February 7, 2022
Dear Community Partner:
Thank you for your partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need. We hope that this communication, as well as the weekly community calls, will continue to serve as an important platform to share information and answer your questions. We will continue our work toward the shared goal of fighting poverty, income inequality, and addressing homelessness in our city with care and compassion for our clients, staff, and provider partners.
These calls are held on Tuesdays at 4 pm. As a reminder, please reach out to DSS Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to be added to the list of invitees for the Tuesday call and/or to be added to the distribution list for this weekly communication.
Following the standing weekly calls, we have continued to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page. We encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered during the pandemic.
To be added to the distribution list for this weekly update, please click here.
NYC Free Tax Prep Trainings
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Office of Financial Empowerment is hosting a series of virtual trainings on the expanded tax credits for 2022. The training will focus on how to sign up clients for tax prep, the services available through NYC Free Tax Prep, how to access and refer to them, and the tax credits that were expanded for tax season 2022. This training will be offered twice; those who are interested can register here and choose one date to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-free-tax-prep-and-expanded-tax-credits-in-2022-tickets-257234644747.
The trainings will be offered on:
- Tuesday, February 8th at 4pm
- Tuesday, February 15 at 10am
Learn more about tax prep resources and expanded tax credits here.
Increase in State FHEPS Rent Levels to Align with the HUD FMR and CityFHEPS
OTDA and HRA have an approved plan to raise the FHEPS rent levels to 108% of the FMR, aligning to the change the City made last year for CityFHEPS payments. HRA is working with OTDA to implement the plan by February 16th.
2022 NYSNIP Benefits COLA Adjustments
As we reported previously, in response to the 5.9% increase in Regular Social Security, Social Security Disability, and SSI benefits, SNAP benefit levels for affected SNAP households have been adjusted effective January 1, 2022. The new NYSNIP SNAP benefit amounts are effective for any NYSNIP SNAP Shelter Type budgets with a FROM Date of January 1, 2022 or later.
As a reminder, the New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) replaced NYSNIP effective December 1, 2021. However, NYSNIP and NYSCAP will run concurrently for at least two years, until all existing NYSNIP cases have been converted to NYSCAP. Therefore, the NYSNIP standard benefit amounts will continue to be updated until NYSNIP is completely phased out.
Income Savings Plan
In response to questions received on our most recent community call, as we reported previously, HRA’s request to the State to extend the Income Savings Plan waiver has been granted. This enables HRA to continue to suppress the Income Savings Plan (ISP) notices and apply good cause for nonpayment.
SNAP Partial Interview Waiver
In response to questions received on our most recent community call, the SNAP partial interview waiver has been extended through March 31, 2022.
SNAP and Cash Assistance Applications by Phone
As we have reported previously, HRA has received an extension of the signature waiver permitting applications for SNAP and Cash Assistance to be accepted by phone for those clients who are unable to come in to a center or use ACCESS HRA. In order to submit an application by telephone, applicants should reach out to Infoline to be referred for assistance.
New York State Homeowners Assistance Fund
Designed and administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the NYS Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) will target low- to moderate-income homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, property taxes, water or sewer bills, as well as owners of cooperative or condo units behind on maintenance fees, and manufactured homeowners behind on chattel loans or retail installment contracts.
Those who qualify can receive financial assistance to catch up on missed housing payments, reduce mortgage debt to make monthly mortgage payments more affordable, and receive up to six months of future housing payments.
Eligible applicants must have household incomes at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and must be at least 30 days delinquent on monthly housing payments for their primary residence. Awards will be capped at $50,000 per household. Assistance will be structured as a five-year, non-interest, non-amortizing forgivable loan. If the homeowner remains in the home for a period of five years, the loan will be fully forgiven
Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF)
The State OTDA has announced the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) which is an allocation allotted to New York State (NYS) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(ARPA) to provide payments to help needy families purchase diapers and to help certain households containing an adult 55 years of age or older purchase additional food. These payments are intended to provide additional financial resources to improve economic security and well-being.
State OTDA will be issuing diaper supplement payments of $140 per eligible child to households in receipt of SNAP and Cash Assistance meeting the following eligibility criteria:
- The child is under age three at any time during the month of January of 2022;
- The child is active on either an open TA or SNAP case during the month of January of 2022; and,
- The TA or SNAP case remains open on the date of issuance.
OTDA will issue a one-time non-assistance payment during April of 2022 to support food assistance for households with children aged 17 and under that contain at least one older adult, and who are in receipt of Cash Assistance and/or SNAP. Recipients of the payment may use it to purchase food.
CA and SNAP households meeting the following eligibility criteria will receive a payment of $730 per eligible older individual:
- The older adult is age 55 or older during the month of March of 2022;
- The older adult is active on either an open TA or open SNAP case which also includes at least one child aged 17 or under at any time during the month of March of 2022: and,
- The TA or SNAP case remains open on the date of issuance.
OTDA will issue these payments directly to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account of the CA or SNAP case. Households eligible for these one-time non-assistance payments will receive a letter from NYS OTDA informing them of the total amount of the payment and Administrative Review rights.
PEAF payments will:
- have no effect on the household’s eligibility or benefit amounts for TA, SNAP, or HEAP;
- not be part of regular recurring TA or SNAP grant;
- be excluded from the TA standard of need;
- be excluded as income to the TA and SNAP household;
- be excluded from TA and SNAP resource limits;
- be excluded from the State sixty-month time limit for TA;
- not be offset by child support collections;
- not offset TA or SNAP overpayments;
- not be subject to overpayment determinations/calculations;
- not be included in Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR).
Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Update:
The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is preparing to distribute Summer P-EBT, which will provide eligible students with $375 in food benefits. We will share additional information as it becomes available. As a reminder, P-EBT is distributed by the State OTDA.
For more information:
Extension of Public Health Emergency
On January 14, 2022, the United States Department of Health and Human Services extended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for another 90 days. The renewal became effective on January 16, 2022 and will expire on April 16, 2022.
One Shot Deal – Clarification of ERAP Application Requirement
Applicants for One Shot Deal/Emergency Grants for rent arrears are no longer required to apply for ERAP to be eligible for a grant from HRA. This does not change with the re-opening of the ERAP portal. However, individuals who applied before the ERAP portal initially closed on 11/14/2021, and are still pending a State determination, must have that determination rendered before HRA is able to provide assistance for rent arrears.
Child Tax Credit
The CTC helps families get money back to for eligible child care costs. The amount received depends on the number of qualifying children claimed on the tax return and their ages. Those who do not have earned income are still eligible. The deadline to sign up for the Advance Child Tax Credit payment was November 15, 2021. However, the credit can still be claimed —worth up to $3,600 per child—in 2022 by filing taxes. Additional tax credit information can be found here.
For more information and to learn about virtual, drop-off, and in-person tax assistance options, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance.
Temporary Waiver of SNAP Periodic Reports
New York State has been granted a waiver by FNS to delay the processing of SNAP periodic reports. Households that were due to submit a periodic report in January, February or March 2022 will not have to submit a periodic report, nor will one have to be processed for them before their next recertification, and no negative action may be taken against households that fail to return a completed report. Unless a further waiver is granted, normal periodic report processing will resume for households due to return a report in April 2022. This waiver does not interrupt the periodic mailer production schedule. Any returned mailers will be evaluated for changes that would increase benefits and process these cases so that recipients will receive the increased benefits.
Medicaid Easements and Application Updates
Medicaid easements have been extended through March 2022. This includes the automatic extension for cases with an authorization that ends in March 2022, even if the client does not submit their renewal. These cases will be extended for 12 months. Any case that is closed during the COVID-19 emergency for failure to renew or failure to provide documentation will be re-opened and coverage restored to ensure no gap in coverage.
Childcare Payment Waivers Extended
The Office of Children and Family Services has extended two ACS childcare waivers, allowing HRA to provide payment for an unlimited number of absences and program closures. The waivers, which were first set to end December 31, were then extended through January 2022, and are now further extended through February 2022. The waivers apply to both contract and voucher programs including Day Care Centers, Group Family Day Care, Family Day Care, Legally exempt Group Programs, and School Age Child Care. Legally exempt family child care and in-home child care providers are not eligible to receive payment for program closures but are eligible for payment for absences.
Vaccine/Testing Employment Separation – Impact on Benefits
Applicants or recipients of Cash Assistance and SNAP benefits who quit or are terminated from a job due to failure or refusal to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine and/or testing mandate may be ineligible for benefits or subject to a sanction on their benefits case. This includes individuals who stopped going to work in advance of the mandate effective date.
Applicants/recipients will be given an opportunity to demonstrate good cause before being denied or sanctioned. Good cause may be granted after review of a case for medical reasons or an inability to access the vaccine. Clients who are terminated or quit based on refusal to get vaccinated or comply with employer testing mandates will not be granted good cause.
Applicants/recipients will also be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate that they did not leave their employment in order to qualify for initial or increased Cash Assistance or SNAP benefits. If the applicant/recipient can demonstrate that they have made reasonable efforts to support themselves prior to applying for benefits, HRA will accept this as adequate demonstration that they did not leave employment to seek benefits.
If HRA staff determines that the applicant/recipient does not quality for good cause and has lost employment in order to qualify for initial or increased benefits, they will be subject to a voluntary quit sanction or denial of their application.
A voluntary quit sanction will be determined using standard criteria which is used for non-compliance with work requirements for CA clients. Clients will be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate compliance in order to avoid a sanction.
NYS NCP Earned Income Tax Credit
This tax credit is for noncustodial parents with a NYS Child Support order who have paid their child support obligation in full. The amount of the credit received is up to $1,358 and depends on an individual’s income on the tax return. Filers are no longer required to provide their child’s social security number in order to receive a refund and can go back two years and file for the credit that was missed. The refund will be applied towards a noncustodial parent’s child support debt, if they have one. Learn more about the credit here.
ACCESS HRA Updates and Child Support Mobile App
* Note: In response to questions received on our weekly call, we have confirmed that an email address is NOT required for use of ACCESS HRA. The additional security feature offered by using an email address for authentication is optional. Applications can be submitted through AHRA without an email address.
On January 29th, HRA’s Office of Child Support Services launched a new ACCESS HRA Child Support App. Clients will be able to use the same log in information for the ACCESS HRA client portal, ACCESS HRA Mobile app, and the new Child Support Mobile app.
- With the new ACCESS HRA Child Support Mobile App, clients will now be able to complete and submit the following forms (documents can be uploaded using the app):
- LDSS-5143 - Application for Child Support Services
- LDSS-5145 - Referral for Child Support Services
- LDSS-4882 - Application/Referral for Child Support Services
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Clients can download this new mobile app in their Google Play or App Store by searching for “ACCESS HRA”, “Child Support”, or “OCSS”. Learn more at nyc.gov/childsupportmobile.
Updates to the ACCESS HRA client portal include:
- New security features were introduced to gather a recovery email address for client accounts (optional feature).
- Updates within ACCESS HRA will direct clients to the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
IDNYC Updates
IDNYC has reopened a total of 16 public enrollment centers throughout the five boroughs. Capacity is limited and by appointment only. Hours of operation are listed on IDNYC’s website and available by calling 311.
Effective December 15, 2021, IDNYC launched a collaboration with the Department of Corrections (DoC) to facilitate enrollment of our municipal identification card for individuals recently released from Rikers. IDNYC will now use DoC’s electronic database to prove one point of the necessary three points of the discharged individual’s identity. The enrolling individual will still have to prove the remaining required points of identity and residency.
In order to assist those affected by the recent fire in the Bronx, IDNYC will now accept a letter from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), American Red Cross or any other organization licensed, certified, authorizes or funded by OEM or FDNY, for the purpose of establishing residency.
COVID-19 Related Updates
Home Delivered COVID Antiviral Medication
The City has begun free home delivery -- as long as there is a prescription-- of oral antiviral pills Paxlovid (made by Pfizer), and Molnupiravir (by Merck), via Alto Pharmacy, a medication provider which has partnered with the City. Since supplies of the new drugs are extremely limited, deliveries will be prioritized to those who test positive and considered to be at higher risk for COVID.
Those who have tested positive and are otherwise qualified can visit Virtual ExpressCare for a phone or video visit, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) and press 9. Links will be included in our upcoming weekly communication.
NYS Mask Mandate Extension
On Friday, January 28, Governor Hochul extended the New York State indoor mask mandate through February 10, 2022.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
As a reminder, the Pfizer vaccine is available for children 5-11 years old in NYC. Children must have a parent or guardian's consent to get the vaccine. The City has created several resources to provide useful information and help promote the vaccine for children ages 5-11:
Vaccination sites can be found at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX4-NYC. New Yorkers can also text their ZIP code to 438829 to receive information on vaccination sites near them, including what age groups can be served at each site.
For more information about vaccines and the vaccines for children, families can go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine and see this FAQ, or call 212-COVID19 with questions about the vaccine.
More Information
The City has created a vaccine fact sheet which can be found here, and is available in additional languages here.
Walk-up vaccines are available at most City-operated vaccination sites. To find the nearest walk-up site, or to schedule an appointment at a City-operated site, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. NYC Mobile Vaccine Buses continue to provide vaccines. The full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here.
Flu vaccines are available at City-operated vaccination sites and can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Locations can be found at the NYC Vaccine Finder website.
Vaccination and Testing Apps
- CDC Vaccination Card. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
- NYC Vaccination Record or other official immunization record, including from a health care provider. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. If you are unable to get this record, call 311.
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NYC COVID Safe App. Android. iOS. This app can be used to upload a photo of a vaccine card and/or a recent COVID test. The vaccine card will stay on the app unless removed, but test results will disappear from the app after seven days.
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CLEAR Health Pass. Android. iOS. Individuals can use the digital vaccine card option in the CLEAR app if they are age 18 or older and are fully vaccinated.
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NYS Excelsior Pass (or Excelsior Pass Plus). Allows an individual to find and store proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. New York residents who were vaccinated out of State can learn more about their options at the Excelsior Pass FAQ. The app, called NYS Excelsior Pass Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
Vaccine Records
Individuals who are fully vaccinated but have lost their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or need verification of their vaccine status can request a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record. Individuals cannot get a replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card at this time but can get an official record noting they have been vaccinated. For more information and to submit a request visit the NYC DOHMH Vaccine Records site.
COVID-19 Testing
At-home COVID Testing for Immunocompromised Individuals
Testing in NYC
Free testing continues to be available at City-run sites throughout the five boroughs. The NYC Health and Hospitals COVID-19 Testing Sites page includes detailed information about all City-run mobile, brick-and-mortar, and micro testing sites across the five boroughs, including location, schedule, and types of testing offered. Locations of testing sites can also be accessed by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. These are no cost testing sites open to all New Yorkers.
COVID-19 testing at most City-run sites is walk-in only. All New Yorkers are tested on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sites allow pre-registration through this link, which will streamline check-in upon arrival.
The Test-and-Trace Corps offers the COVID 19 Wait Times Dashboard, which displays estimated wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. This wait time information is updated by site staff every two hours.
NY State currently operates COVID-19 testing sites at eleven MTA stations. All are for PCR tests and accept walk-ins, though operating hours may vary.
- Manhattan's 125th Street Station (A/B/C/D lines). Mon through Fri, 8 AM to 2 PM
- The Bronx's Bedford Park Station (B/D lines). Mon through Fri, 8 AM to 2 PM
- Queens' Queens Plaza Station (E/M/R lines), Mon through Fri from 3 p.m. to 8 PM
- Brooklyn's Coney Island/Stilwell Station (D/F/N/Q lines), Mon through Fri, 8:00 AM to 2 PM
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Times Square-42nd St (Manhattan) Mon – Sun, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Grand Central Terminal (Manhattan) Mon – Sun, 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Penn Station (Manhattan) Mon – Sun, 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Broadway Junction (Brooklyn) Mon – Fri, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
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E. 180th St. (Bronx) Mon – Fri, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Roosevelt Ave. (Queens) Mon – Fri, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
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Jamaica-179th St. (Queens) Mon – Fri, 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The testing sites at Times Square-42nd St. and Grand Central Terminal are also pop-up COVID-19 vaccination sites and offer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.
DOHMH also currently operates eight COVID Express Testing sites. Appointments are required at these express locations and can be reserved through the COVID Express Testing site. COVID Express site test results are available within 24 hours or less, with most patients receiving same-day results. All tests performed at these sites are PCR-based laboratory diagnostic tests, which are the most accurate type of test available. COVID Express site testing is free to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status.
Testing in NYC Schools
Beginning January 3, the NYC in-school testing program expanded, doubling the number of students tested at each school and including both vaccinated and unvaccinated students. Families with students in first grade and up can choose to participate in the program by completing the online form in their NYC Schools Account or returning a signed paper form to school.
Additionally, schools are now distributing free, take-home COVID-19 rapid test kits to any student or any staff who exhibit COVID-like symptoms or have been in a classroom where a positive case has been identified. Beginning January 10, at-home test distribution includes 3-K and Pre-K students. Learn more here.
Additional Resources and Information
Department of Sanitation – Snow Laborer Positions Open
After large snowstorms, DSNY calls in crews of “snow laborers” to shovel out catch basins and other areas the large plows can’t reach. It may be too late to be enrolled for the most recent storm, those who are available for this type of work can visit this link to learn more or register here for an appointment at one of the DSNY garages. The pay rate is $17/hr, with time-and-a-half for overtime over 40 hrs in a given week. Applicants need to bring two small ID size photos, two “original” forms of ID, a Social Security card (and photocopies of each), and proof of vaccinations with at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
NYC Free Tax Prep and Tax Credit Resources
NYC Free Tax Prep providers can help individuals and families claim important tax credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. For the 2022 tax season, families with income of $72,000 or less and single filers with income of $50,000 or less in 2021 can use NYC Free Tax Prep to file for free. Please visit the NYC Tax Prep website for more information.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax benefit for working people and families. The amount received depends on an individual’s income and the number of qualifying children claimed on the tax return. Those who do not have children may still be eligible. As of 2022, filers can use their 2019 or 2020 tax year to maximize EITC benefits. Additional tax credit information can be found here.
For more information and to learn about virtual, drop-off, and in-person tax assistance options, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance.
Community Board and Council Budget Applications
The 2022 Community Board application is open until 5 pm on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Community Boards are composed of 50 volunteer members serving staggered two-year terms—thus, 25 members are appointed (or reappointed) each year by the Borough President in consultation with local Council members.
Dates for Council budget allocations:
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Fiscal Year ’23 Expense Budget applications for non-profit organizations are available here and are due on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
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Fiscal Year ’23 Capital Budget applications are due Thursday, March 24, 2022 and the application details can be viewed here.
Blueprint to End Gun Violence in New York City
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has released a “Blueprint to End Gun Violence” in New York City, which lays out numerous policy proposals Mayor Adams is seeking to implement to curb gun violence on New York City streets. The roadmap lays out Mayor Adams’ priorities to immediately address the crisis of guns on New York City streets. The Mayor's speech can be found here.
NeighborhoodStat – Community Led Approaches to Public Safety – Request for Proposals
NeighborhoodStat (Community Led Approaches to Public Safety) Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available to view and respond. Details about the program as well as the RFP can be found here.
The deadline to respond is Monday, February 21, 2022, 7:00pm.
NYC Job Fair
Learn about the various job opportunities available at NYC Parks and other city agencies, including FDNY, NYPD, DCAS, the MTA, and many more! This virtual information session will feature 10-minute presentations from each agency or NYC Parks division, followed by a Q&A.
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
This virtual event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Visit bit.ly/ParksVirtualJobFair to register for the event. A Zoom link will be sent in advance.
Ladders for Leaders
Ladders for Leaders (LFL) recruits, screens, and mentors over 4,000 interns each year--since 2004, LFL alumni have earned over $20 million in post-internship salaries and have been placed in prestigious jobs throughout New York City. This program is an initiative of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and is supported by the NYC Center for Youth Employment and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. For more information visit the NYC Ladders for Leaders website.
Family Development Credential (FDC) Program
The Spring 2022 Online Scholarship Applications are now available for both the Family Development Credential (FDC) Program for frontline staff; and the Family Development Credential Program for Leaders for supervisors, managers, and directors in social service organizations. These intensive professional development training opportunities emphasize empowerment and family support to deliver human services, education, and healthcare to individuals, youth, and families. More information is available here: Family Development Credential Program.
Ready Up NYC Webinar Series
"Ready Up NYC" is a monthly webinar series focused on providing preparedness tips to all New Yorkers. Upcoming Ready Up NYC webinars are as follows. Register here.
February 17 at 2:30 PM: Topic: Financial Emergency
- Planning with FEMA
- 4 steps to financial preparedness
- Disaster assistance resources
March 17 at 2:30 PM: Topic: John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service
- Fellowship program overview
- Alumni experiences
- Application process
Community-wide Conference Call
We look forward to your continued participation on our weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information shared here and in our weekly calls is being communicated to our shared clients.
The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared on our weekly call as well as new developments. All of the information included in each of our prior communications, since March 2020, is available on our website on the COVID-19 Community Updates page.
Thank you for your partnership in serving our fellow New Yorkers in need of our services. If you have any questions or concerns about the issues covered in this communication or on our weekly calls, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
In partnership,
Gary P. Jenkins
DSS Commissioner
New York City Department of Social Services
