NYC Financial Empowerment Centers

Cash & expenses | NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)

All New Yorkers regardless of legal statusEveryoneFamiliesImmigrantsNYCHA residentsPeople with disabilitiesPregnant & new parentsSeniorsStudentsVeteransCaregiverYoung Adult

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free, one-on-one professional financial counseling and coaching to help you reach your goals.

Heads Up

  • Your financial counselor will work with you to:
  • Manage your money
  • Check your credit
  • Set up a spending plan
  • Open a safe and affordable bank account
  • Contact your lenders about debt, including student loans
  • Develop a strategy to reduce your debt or lower payments
  • Access emergency government resources
  • In your first session, you will develop a list of action steps to help you reach your financial goals.
  • Your counselor will ask you about your financial history and ask to see any financial documents.
  • You may attend as many follow-up sessions as you want with your counselor.
  • You can meet with a counselor in person or over the phone.
  • You can choose your preferred language for services.
  • Services are secure and confidential.
  • Financial Empowerment Centers do not provide loans or grants.

    • Eligibility

    You are eligible for free financial counseling if you:

  • Live or work in NYC; and
  • Are at least 18 years oldIncome and immigration status do not matter.

    Required Documents

    Your financial counselor can better support you if they have more information about your finances. If you don't have your documents with you, that's OK too!Financial documents you can show your counselor include:

  • Bills or statements
  • Copies of your credit report
  • Collection notices
  • Copies of your tax returns
  • Paystubs
  • Court papers
  • Student loan bills or loan information, which can be found on studentaid.gov (https://studentaid.gov/)

    How to Apply

    Online (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/book-appointment) Book an appointment online (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/register) for an in-person or phone financial counseling session.You can also set up a Portal account to:

  • manage your appointments
  • securely share information and documents with your financial counselor
  • review and update your personal financial Action PlanIn personSelect a program that fits your needs and choose a location to make an appointment. You can choose your preferred language for services. By phoneCall 311 and say "financial counseling".

    Online

    (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/book-appointment) Book an appointment online (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/register) for an in-person or phone financial counseling session.You can also set up a Portal account to:

  • manage your appointments
  • securely share information and documents with your financial counselor
  • review and update your personal financial Action Plan

    Book an appointment

    By Mail

    In Person

    Book an appointment

    Get Help

  • Call the Financial Empowerment Center hotline: 212-487-4583 (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/get-free-financial-counseling.page)
  • Call 311. Ask about "Financial Empowerment Centers" or "financial counseling"
  • Go to the DCWP webpage (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/faq) about Financial Empowerment Centers or visit the FAQ.

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