Transportation Assistance for Single Mothers in New York

Where to start

Pick the reason for your trip before you apply anywhere. This saves time because transportation help is often tied to a program. A bus pass for training may come through HRA or DSS. A ride to a doctor may come through Medicaid. A child’s school commute may come through the school, not a public benefits office.

Quick help table

New York City transit discounts

Fair Fares NYC

Fair Fares NYC gives a 50% discount on subway and eligible bus fares for New York City residents who meet the program rules. It can also give 50% off Access-A-Ride trips when the Fair Fares and Access-A-Ride accounts are linked.

ACCESS NYC says Fair Fares is for NYC residents ages 18 to 64 with household income at or below the listed limits. It is available regardless of immigration status. If approved for subway and bus use, you should receive a Fair Fares OMNY card by mail, usually within about three weeks.

Fair Fares is not the same as the MTA Reduced-Fare program for seniors and people with qualifying disabilities. If you already receive another full or reduced fare benefit, Fair Fares may not apply. Check before you count on the discount.

OMNY fare caps and current fares

The MTA fare page lists the regular subway and local bus fare as $3 for most riders and the express bus fare as $7.25. MTA also says riders who tap with the same OMNY card, contactless card, or device will not pay more than the weekly cap for eligible rides.

This matters if you ride often but cannot pay for a weekly pass up front. Use the same card or phone each time. If you switch cards, the system may not count your rides together.

Access-A-Ride

Access-A-Ride is NYC paratransit for people whose disability or health condition prevents them from using buses or subways for some or all trips. You must schedule an assessment. The MTA says a decision is made within 21 days after the assessment, and denial or conditional eligibility can be appealed within 60 days.

For a broader health and disability planning page, see ASMOM’s New York disability help guide.

Medical rides through Medicaid

New York Medicaid transportation can help Medicaid members get to and from covered medical appointments when the ride is prior authorized. The state uses Medical Answering Services, often called MAS, to schedule and manage many non-emergency medical transportation trips.

Trips may include public transit, taxi or livery, ambulette, ambulance when medically needed, or personal vehicle mileage reimbursement. The state rule is not “choose any ride.” The ride should match your medical need and the way you can safely travel.

Use the MAS enrollee portal or call MAS. State Medicaid materials list Downstate as 1-844-666-6270 for New York City, Long Island, Putnam, and Westchester, and Upstate as 1-866-932-7740 for other counties. If your plan or county gives you a different current number, use the number on your plan notice or MAS account.

Have your Medicaid ID number, appointment address, doctor or clinic name, pickup address, phone number, and appointment time ready. Ask the clinic to help if MAS says the trip needs medical paperwork or a standing order.

For health coverage next steps, use ASMOM’s New York healthcare help page or the national Medicaid guide.

Work, training, child care, and school transportation

DSS, HRA, and training-related carfare

If you receive Temporary Assistance, Cash Assistance, or are assigned to work or training activities, ask your worker about transportation as a supportive service. In NYC, HRA says eligible clients in approved training or education may receive help with transportation and child care expenses, and carfare is available for people not in 100% remote training.

Do not assume the office will offer it without being asked. Ask in writing, keep a copy, and tie the request to the approved activity, such as a job search appointment, class, internship, work assignment, or HRA meeting.

If money is tight in more than one area, ASMOM has related pages on New York TANF, New York SNAP, and New York child care.

NYC student transportation

NYC schools distribute Student OMNY Cards to eligible students. MTA says these cards can provide up to four free rides each day and are valid for the school year and summer. Ask your child’s school if your child did not receive one or the card is not working.

The NYC transportation guide also says some students in temporary housing or foster care may qualify for busing or parent MetroCards, depending on grade, distance, housing status, IEP, and routing. Contact the school right away after a move, shelter placement, or foster care change.

College, job training, and workforce programs

Some job training programs can help with carfare, a MetroCard or OMNY money, mileage, or a local bus pass. This is more likely when the program receives public funding or when you are connected through HRA, DSS, SNAP Employment and Training, ACCES-VR, a community college, or a workforce board.

For training paths, see ASMOM’s New York job training guide and national job training help.

Transportation help outside New York City

Outside NYC, transportation is more local. Some counties have fixed bus routes. Some rural areas have dial-a-ride, demand response, medical transportation, volunteer driver programs, or paratransit. The NYSDOT rural program explains that public transportation funds can support rural and small community transit systems.

Your best starting points are 211, your county Department of Social Services, your county transit agency, and your health plan. Ask whether the service is fixed route, demand response, paratransit, Medicaid-only, senior-only, disability-only, or open to the public. Ask how far ahead you must book.

If you commute full time by public transit, carpool, vanpool, walking, or biking, the 511NY Guaranteed Ride program may help with an emergency ride home in participating regions. It is not a daily ride program, but it can be useful if a child gets sick, your shift changes, or your regular ride fails.

For local resource hunting, use ASMOM’s local resource guide and New York community help.

Documents and information to gather

What to do if you are denied, delayed, or ignored

First, ask for the reason in writing. Then ask what proof would change the decision. Many transportation denials happen because the office needs a medical form, a proof of address, an appointment notice, or a training document.

For Medicaid rides, ask MAS whether the problem is eligibility, trip timing, missing medical paperwork, provider availability, or the level of service requested. If your clinic has a social worker, ask the social worker to call or submit the needed form.

For Access-A-Ride, follow the appeal instructions in the decision letter. For school transportation problems, contact the school first, then the NYC Public Schools transportation support process. For DSS or HRA carfare, ask your worker for a written notice and appeal steps if the request is denied.

If the transportation problem is connected to housing loss or unsafe living conditions, see ASMOM’s New York housing help. If abuse or control is involved, use ASMOM’s New York safety guide.