Help that may fit your situation
NYC Financial Empowerment Centers
Free financial counseling
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What this program is
NYC Financial Empowerment Centers offer free, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching to help you reach your goals. A professional counselor will work with you to manage money, improve credit, budget, and more.
Who can get it
You qualify for free counseling if you're at least age 18 and live or work in NYC.
Heads up
- What happens in your first session?
- Meet with a counselor in person or over the phone in your preferred language. Services are confidential.
- Develop an action plan with your counselor. They'll ask about your financial history and any documents you want to share. You can attend as many follow-up sessions as you need.
- What can your counselor help with?
- Managing your money and checking your credit
- Setting up a spending plan
- Opening a safe and affordable bank account
- Contacting lenders about debt, including student loans
- Developing a strategy to reduce debt or lower payments
- Accessing emergency government resources
- Note: Financial Empowerment Centers do not provide loans or grants.
How to apply
Online
Book an appointment online for in-person or phone financial counseling.
Create a Financial Empowerment Portal (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/register) account to:
- Schedule and manage your appointments
- Share documents and information with your counselor securely
- Access and update your financial Action Plan
In person
Appointments are recommended. Walk-ins are welcome, but wait times may be longer.
Get help
Learn more online
Visit the DCWP page for Financial Empowerment Centers (https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/talk-money/get-free-financial-counseling.page) or check out the FAQ (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/talkmoney/faq).
Call 311
Ask for "Financial Empowerment Centers" or "financial counseling."
Source and last updated
- Source
- NYC Benefits Platform (kvhd-5fmu) View dataset
- Agency
- NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
- Updated
- Source: May 12, 2026 · Synced August 18, 2026
How we verified this
Source record ID: P134en · S2R045
WayMakr shows only what this source publishes. Program details are not attached to specific facility listings unless a relationship has been verified.