COMMUNITY PARTNERS: DSS Weekly Update

June 16, 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 in September. Invites with the Zoom link are sent the week prior to the calls.

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.

Community-wide Conference Call

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.

Discussions with DSS

The NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) is proud to announce an upcoming virtual session of “Discussions with DSS.” Discussions with DSS allows community members and clients to participate in an interactive discussion regarding DSS- administered services. We hope that through this initiative, we can gain suggestions and recommendations on improving access to benefits directly from the communities that our programs serve. After prior successful events, we are pleased to inform you that our virtual ‘Discussion with DSS’ event will occur on Thursday, June 22nd, 2023, from 6:30 pm – 8 pm. We ask that our community partner network help us inform our shared clients of this opportunity, direct them to our website to register, and encourage them to attend.

Please utilize the following links to obtain language for social media messaging: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified ), Chinese (Traditional), English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu

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). 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).

Cash Assistance Application Interviews On-Demand

HRA now offers on demand interviews for all Cash Assistance new applicants and existing recipients. Clients are now receiving instructions to contact the on-demand call center in Cash Assistance related correspondence from HRA as well as in ACCESS HRA when submitting a new application.

In order to minimize the time a client waits on hold, the CA on demand system allows callers to request a call back rather than wait on hold. This option will keep a caller’s place in line and they will receive a call back for their interview when the call center reaches their place in the queue.

Clients who have questions regarding an existing application or case should continue to visit the ACCESS HRA website at nyc.gov/accesshra or call the DSS One Number (formerly HRA Infoline) at 718-557-1399.

Reinstatement of Medicaid Sanction 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.

Re-opening of Subpoena Window for All Service of Legal Process

As of June 20th, all service of legal process will be conducted in person at 4 World Trade Center. At that time the subpoena window will re-open and the email address which was previously used to serve the agency with subpoenas or other legal papers will no longer be in use. The service window will be open from 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday on the 38th floor of 4 World Trade Center. Anyone who attempts to serve the agency via the email address on or after June 19th will receive an automatic reply directing them to the in-person service window.

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 Commmunity 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.

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 will end on June 30, 2023. The pre-COVID-19 MSP application process will resume on July 01, 2023.

The Medicare Rights Center will offer its next MSP enrollment training for New York City professionals on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

This virtual webinar training will cover the following topics:

Brief overview of Medicare (Parts A, B, and D)
Comprehensive overview of MSPs
MSP eligibility
Post COVID-19 PHE MSP application process (including how Medicare Rights can facilitate your NYC client’s applications)
Overview of other Medicare cost-assistance programs
Technical assistance resources for professionals

Click here to register for this virtual training.

Child Support Pay It Off Program is Open

Pay It Off is a limited time program offered by the NYC DSS Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) that assists noncustodial parents with child support debt owed permanently to the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) in paying off their arrears twice as fast. This program will run for one month only – June 1 – 30, 2023. When a noncustodial parent makes a payment of at least $500 towards their NYC DSS arrears during the month of June, OCSS will match it dollar for dollar. For those noncustodial parents with a current support order, the court-ordered current support amount for June must be paid first. Then, when they pay an additional minimum of $500 towards NYC DSS arrears, the Pay It Off Program can reduce that debt by double, up to the amount owed. As an example, a $500 payment will result in $1,000 reduced in child support debt owed to DSS. Furthermore, noncustodial parents who pay off the principal on their money judgment payable to NYC DSS via Pay It Off during June will have their interest automatically eliminated.

Noncustodial parents who sign up for the Arrears Credit Program during the Pay It Off month of June will earn a one-time sign-up bonus of $2,500 in debt reduction applied to their NYC DSS arrears. They could also be eligible for additional reductions up to $15,000 over three (3) years.

To learn more about the Pay It Off program and to sign up for the Arrears Credit program during June please visit our website. Watch a short video here.

Flyers, FAQs and more can also be found in the Pay It Off website.

We encourage you to share this information with your community contacts, members and clients.

ACCESS HRA Updates

ACCESS HRA is now offering the following new features:

Medicaid Renewals – most Medicaid only clients with authorizations ending June 30, 2023 or later will now be able to submit their renewal online by logging in to ACCESS HRA. This provides an online alternative to completing the MAP-206F or MAP-909E.
Submit Medicaid renewal documents through the ACCESS HRA mobile app – after submitting their Medicaid renewal questions, clients will see a list of required documents to complete their renewal in the mobile app and client portal. These required documents can now be uploaded using the mobile app.
View Medicaid Notices electronically on the ACCESS HRA client portal and ACCESS HRA mobile app.
Clients can now apply for the HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit on ACCESS HRA.

As a reminder, only Medicaid applications and recertifications processed by HRA can be accessed through ACCESS HRA. Clients who applied with HRA can see their case status and submit their renewal on ACCESS HRA. Clients who receive Medicaid through New York State of Health: The Official Health Plan Marketplace will not be able to see Medicaid information on ACCESS HRA.

The ACCESS HRA client portal can be found at www.nyc.gov/accesshra. For the ACCESS HRA User Guide, click here.

Trainings on ACCESS HRA are available for community organizations! Sign up here.

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.

Employment Opportunities with the City of NY

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 11, 2023, over 76,200 asylum seekers have come through the City's intake system since last spring. As of June 15, 48,400 asylum seekers are currently in the City's care. The City has opened 175 emergency sites, including 11 HERRCs, to meet this unprecedented need. 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.

Fair Fares Application Center Move

In an effort to reorganize consumer services and increase operational efficiency, two Fair Fares Application Centers will be changing locations as follows:

Queens Fair Fares Application Center is moving from the 2nd floor of 32-20 Northern Boulevard to the 3rd floor of 165-08 88th Avenue.

The current location at 32-20 Northern Boulevard will close on Friday, August 25, 2023 as of 5:00 PM. Office operations will resume at the new location on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 8:30 AM.

Regular operating hours will be from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Bronx Fair Fares Application Center is moving from the 5th floor of 555 East Tremont Avenue to the 3rd floor of 888 Garrison Avenue

The current location at 555 East Tremont Avenue will close on July 28, 2023, as of 5:00 PM. Office operations will resume on July 31, 2023, at 9:00 AM, at the new location.

Regular operating hours will be from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Additional Resources and Information

Summer Employment Training Programs

Strive offers multiple employment training programs across disciplines. Please see specific programs below, or join one of the info sessions listed below to learn more about all Strive training and internship programs.

Fresh Start – Free Adult Re-Entry Program

Fresh Start is a program designed to provide training and internships to justice involved adults age 25 and above living in New York City, released within the past 180 days and currently on parole or probation. Stipends are available. Informational sessions are be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 pm via Zoom and on Tuesdays and Thursdays in person at 10 am. Details below (for Fresh Start and other Strive employment training programs):

Mon, Wed, Fri at 1 pm. Zoom link 823 9986 4270

Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am at 205 East 122^nd Street, 3^rd Floor, New York, NY 10035

Future Leaders – Free Young Adult Training for Justice Involved Youth

Future Leaders offers job training and placement assistance to youth ages 19-24 who are justice involved. Alternatives to incarceration support may also be offered. Paid training and internships are available.

Contact: epacheco@strive.org or call (646) 542-1722 for more information.

New “Equity Events” Website

The Mayor’s Office of Equity, in partnership with the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes yesterday announced the of a new "Equity Events" website, which aims to foster inclusivity and bring our diverse communities together through citywide initiatives including events, programs, policies + activations. "Equity Events" is designed as a shared platform that curates and promotes a diverse range of initiatives taking place throughout our city. The primary objective is to ensure that marginalized individuals can find events, policies and programs that resonate with them, prove to be a resource and allow them to feel welcomed in our NYC community.

This new website aims to showcase important initiatives that celebrate diversity, culture, arts, education, and more. The organizers are actively seeking out initiatives organized by various community partners, nonprofit organizations, trusted local businesses, and individuals to create a truly inclusive calendar. To that point, "Equity Events" also encourages active community involvement where New Yorkers can submit their own events. We believe that by involving the community, we can create an ever-expanding network of inclusive experiences. Please feel free to share widely.

AmeriCorps – City Service Corps

City Service Corps, an AmeriCorps program, recruits individuals to serve full-time from 9/1/23–6/1/24 within City agencies, addressing critical capacity and community-related issues. Applications are due June 30, 2023. Click here to begin the application process as well as learn more about the topics and agencies participating.

Silver Corps - New Employment Program for Older Adults

Mayor Adams has announced the launch of ‘Silver Corps’ — a new workforce development pilot program for older New Yorkers that will increase financial mobility among older adults, combat ageism in the workforce, and fill employment needs in local communities. Those interested in becoming a Silver Corps program participant, must be New York City residents at least 55 years of age, currently unemployed or underemployed, willing to participate in skills training and specialized certification program, and volunteer a minimum of 10 hours per week at a nonprofit or city agency. To learn more about participating in the Silver Corps program, older New Yorkers can call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) or email silvercorps@aging.nyc.gov .

Community Care Corps – Request for Proposals 2023-2025

Community Care Corps released a 2023-2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) from programs serving older adults and adults with disabilities. They are looking for innovative local models in which volunteers provide non-medical assistance to family caregivers, older adults or adults with disabilities in order to maintain their independence. Grants range from $30,000 to $200,000. Learn more and apply her e by July 7, 2023.

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.

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 applicatns 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 Support: Resolves ACCESS HRA technical issues and answers benefit/site-related questions.
ACCESS HRA Trainings: The 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 Portal: New 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 Access: If 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 NYC: Free 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 311: Non-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