"In her State of the State address last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed expanding a lesser-known program that freezes the rent for seniors or people with disabilities who have low incomes. The lost rent increases are offset by a property tax credit for landlords. Not to be confused with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's promised rent freeze for all rent stabilized tenants, the Senior and Disability Rent Increase Exemptions (known as SCRIE and DRIE, respectively) are targeted to eligible households with incomes below $50,000. Now the governor wants to raise eligibility to $75,000."
"A 2025 report from the city's Department of Finance estimated that just 42 percent of households eligible for the program were using it in 2023, down from 56 percent in 2019. Total enrollment fell from 75,000 recipients in 2019 to 68,000 in 2024, despite DOF's estimates that there were more eligible households. Participants have to be living in rent-regulated apartments and pay more than 30 percent of their income in rent to be eligible for the freeze. The report notes that utilization rates have gone down in part because buildings owners reported more rent stabilized units to the state."
Governor Kathy Hochul proposes expanding SCRIE and DRIE rent-freeze eligibility for seniors and people with disabilities by raising the income cap from $50,000 to $75,000. Landlords receive property tax credits to offset foregone rent increases. Uptake is low: a 2025 Department of Finance report found 42 percent utilization in 2023, down from 56 percent in 2019, and enrollment fell from 75,000 in 2019 to 68,000 in 2024. Eligibility requires living in rent-regulated apartments and spending over 30 percent of income on rent. Declining utilization partly reflects more reported rent-stabilized units. Advocates say outreach and additional changes are needed.
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