July 3, 2023

 


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 community-wide conference calls, continues to serve as an important platform to share information and answer your questions.


As a reminder, sign up here to be added to the list of invitees for our quarterly community call and sign up here be added to our distribution list to receive this weekly communication. The next community call will be held on September 19, 2023, at 4:30 pm. Invites with the Zoom link are sent the week prior to the calls.


If you were not able to join our last Quarterly call on June 6, 2023, please find an audio recording here and use Passcode: 31OP=^L+ to listen.


Important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications are on our DSS Community Updates page. I encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered.


Cooling Assistance Benefit


The application period for the 2023 Cooling Assistance benefit opened on May 1, 2023, and will end close of business on August 31, 2023, or until funds are no longer available (whichever comes first). Applications for the Cooling Assistance benefit can be submitted in-person, by phone, over through ACCESS HRA. Please see the link below for further information on how to apply in-person and by phone.


Eligible households receive a cooling benefit of up to $800 for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner. If one cannot be installed safely, a fan will be provided.


Benefits are provided on a first come first served basis to eligible applicants. Applicants are only eligible for a Cooling Assistance Benefit once every five years.


Visit the HEAP webpage for more information on the Cooling benefit.


Medicare Savings Program Enrollment in New York City


The Medicare Savings Program (MSP) in New York expanded in 2023. The expansion raised monthly income eligibility limits from 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 186% of the FPL, helping more people to pay for Medicare costs.


As a reminder, the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) easements and waivers that have streamlined the MSP application process are scheduled to end on June 30, 2023. The pre-COVID-19 MSP application process will resume on July 01, 2023.


Ensuring New Yorkers Stay Covered


Starting this Spring, Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Essential Plan members now have to renew their plans again on a yearly basis. To help New Yorkers keep their health care coverage, encourage them to take two steps today for their upcoming renewal to ensure they don’t go a day without their health insurance. It only takes a couple of minutes to renew their health insurance plan for the whole year.


How to Renew Health Insurance Coverage:


  • Review contact information with health insurer.
  • Stay up to date with upcoming renewal.
  • Make sure their address, phone number, and email address are up to date.
  • Gather required documents, which may include:
  • Social Security numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants who need health insurance)
  • Birth dates
  • Employer income for all family members
  • Policy numbers for all current health insurance
  • Information about any job-related health insurance available for all family members


As a reminder, New Yorkers should never be charged a fee to renew their coverage in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan.


MetroPlusHealth members who may need to renew their health plans can get help by:



MetroPlusHealth is here to help, Monday – Friday, 9am – 8pm, Saturday, 9am – 5pm.


PRUCOL Safety Net Assistance Eligibility Changes


On May 12, 2023, OTDA announced new regulations impacting eligibility for Non-citizens Recognized as Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) for Safety Net Assistance (SNA). The policy, which took effect upon publishing, expanded the pool of non-citizens who are considered PRUCOL for the purposes of Safety Net Cash Assistance (SNCA). Please see GIS 23 TA/DC039 for further details on the expansion and new categories of people eligible for SNCA. As a reminder, PRUCOL is not an immigration status, but a public benefit category used for the purposes of Safety Net Assistance Eligibility. 


The new categories of noncitizens now eligible to receive SNCA include:


  • Applicants for Asylum, regardless of employment authorization status
  • Applicants for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
  • Applicants for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
  • Applicants for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification
  • Applicants for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR)
  • Applicants for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident under Section 245 of the INA that the USCIS has accepted as “properly filed”
  • Applicants for Cancellation of Removal
  • Applicants for Suspension of Deportation (under former 244 of the INA)
  • Applicants requesting Deferred Action
  • Applicants for a special non-immigrant visa, including individuals applying for a K (spouse or fiancé of a U.S. citizen), S (certain non-citizens supplying critical information related to terrorism or organized crime), T (trafficking victims and their family members),[1][1] U (victims of criminal activity and their spouse/children), or V Visa (spouse and children of LPR who are in the process of immigrating to the U.S).
  • Persons Granted Stays of Deportation – Non-citizens who have been found deportable, but deportation is deferred for a specified period of time
  • Persons Granted Indefinite Stay of Deportation – Non-citizens who have been found deportable, but deportation is deferred indefinitely
  • Persons Granted Indefinite Voluntary Departure – Relief that was granted before April 1997 to non-citizens who have been found deportable, but deportation is deferred indefinitely
  • Persons Granted Suspension of Deportation pursuant to former Section 244 of the INA (Non-citizens in this category have been found deportable, have met a period of continuous residence and have filed an application for the EOIR to suspend deportation, which has been granted.)
  • Persons on whose behalf an immediate Relative Petition has been approved and family members covered by the petition (Non-citizens who are immediate relatives (spouse, father, mother, or unmarried child) of a U.S. citizen/LPR who has filed an I-130 Relative Petition on their behalf).


Reinstatement of Medicaid Sanctions for Clients Noncompliant with Child Support


With the official ending of the federal public health emergency, HRA is required by federal law to reinstate, the process of sanctioning Medicaid coverage for the case head of those clients who do not comply with child support in July 2023. The agency is finalizing procedures and system changes to implement this requirement and will share additional information when available.


DSS Office of Community Outreach Trainings & Event Requests


Trainings


The DSS Office of Community Outreach (OCO) offers trainings and presentations to community-based organizations, elected officials and their staff, and other municipal agencies. These trainings are conducted multiple times per month and allow for flexible scheduling. The OCO currently offers the following trainings:


  • ACCESS HRA General Overview Webinar
  • ACCESS HRA Provider Portal Webinar
  • ACCESS HRA Benefit Application Webinar
  • DSS Overview Webinar
  • Fair Fares Program Overview and Application Webinar
  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Webinar


Click here to view training descriptions and register for an upcoming session.


Organizations interested in requesting any of the trainings listed above specifically for their staff (10 or more) should complete and submit the DSS Training Request Form. The DSS Outreach unit will follow-up with organizations to confirm their training requests on a first come, first serve basis. Contact DSSOutreach@dss.nyc.gov with any questions or issues submitting the form.


Community Partner Event Requests


The DSS OCO welcomes requests to participate in events hosted by community partner organizations. Please complete and submit the Community Partner Event Attendance Request Form to request DSS presence at your event and the Outreach Events unit will follow-up on a first come, first serve basis to arrange for DSS representation.


Contact OutreachEvents@dss.nyc.gov if you have any questions or encounter issues submitting the form.


Employment Opportunities with the City of NY


Join the NYC Department of Social Services! Find out how rewarding it is to serve fellow New Yorkers with care and compassion. Apply for the Senior Policy Advisor position at IDNYC. Search Job I.D. 583867 at nyc.gov/jobs or via this link: https://on.nyc.gov/423f2sM


To view jobs available with the City at any time, Start at this page, or search for jobs here (to search by agency or area of interest) or here (to search by job ID# or agency). Please find a helpful flyer with more information about applying for HRA open positions which can be shared widely here.


City Services for Asylum Seekers Arriving in NYC

 

As of June 25, 2023, over 81,200 asylum seekers have come through the City's intake system since last spring. As of June 29, over 51,200 asylum seekers are currently in the City's care. The City has opened 176 emergency shelters, including 11 HERRCs, to meet this unprecedented need. A 12th HERRC was announced last week. This does not reflect the total number of asylum seekers in New York City, it does not include those who are staying with family, friends, and networks here after being connected.


Additional information on the City’s efforts to support asylum seekers can be found here.


Ride for Half Price – Fair Fares


Fair Fares NYC is a City program that offers eligible New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, a 50% discount on subway and eligible bus fares or Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.


Fair Fares is open to all eligible New Yorkers aged 18-64 at or below the Federal Poverty Level without discounted transportation from the MTA or the City. The program’s NYC residency requirement does not include a minimum timeframe. Many of the Department of Homeland Security documents provided to asylees are accepted as proof of identity.


Many Cash Assistance and SNAP recipients can ride for half price. Each non-elderly adult should log into Access HRA or create an account if they are not the head of their case and click “Enroll Now”.


Encourage everyone to ride for half price with Fair Fares by sharing our Social Media Fair Fares toolkit and short video. Share and amplify!


Fair Fares enrollment is simple and can be completed online: Apply for Fair Fares on ACCESS HRA! View the “How to Enroll” videos in English and Spanish.


If you need assistance applying or have questions, please visit the Fair Fares website to find a location near you. Fair Fares enrollment assistance is also available at the NYC Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center.


Clients who need a replacement card or refund can visit any Fair Fares office or mail their damaged or expired card to:


Fair Fares NYC

P.O. Box 7099

New York, NY 10008-7099


Clients who mail their card must include the following information in the envelope along with the card:


  • First and last name
  • Date of Birth
  • Fair Fares Client ID number


All new and replacement cards are mailed to the address provided by the client. 


Fair Fares Updates and Outreach Materials


The City has created Fair Fares outreach materials - including palm cards, brochures, and posters that community organizations and others can order. Please use the Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS) website after registering on the login page.


Additional Resources and Information


NYC Asylum Application Help Center Job Opportunities


The City’s Asylum Application Help Centers are hiring application assistants—who will work with the applicant to answer questions—and experienced immigration lawyers to supervise application assistants and provide guidance.


New York Historical Society - Free Citizenship Classes


The New-York Historical Society (NYHS) is offering free citizenship classes to green card holders—using paintings, objects, and documents from the collections of NYHS—to teach U.S. history and the questions for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization exam. Classes are online or virtual, for six or ten weeks. Visit www.nyhistory.org/citizenship or call (212) 873-3400 ext.511 or email thecitizenshipproject@nyhistory.org. 


Direct Cash Transfer As Prevention RFP


Point Source Youth, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, has announced a request for proposals (RFP) for its Direct Cash Transfer as Prevention program (DCT-P). Prospective grantees should be based in New York City.


The DCT-P is a scalable, youth-driven solution to prevent homelessness. This intervention is a one-time cash payment to young people based on the cost of living in that community with the goal of preventing them from entering homelessness in the first place. According to research by Chapin Hall, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness. DCT-P aims to mitigate that.


Applications for this RFP opportunity are due on Monday, July 31, 2023. There will be a virtual information session on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 2:00PM EST. To register for this session, please do so here.


To learn more about Point Source of Youth or about the Direct Cash Transfer as Prevention RFP, please click here.

 

The Star Learning Center Tutoring


The Star Learning Center provides students from underserved communities with one-to-one tutoring to help overcome barriers to learning. Star creates an individual plan for each child, and every tutor writes a weekly report tracking the student's progress. Many tutors work with the same child for months and even years, creating close partnerships that can transform a child's grades and build his or her confidence as a learner. Click here to learn more.


International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP)


Applications are open for seven positions in the Fall 2023 paid internship program at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) for high school students, college students and recent graduates. These internships provide foundational skills in arts nonprofits, creating pathways for many different future careers in the arts. Interns at ISCP engage in all aspects of day-to-day operations in major departments: Development, Communications, Programs, Operations, Executive and Finance. The internship starts September in East Williamsburg, and requires a minimum of 16 hours (2 days) per week for at least three months, and includes a monthly stipend of $400. 


Click here to learn more and apply.


The Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit GetCoveredNYC Event Round-Up


GetCoveredNYC continues to connect New Yorkers to health coverage and health information. Our weekly social media roundup of GetCoveredNYC events helps people find free health care support in-person. This week’s round-up is posted here. Please share widely.


Health Insurance Renewals with GetCoveredNYC


Since 2020, Medicaid, Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus health insurance plans have been automatically renewed. Now, automatic renewals have ended. Also, New York State is resuming eligibility reviews for these public health insurance plans.

Over the next year, New Yorkers with Medicaid, the Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus will have to renew their health insurance plans or find a new plan if they no longer qualify. When your turn comes, you'll have to renew or re-enroll to stay insured.

GetCoveredNYC is here to help you navigate every step of the way. Learn more at: on.nyc.gov/GreatRenewal


GetCoveredNYC and Health Literacy


Health insurance language can be confusing and difficult to understand. Our GetCoveredNYC Specialists are here to educate New Yorkers on all things health insurance, including definitions. To supplement our one-on-one outreach and case management, we’re excited to share our new health literacy campaign to help New Yorkers understand complex terms! Understanding the ins and outs of health insurance is critical to making informed decisions about your health. GetCoveredNYC offers New Yorkers the tools to take ownership of their health and we encourage everyone to learn more on our website: on.nyc.gov/HealthInsuranceVocab.


The Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit and NYC Aging


The NYC Cabinet for Older New Yorkers is committed to making New York City an age-inclusive community that promotes and supports the health of its older adults. Through a collaboration with Cabinet member agencies NYC Health + Hospitals, NYC Health, and Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, the Health Subcommittee created a printable, double-sided Pocket Guide of NYC Aging Services that was used to train front-line professionals who engage with older adults. To help other professionals better serve older residents, please find a downloadable brochure on Cabinet’s website by clicking here.


Health Insurance and Mental Health Services


GetCoveredNYC Specialists are here to make sure that enrolling in health insurance is easy to navigate. Those applying are not alone and can access mental health support with health insurance and there are services available to help applicants navigate the process. For more information, visit on.nyc.gov/MentalHealthAwareness


Resources/Links


  • DSS Quarterly Community Call: Members of the Department of Social Services' (DSS/HRA/DHS) leadership team will provide important agency updates followed by time for Q&A.
  • ACCESS HRA Help Desk/Online SupportResolves ACCESS HRA technical issues and answers benefit/site-related questions.
  • ACCESS HRA TrainingsThe Office of Community Outreach offers trainings and presentations to community-based organizations, elected officials and their staff, and other municipal agencies. These trainings are conducted multiple times per month and allow for flexible scheduling. Click here to view our current offerings and register for an upcoming session.
  • ACCESS HRA Client PortalNew Yorkers can apply and recertify online for SNAP and Cash Assistance, view benefits, and more.
  • DSS OneNumber (formerly Infoline): 718-557-1399
  • Find a Partner Organization: Community-Based Organizations can help complete applications and screen applicants for eligibility to the various programs. Some locations also assist with submitting documents to DSS electronically. Contact the organization for more information.
  • DSS Disability AccessIf you have a disability, HRA can help by providing supports or accommodations to make getting the services clients need easier. This type of help is called a reasonable accommodation.
  • Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Guide to Resources: The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) has crafted a guide to resources for immigrants, in over a dozen languages.
  • Action NYC: 1-800-354-0365
  • Food Help NYCFree food locations, including food pantries & soup kitchens. Call 311 to find the nearest locations.
  • NYC Well: Free, confidential mental health support in more than 200 languages, 24/7/365. Call 888-NYC-WELL or text “WELL” to 65173.
  • Mental Health For All: A comprehensive hub with helplines and services that offer a range of free, direct support to meet the needs of all New Yorkers.
  • Buildings After Hours: Free in-person information session with DOB staff every Tuesday from 4 PM to 7 PM at your local borough office.
  • COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illnesses: Resources, including test kits, treatment, vaccines, and masks available to New Yorkers as New York City experiences high levels of COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses.
  • Notify NYC: Enroll for free in New York City’s dedicated emergency public communications program.
  • NYC 311Non-emergency municipal services are available online, by texting 311-692, or by calling 3-1-1 from within the City or 212-NEW-YORK outside the five boroughs. TTY service is also available by dialing 212-504-4115


Community-wide Conference Call


We look forward to your continued participation on our quarterly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information shared here and in our quarterly calls is being communicated to our shared clients.


The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what is being shared on our community-wide conference calls as well as new developments and useful information regarding other City benefits and services. All of the information included in each of our prior communications, since March 2020, is available on our website on the Community Updates webpage.


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 community-wide calls, or if you would like to be added to our distribution or community call invitation list, please reach out to the Office of Community Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.


In partnership,


Molly Wasow Park

DSS Commissioner