May 31, 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 community-wide conference calls, continues 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.
As a reminder, please reach out to DSS Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to be added to the list of invitees for the community-wide call and sign up here be added to the distribution list for this weekly communication. Please note, as we announced on our most recent call, the community-wide briefing calls will be moving to a monthly schedule. Our next call will be held on June 28th at 4pm. We will share an invitation by email shortly.
We continue 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.
Spam Calls
There are reports of clients getting spam calls from phone numbers that start with 929-265-xxxx and end with different 4-digit combinations. For example, a client will get a call from 929-265-2525. The call plays a message “Please hold for an important message from Human Resources Administration.” and then switches to a message in a different language.
Client should know that it is not HRA calling and that they shouldn’t give the person any of their personal information.
WIC Infant Formula Updates
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has granted waivers of certain WIC regulations to WIC agencies across the country so that they can take immediate action to ensure that WIC participants can exchange their recalled baby formula and use WIC benefits to purchase products that have not been recalled. WIC-Eligible Families can contact their local WIC office to identify or obtain additional sources of infant formula nearby.
Learn more about resources and updates regarding the infant formula shortage here.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Updates
As a reminder, tenant households that apply for ERAP will continue to receive ERAP tenant protections until an eligibility determination is made on the ERAP application. For additional information on these protections, please see the "Tenant Protections" section of the ERAP FAQ. This guidance states that once a tenant applies for ERAP they cannot be evicted for a lease expiration or for non-payment of rent during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The application number which will be provided to all applicants can be used in court if a landlord begins an eviction case in court for an expired lease, a holdover case or for non-payment of rent that would be eligible for coverage under ERAP.
There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program.
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.
Households eligible for rental arrears may also be eligible for help paying utility arrears at the same rental unit.
Please help our share clients prevent evictions by encouraging those at risk to apply for ERAP.
SNAP On-Demand Interviews
SNAP On-Demand telephone eligibility interviews will resume on June 1, 2022. SNAP application that are submitted through May 31 are not required to have an interview. SNAP recertifications that are expiring in July and SNAP applications submitted after May 31 will have to call for an On Demand interview or be rejected for failing to interview.
The availability of On-Demand interviews gives clients more flexibility as they do not have to wait for HRA to call them to complete their eligibility interview. Beginning June 1st, once they submit their application or recertification form via ACCESS HRA, at a PC Bank, in-person, or by mail, clients are able to call HRA at 718-SNAP-NOW (718-762-7669) anytime between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, for an “on-demand” telephone interview. If an applicant has an emergency need for SNAP they should call right after they submit their application. Clients have up to 30 days from the time they submit their form to make this call and fulfill the interview requirement.
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Food Benefits Updates
OTDA will begin distributing Summer P-EBT, which will provide all eligible students with $375 in food benefits, in May. OTDA will post information on their website about benefit distribution dates when it becomes available.
Nearly all eligible school children were issued their P-EBT food benefits for the 2020-21 school year.
Eligibility:
Children who receive free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program are eligible for P-EBT food benefits. This includes all children who attend NYC public schools. Children who attend a private, prekindergarten, parochial or charter school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, and who are eligible for free and/or reduced priced meals, are also eligible.
Qualifying households do not apply for the P-EBT program, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) administers the program and automatically issues benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
For assistance with general questions or to request a replacement Medicaid CBIC that was issued for P-EBT food benefits:
· Call the P-EBT Helpline at 833-452-0096
To check the balance or select a PIN for a P-EBT food benefits card:
· Call 888-328-6399
Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund
The Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) allocation allotted to New York State (NYS) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(ARPA) issued an additional payment to families in May 2022.
OTDA issued a one-time non-assistance cash payment on May 14, 2022 to Temporary Assistance (TA) households with a child(ren) aged 17 years or under. This payment is intended to defray costs incurred by these households due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
TA households meeting all of the following eligibility criteria should have received a payment of $250 per household:
· The open TA case contains a child who was active on the case during the month of April 2022;
· The child is aged 17 years or under at any time during the month of April 2022; and,
· The TA case remains open on the date of payment issuance.
OTDA issued these payments directly to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account of the TA case.
PEAF payments:
· have no effect on the household’s eligibility or benefit amounts for TA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP);
· not be part of the regular recurring TA 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; and
· not be included in Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR).
Medicaid Easements and Application Updates
Medicaid easements have been extended through August 2022. This includes the automatic extension for cases with an authorization that ends in January through August 2022 even if the client doesn't submit their renewal. Medicaid clients scheduled to renew a case that had or has an authorization end date in March 2020 through August 2022 automatically had or will have their Medicaid coverage extended for 12 months, even if the renewal is not returned. The NYS Department of Health is not sending notices to these Medicaid clients to let them know that their Medicaid coverage has been extended. 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.
Excess income cases will be extended for six months, but will still be expected to meet their surplus to obtain coverage. (Note: Clients with active COVID or in the quarantine may request coverage until they can make a surplus payment.)
How to submit applications:
· Approved Client Representatives can fax Medicaid applications and Medicare Savings applications on behalf of consumers to 917-639-0731.
· Medicaid applications and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) Applications from individuals age 65 and older or who have a disability can be dropped off in marked drop boxes at Medical Assistance Program "MAP" (formerly known as Medical Insurance and Community Services Administration or MICSA) locations and may also be faxed to 917-639-0732.
Fair Fares Updates and Outreach Materials
The Fair Fares NYC program continues to offer eligible New York City residents a 50% discount on eligible transportation. In our ongoing efforts to get the word out about this valuable benefit, the City has created Fair Fares outreach materials - including palm cards, brochures, and posters that can be ordered by community organizations and others. Please use the Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS) website, after registering on the login page.
Fair Fares borough offices are open to assist customers with application submissions and document uploads. To find a location please visit the Fair Fares website.
Clients will be able to request an in-person appointment by calling 311.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for Broadband Internet
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) gives a discount on a household's monthly broadband internet service. If eligible, participating broadband providers will apply this discount to the household’s broadband plan.
The City has created ACP flyers in 30 languages to download and use at events, programs, and more: ACP Flyers
· Note: An individual do not need to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible. If they do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), they can provide other documents.
· Note: Additionally, customers are not required to submit to a credit check.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
HEAP payments get expunged from client’s EBT cards after 90 days, if not accessed. The benefits may be reissued if the request is made by September 30th of the program year for which the benefits were issued. Clients are advised to call the conference line at 212-331-3126 to make this request.
Applying for HEAP
HEAP applications can now be submitted via fax using the fax number 212-387-1639.
All HEAP applications need to be completed, signed by the applicant or their authorized representative and faxed to 212-387-1639, returned by mail, or dropped off at an HRA Job Center.
The completed application can be mailed back to HRA at:
NYC DSS/HRA/HEAP
PO Box 1401
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
Applicants can check on the status of a HEAP application by calling the State OTDA Helpline at 800-342-3009.
HEAP Cooling Assistance Component
The HEAP Cooling Assistance Component opened up on May 2, 2022. Applicants can now apply for NYS HEAP Cooling using ACCESS HRA.
As a reminder, an applicant household member does NOT need to have a medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat to be eligible for HEAP Cooling Assistance.
Learn more about HEAP at hotda.ny.gov/programs/heap/. Homebound individuals can request HEAP information or a home visit at 212-331-3126.
HEAP Third Emergency Benefit Available
The 2021-2022 Regular HEAP benefit closed on April 29, 2022.
A third Emergency HEAP benefit will be available from May 2, 2022, through August 31, 2022, or until funds allocated to this component are exhausted, whichever occurs first. The eligibility criteria and the benefit amounts for the third Emergency benefit will be the same as the first and second Emergency benefit. Applicants must have exhausted, or have unavailable to them, the first or second Emergency benefit to be eligible for the third Emergency benefit. First, second, and third Emergency benefits cannot be issued concurrently.
Rent Freeze and Homeowner Tax Exemption Events for People with Disabilities/65+
New Yorkers with a disability or over the age of 65 may be eligible for the NYC Rent Freeze Program, which includes the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Program to help participants stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent.
To be eligible, individuals must:
· Be 62 years old OR at least 18 years old and disabled
· Be the primary tenant named on the lease/rent order or have been granted succession rights in a rent controlled, rent stabilized or a rent regulated hotel apartment;
· Have a combined household income for all members of the household that is $50,000 or less; and
· Spend more than one-third of your monthly household income on rent.
Interested individuals can speak to a PEU Specialist directly by calling the rent freeze and homeowner tax exemption hotline at (929) 252-7242.
IDNYC Renewals
On May 2nd, 2022, the City kicked off the IDNYC renewal campaign with Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), at the Africa Center, a Harlem museum.
Due to reduced capacities at IDNYC Enrollment Centers during COVID-19, the IDNYC Program has expanded the renewal period for all cardholders whose cards expired in 2020. New Yorkers are urged to renew through December 31, 2022, if their card expired in 2020 or 2021. It is easy to renew online without going into an Enrollment Center. After December 2022, cardholders will not be able to renew their card and will need to submit a new application at an Enrollment Center.
Currently, there are 16 public enrollment centers throughout the five boroughs and New Yorkers can visit https://a069-idnyconlineportal.nyc.gov/IOPWeb/#/ or call 311 and say “IDNYC” to learn about the amazing benefits of the card, and for more information on how to enroll or renew.
Subway Safety Plan Video
Since Mayor Adams implemented his Subway Safety Plan in February, the City has connected more than 1,300 people with shelter and with the services they deserve. In collaboration with the NYPD, DOHMH, MTA, and community-based providers, DSS is providing outreach services at the end-of-line stations every night and throughout the subway system every day. Learn more about these efforts in this video.
Additional Resources and Information
Free Summer Meals Starts June 28
Breakfast and lunch will continue beyond the instructional school year, beginning on June 28th. The NYC Summer Meals Program is available throughout New York City to anyone ages 18 years old and under. Designated public schools, community pool centers, parks, and food trucks will be open for service. No registration, documentation, or ID is necessary to receive a free breakfast or lunch meal. Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks. Learn more about Summer Meals here.
Service Dates
• Tuesday, June 28, 2022 – Friday, September 2, 2022
• There is no service Monday, July 4, 2022
Service Times at Designated Public Schools
• Breakfast: 8AM–9:15AM
• Lunch 11AM–1:15PM
•
How To Find Locations
• Find A Location Search (available mid-June)
• Text: NYC Food to 304-304 (standard text messaging rates may apply)
• Call: 311
SAHMSA Behavioral Health Recovery Innovation Challenge
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is announcing its first-ever behavioral health Recovery Innovation Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to identify innovations developed by peer-run or community-based organizations, and entities that may partner with them—such as local or state governments, health systems, hospitals, or health plans—that advance recovery.
As part of this challenge, participants are encouraged to share details about the practices they are using to advance recovery and demonstrate how these practices have: 1) expanded upon SAMHSA’s definition of recovery, or 2) helped them overcome challenges in incorporating recovery into their behavioral health services or systems.
The deadline for submission is July 15, 2022. The purse prize is up to $400,000. The competition will offer up to 10 awards, depending on the judges’ overall scores. All submission materials must be submitted through the SAMHSA Recovery Innovation Challenge page on the challenge.gov website.
SAFE Electronics Disposal Event – NYC Department of Environmental Protection
On Sunday, 6/5 from 10 am – 4 pm, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection is sponsoring the SAFE Electronics Disposal Event at W. 120th St. (between Broadway & Amsterdam). Registration is required. Accepted (unless otherwise noted): Computers and peripherals (monitors, printers, faxes/scanners, keyboards, mice, wires, etc.); TVs; stereo and A/V equipment, VCRs, DVD players; cell and wall phones. NOT Accepted: Microwaves, small appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. Please call the Lower East Side Ecology with questions (212-477-4022).
Family and Caretaker Zoom Series
• June 8 - “Tips on how to Advocate for your Student's Needs in School”
Checkbook NYC Demonstrations
Checkbook NYC is a first-of-its-kind online transparency tool. Using an intuitive dashboard approach that combines a series of graphs and user-friendly tables, Checkbook NYC provides up-to-date information about the City's finances. The New York City Comptroller’s Office is hosting three Checkbook NYC demonstrations as part of their annual open data series, on June 14th and 16th. Learn more and register here.
NYCHA Residents CUNY Scholarships
NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability announced that applications for college scholarships are now open. One-time $1,000 grants are awarded to eligible NYCHA residents who are pursuing undergraduate degrees at a City University of New York (CUNY) college.
All applications must be submitted online by July 14, 2022.
To apply, please use the NYCHA self-service portal and select NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship on the left hand navigation pane. If an applicant does not already have access, they must create a username and password.
For a full list of scholarships and eligibility criteria, please visit here. Any questions or requests for additional information should be sent to scholarships@nycha.nyc.gov. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.
COVID-19 Related Updates
On May 17, the COVID-19 alert Level in NYC was raised to “High” risk.
The NYC Health Commissioner now advises all New Yorkers to wear a mask in any public indoor setting. People who are older than 65 or otherwise at a high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should also wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings and avoid gatherings when possible.
Vaccine Updates
CDC has expanded eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older, recommending that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.
COVID-19 Testing
Third round of home tests
The Biden administration is opening CovidTests.gov for a third round of orders of at-home COVID tests. US households are now able to order "an additional eight free at-home tests at COVIDTests.gov—bringing the total number of free tests available to each household since the start of the program to 16.
Individuals who need help placing an order for at-home tests can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Testing in NYC
On May 16, Mayor Adams, the NYC Test & Trace Corps (Test & Trace), the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) announced the distribution of an additional 16.5 million at-home COVID-19 tests and 1 million high-quality masks that will take place over the next month to 1,600 New York City public schools and the over 1,000 community organizations, libraries, cultural institutions, houses of worship, and elected offices participating in the city’s At-Home Test Distribution Program.
Test & Trace makes weekly deliveries of at-home tests to participating cultural sites and libraries, where they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, over 850 community and faith-based organizations — including 243 houses of worship — have signed up to regularly distribute at-home tests. Any New York City-based community organization that would like to participate as an at-home test distribution partner is encouraged to sign up online.
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.
To search for all nearby testing sites, including those not affiliated with the City, please visit the NYC Testing Locations site. NYC Test & Trace recommends calling these testing sites before visiting. Please note that some sites that are not City-run may charge for testing.
At-home COVID Testing for Immunocompromised Individuals
Free, at-home testing for COVID-19 is now available to all immunocompromised New Yorkers and those ages 65 and older. To schedule an in-home appointment, call (929) 298-9400 between 9:00 AM and 7:00 p.m. (7 days a week). For more information visit the NYC COVID-19 Testing Locations site
COVID-19 Test Scams
There have been reports of scams which claim to provide at-home COVID-19 test kits in exchange for personal or medical information. Individuals should not give out Medicare Numbers for COVID-19 test kits.
Call 800-MEDICARE to report suspected fraud.
“Test-to-Treat” Pharmacy Program
A new federal Test to Treat program gives people a fast and easy way to get lifesaving treatment for COVID-19. In this program, people can get tested at Test to Treat sites. If they test positive and treatments are appropriate for them, they can get a prescription from a healthcare provider and have the prescription filled all in one location. People can also bring test results obtained from a home testing kit to Test to Treat sites and get evaluated by a healthcare provider for treatment.
People can use the COVID-19 Test to Treat Locator to find Test to Treat sites near them. A call center is also available at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8:00 am to midnight ET, 7 days a week. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is also available to specifically help people with disabilities access services. To get help, call 1-888-677-1199, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
Learn more about the program and download fact sheets in numerous languages here.
Home Delivered COVID Antiviral Medication
The City is providing 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.
Federal COVID-19 Resource Website
The Biden administration has introduced covid.gov, a federal website meant to help Americans who are infected with the virus find the treatment they need quickly and at no cost. On the website, people can find locations to get tests and anti-viral pills, find the locations of vaccination sites and places to acquire high-quality masks; fill out a form to order eight free at-home coronavirus tests per household; view their community’s risk level according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and get general information on Covid symptoms, treatment, testing and travel.
The website is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. The administration is also making all of these tools available over the phone through the national vaccine hotline at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489), which supports over 150 languages.
AfterCare Program for Long COVID
The NYC Test & Trace Corps AfterCare program has launched a hotline for New Yorkers seeking information and resources to recover from Long COVID. New Yorkers who are suffering from or suspect they may have Long COVID can now call AfterCare Navigators directly. AfterCare Navigators are health outreach specialists with experience supporting people during their COVID infection and will assess patients for their specific health and social needs and connect them to Long COVID resources. AfterCare Navigators connect patients to holistic resources – including physical and mental health referrals, community support, and financial assistance – to address the various physical symptoms, as well as the social and economic impacts, that New Yorkers with Long COVID may experience.
New Yorkers can call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319), select their preferred language, and press 4 to speak directly to an AfterCare navigator. Learn more on the AfterCare website and through AfterCare’s Long COVID recovery guide.
Community-wide Conference Call
We look forward to your continued participation on our briefing calls which will now be moving to a monthly schedule, and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information shared here and in our monthly 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 COVID-19 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 conference 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
