCESS HRA account, answer questions about your identity, residency and income, and sign electronically. You'll receive an application ID number.
Upload documents if asked. Some applicants don't need any. If you do, the program will tell you which ones, and the Fair Fares NYC Suggested Document List can help. Upload them with the ACCESS HRA mobile app (nyc.gov/ffdocs). If you can't use the app, staff at a Fair Fares office can help.
Watch the 10-day deadline. You have 10 days after submitting your application to upload your documents. If you miss it, you'll have to start a new application.
Wait for a decision. After all documents are in, allow up to 30 days for review. You can check your status online, and you'll get a decision by mail.
Uploaded documents can take up to 15 minutes to show up in your account. Fair Fares will text you if your application is incomplete.
Getting and Using Your Discount
Once approved, you choose where the discount goes:
A Fair Fares OMNY card (FFOC): mailed to you within two to three weeks. It arrives with no money on it, so you'll need to load it before you ride.
Your own credit or debit card, or a phone wallet: the discount is added right after approval and should be active within 24 hours. Choose this in ACCESS HRA under "Change Discount Selection." The discount works on either the physical card or its digital-wallet version, not both.
Access-A-Ride: you won't get an OMNY card from Fair Fares. The MTA sends you an AAR OMNY ID card, and the discount is applied automatically.
Loading your Fair Fares OMNY card:
At an OMNY vending machine in a subway station
At participating stores, pharmacies and check-cashing locations (omny.info/retail)
Online or by phone with an OMNY account: omny.info/register or 877-789-6669
Each tap deducts half the current fare. Fair Fares recommends creating a free OMNY account to track your progress toward the 7-day fare cap, set up auto-reload and suspend a lost card instantly.
Where the discount works: NYC subways and eligible buses, Staten Island Railway, Roosevelt Island Tram, Hudson Rail Link and Westchester Bee-Line.
Where it doesn't: Metro-North, LIRR, PATH and NICE buses. Your card will work on MTA express buses and AirTrain JFK, but you'll pay the full fare.
Free transfers don't count toward the 12 paid trips for fare capping, but you still need to tap the same card when you transfer.
Rules That Can Cost You the Discount
Don't share it. The discount is for your personal use only. Lending your card or device, or selling taps, is treated as misuse: a 60-day suspension the first time and a permanent ban the second time.
Replacements are limited. Fair Fares replaces a lost, stolen or damaged card once per enrollment year. Report it at nyc.gov/accessfairfares or call 311. After that, you can buy your own OMNY card or move the discount to a bank card.
Renew on time. You're enrolled for one year. Fair Fares will mail and text you a renewal notice. Renew at least 30 days before your enrollment ends to avoid a gap.
Charged full fare? Check that your OMNY account profile shows the rider class "Fair Fares." If it doesn't, call 311. If it does, call OMNY Customer Service.
If you're denied or told you're no longer eligible, the notice explains why. To ask for a review, visit an office or call 311. If your enrollment is ending, you must request a review within 14 days of receiving the notice.
Old Fair Fares MetroCards
Fair Fares stopped issuing MetroCards and switched to OMNY in February 2025. If you still have a Fair Fares MetroCard, you can use it until it expires, stops working, is deactivated or you're no longer enrolled. You can't transfer a MetroCard balance to an OMNY card, so use it up first. You can switch to OMNY at any time in ACCESS HRA.
Fair Fares Offices
Offices are open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on holidays. Staff can help you apply and upload documents.
Bronx: 888 Garrison Avenue, 3rd floor, Bronx, NY 10474
Brooklyn: 2400 Fulton Street, 4th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11233
Manhattan: 132 West 125th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10027
Queens: 165-08 88th Avenue, 3rd floor, Jamaica, NY 11432
Staten Island: 201 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301
For general questions, call 311. For OMNY charges or account help, call OMNY Customer Service at 877-789-6669. For Access-A-Ride questions, call 877-337-2017.
Closing Thoughts
If you're 18 to 64, live in the five boroughs and your household income is under the limit, Fair Fares can save you real money every week. Check eligibility, apply online, upload any requested documents within 10 days, load your OMNY card (or link your own card) and set a reminder to renew each year.
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