The New York State Cash Alliance Hosts its Second Annual Power of Cash Advocacy Day in Albany, New York
New York, NY - The New York State Cash Alliance will host its second annual “Power of Cash Advocacy Day” on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Albany, New York. Members of the New York State Cash Alliance—a coalition of community organizers, cash beneficiaries, legal and social service providers, and advocates working to advance guaranteed income and unconditional cash policies in the state of New York—will rally at the Senate Staircase to highlight the one solution that has consistently been shown to alleviate the financial needs of New Yorkers: Cash.
This year’s lobby day comes as New Yorkers continue to face simultaneously rising prices and cuts to life sustaining programs including SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid. On February 10th, we will gather on the Million Dollar Staircase to call on legislators to meet the moment and get more cash into the hands of New Yorkers.
For the 2026 legislative session, the New York State Cash Alliance is specifically calling on the New York State Assembly and Senate to reform our current tax credit system to increase its generosity and accessibility. This includes making last year’s Empire State Child Credit (ESCC) expansion permanent, as well as indexing the credit to inflation and raising the benefit amount to $1,500 per child. Furthermore, the legislature should pass the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). The WFTC improves and expands the State’s refundable tax credit by combining the ESCC, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and the dependent exemption (DE) into one. This means that the lowest-income families in NYS could receive as much as $1,600 per child under this policy. We are proud to endorse the WFTC in this time of deep need that New Yorkers are experiencing.
"Cash is the most direct and effective way to help families meet their basic needs with urgency and agency," said Shafeka Hashash, Cash Initiatives Director at Economic Security Project Action. "When families receive cash – whether a guaranteed income or through the Working Families Tax Credit – they get to decide how best to use it. We know from a decade in this field that the cash covers the essentials, it goes to put food on the table, keep the lights on, or cover childcare costs. This flexibility is exactly what families need to build stability and economic security, and we are proud to stand alongside the NYS Cash Alliance as they advocate for cash policies."
“When United Neighborhood Houses studied the implementation of expanded tax credits to low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that families used funds most often for basic necessities, including housing and food, and to escape debt," said Tara Klein, Deputy Director of Policy & Advocacy at United Neighborhood Houses. "As our state grapples with an affordability crisis, we know that cash policies like the Working Families Tax Credit are effective because they recognize that people are experts in their own lives and circumstances. UNH is proud to stand with the Cash Alliance as it fights for the Working Families Tax Credit and other cash policies that support New York families."
"Direct cash plays an important role in providing families with the stability they deserve. Passing the Working Families Tax Credit is one way New York can support parents to provide stability and meet their basic needs with dignity." Barbara Bierd, Center for Employment Opportunities
“For too long, immigrant families have struggled financially while contributing significantly to New York State's economy. The Working Families Tax Credit is a smart, viable solution to put money in the pockets of working families", said Vladimir Tlali, Senior Policy Strategist at the New York Immigration Coalition. "We are proud to support our colleagues at the Cash Alliance in the fight for a truly affordable New York State for all."
Please visit the NYS State Cash Alliance website for more information on how to register for the “Power of Cash Advocacy Day.” Additional event details can be found below.
Rally Date & Time: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 2:15pm ET
Location: The Million Dollar Staircase
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About NYS Cash Alliance
The New York State Cash Alliance is a coalition to advance guaranteed income (GI) and cash-related advocacy in New York. Formed in 2024, we are a growing coalition of community organizers, activists, artists, cash beneficiaries, and advocates who understand the power of cash to address economic inequities and are pushing forward legislation that would create a guaranteed income program in New York.
