How to Fill Out and Submit the NYC M-327h Eligibility Questionnaire

The NYC M-327h form is the mail-in recertification questionnaire the Human Resources Administration sends about every six months to people already receiving Cash Assistance or SNAP. You fill it out, attach proof of anything that has changed since your last update, and return it by the deadline printed on the form so HRA can confirm you still qualify. Miss the deadline and your benefits can be closed.¹

What the M-327h Is For

The form states its own purpose on page one: “To determine your continued eligibility for Cash Assistance (CA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”¹ HRA sometimes calls this the “CA six-month mailer.”²

It is not a new application. It assumes you are already enrolled and asks whether anything has changed. And despite confusion that circulates online, it has nothing to do with rent freeze programs like SCRIE or DRIE.

What the Form Asks

The M-327h works through six areas. Every question is framed as “has anything changed since you last reported.” If nothing changed in a section, you check “No” and move on. If something did change, you explain and attach proof.¹

Program participation. Whether you still need Cash Assistance, SNAP, and Medical Assistance. If you no longer want one of them, this is where you say so.
Household composition. Anyone who moved in or out since your last update, including newborns. For each person: name, Social Security number, relationship to you, and date they moved in or out.
Income changes. Any changes from employment, unemployment insurance, SSI, Social Security, child support, veterans’ benefits, contributions from others, or any other source, for every person in the household.
Employment details. If you or any household member has a job, report the employer and weekly hours and submit copies of the last four paystubs or other proof of gross earnings for the past 30 days, even if wages have not changed.
Shelter and utility expenses. Any changes to rent and whether you pay separately for heat, air conditioning, electricity, cooking gas, water, or trash removal. If rent went up or down, enclose proof.
Other changes. Pregnancy, disability, anyone aged 60 or older in the household, resources such as bank accounts or vehicles, child support you pay to someone outside your home, medical expenses for disabled or elderly household members, and medical conditions that limit your ability to work.

Documents to Attach

Missing paperwork is the most common reason a recertification stalls. Gather what you need before you start.

If anyone in your household works, pull the last four paystubs for each employed person. The form asks specifically for proof of gross income and hours worked during the most recent 30-day period, even when wages haven’t changed.¹ For self-employment or cash pay, records showing amounts earned (deposit slips, invoices, a written log) can substitute.

Match the rest of your proof to what changed:

Rent change: a new lease, rent notice from your landlord, or a letter showing the updated amount.
New or changed income: award letters for SSI or Social Security, unemployment statements, child support documentation, or pension letters.
Resource changes: a recent bank statement if you opened or closed an account, or a vehicle title if you acquired or sold a car.
Child support paid: a copy of the court order showing what you pay to someone outside your household.
Medical expenses: receipts or bills for out-of-pocket costs paid by a household member who is disabled or 60 or older.

If nothing changed in a category, you don’t need proof for that section. But reporting a change without documentation almost always triggers a follow-up request from HRA that adds weeks.

Report gross income (before taxes and deductions), not net. Use the rent amount on your lease or rent notice rather than rounding. Sign and date the last page; an unsigned form is treated as incomplete.

How to Submit It

You have several ways to return the completed questionnaire. HRA says the fastest option is uploading the form through the ACCESS HRA mobile app.² You can also log in at the ACCESS HRA website (a069-access.nyc.gov) to manage your case and view notices.

One caution: HRA’s separate Document Upload app is meant for supporting documents like paystubs and utility bills, and its terms say not to submit recertification forms through it. Use the ACCESS HRA app or website for the form itself; use Document Upload only for attachments.

If you prefer paper, mail the completed form and all supporting documents in the postage-paid envelope that came with it. If you lost the envelope, send it to:

Family Independence Administration
P.O. Box 637
Canal Street Station
New York, NY 10213-0195¹

Without the prepaid envelope, consider a mail service with tracking. The form contains Social Security numbers and income information, and a delivery record is worth having.

You can also recertify in person at an HRA Benefits Access Center. HRA maintains locations across the five boroughs, with a current list at nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/job-centers. Walking in is useful if you have questions about the form or what to bring.

If You Never Got the Form or Lost It

HRA mails the M-327h to the address on file, but forms get lost. You can download a blank copy from HRA’s website and print it, log in to ACCESS HRA at nyc.gov/accesshra to see whether it’s available as an e-notice on your account, or call HRA’s Infoline at 718-557-1399 to request a paper copy by mail.²

What Happens After You Submit

An eligibility specialist reviews your reported information against your existing case. Federal and state law require HRA to process SNAP and Cash Assistance recertifications within 30 days, though actual processing times fluctuate and NYC has faced documented backlogs.

If your form is complete and everything checks out, benefits continue without interruption. For a routine recertification with no changes, you won’t necessarily get a separate approval letter; any adjustments to your benefit amount show up on your next EBT deposit or in a mailed notice. If information is missing or unclear, expect a written request for more documentation, and answer it quickly. Unanswered requests can lead to a reduction or closure of benefits.

If You Miss the Deadline

A missed deadline does not permanently close the door. HRA may still accept a late recertification if you act fast. You can complete it in person at any Benefits Access Center, or call Infoline at 718-557-1399 to ask about a phone recertification if getting to an office is difficult.³

For SNAP, if your case was closed because you didn’t complete the mid-certification renewal on time, benefits may be reopened without a brand-new application if you provide all required verification within the month of closure. The further past the deadline you go, the harder reinstatement becomes, and at some point you’ll need to file a fresh application. Treat the due date printed on the form as a hard deadline, even though late submissions are sometimes accepted.

1
Human Resources Administration. Mail-in Recertification/Eligibility Questionnaire
2
NYC Human Resources Administration. Cash Assistance 6-Month Mailer
3
NYC Human Resources Administration. Cash Assistance Application Frequently Asked Questions