November 22, 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. Our next monthly briefing call with be on Tuesday, November 29th at 4pm.

 

We continue to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications on our DSS 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. 

 

Monthly DSS Community Call

 

Please find link below to a recording of our last community call held on Tuesday, October 18th. Links to all of the calls we’ve held since April 2020 can be found on our Community Updates webpage. If you are not on the list to receive invitations to the monthly call, please contact DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.

 

Access the audio recording here

Password: Covid-19


Multi-Generational Family Pandemic Payment/Pandemic Emergency Assistance Program (PEAF) Benefit Issuance


The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) made an additional payment using the pandemic emergency assistance fund (PEAF) allocation allotted to New York State through the American Rescue Plan of 2021. OTDA issued a one-time, non-assistance cash payment to help certain households containing an adult 55 years of age or older with a child under the age of 18 in the household to offset costs incurred during the pandemic. These payments, which were issued on September 29, 2022, were issued directly to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account of the household.


Households who meet the following eligibility criteria received a payment of $1,060 per eligible older individual:


  • The older adult is 55 years-old or older during the month of August 2022
  • The older adult is active on an open temporary assistance case, which also includes at least one active child 17 or under at any time during the month of August 2022, and
  • The temporary assistance case remains open on the date of issuance.


Households eligible for these one-time, non-assistance payments received a letter from OTDA informing them of the payment and of their rights to an OTDA administrative review.


SNAP Change Reporting


The following changes have been made to the SNAP income reporting requirements:


  • Addition of the change in reporting rules for Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) – ESAP households are required to report the following changes within 10 days of the beginning of the month following the month in which such change occurs.
  • changes in household composition including if all adult (age 18 or older) members of the household are no longer age 60 or older or disabled
  • if anyone in the household begins receiving earned income
  • if any household member receives substantial lottery/gambling winnings of $4,250 or more won as a cash prize in a single game before taxes or other withholdings


  • Households subject to ten-day SNAP change reporting rules are now required to report changes in income of $125, up from the prior requirement of $100.

 

Childcare Assistance

 

Families may now be eligible for childcare assistance with income up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level with an approved reason for seeking child care ("reason for care"). As a reminder, the reason must include at least one of the following:


  • Adult works 10+ hours per week
  • Adult is in an educational or vocational training program
  • Adult has been looking for work
  • Adult lives in temporary housing (priority access)
  • Adult is attending services for domestic violence

 

Eligibility is based on family size, residency, income, and reason for care. Those who are unsure of their eligibility can take this short survey.

 

To apply:


  • Complete the Application for Child Care Assistance (CFWB-012), which can be found on the Administration for Children Services (ACS) Forms for Families page along with step-by-step instructions.
  • Gather the required documents listed on the Child Care Assistance New Application Submission Checklist, which is included in the application packet after the Application and instructions.
  • Mail the completed Application and all required documentation to: NYC Children - EDU, PO Box 40, Maplewood, NJ 07040

 

To receive assistance, applicants can call the ACS Call Center at 212-835-7610, Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm.

 

Eligible applicants will receive a voucher which can be completed and returned to ACS.

 

For families experiencing homelessness, or living in shelter or temporary housing may be eligible for free child care assistance. This includes families who may be sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.

 

These applicants can apply for a child care voucher, follow the directions on how to apply above, select "Homelessness" as the reason for care in Section 3, and submit the application with a housing questionnaire and all other required documentation to TemporaryHousingRA@acs.nyc.gov. Sending applications to this email address will help expedite processing..

 

The Early Care & Education Programs for Families Experiencing Homelessness Flyer has more information on all early care and education programs available for families in shelter or temporary housing. Translations of the flyer can be found here.

 

HOPE Count 2023

 

The City is actively recruiting volunteers for its annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) count, which will be held on January 24, 2023 from 10pm – 4 am. This annual survey helps the City support unsheltered New Yorkers and encourage them to come in off the streets and subways. Thanks to the efforts of past volunteers along with the ongoing 24/7/365 efforts of our street outreach teams, we have referred more than 5,000 New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness to transitional and/or permanent housing in FY22 alone.

 

Volunteers will begin at a HOPE location of their choosing and will then canvass nearby streets and subways. Sign up to be a HOPE 2023 volunteer here.


USDA Farm Bill/SNAP

 

The Farm Bill, which comes up in Congress every five years, has numerous titles, including one for nutrition. Recent statements from key Farm Bill stakeholders and public polling show growing support for a “unified” 2023 Farm Bill that strengthens the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Temporary increases in SNAP benefits and access during the pandemic are due to expire when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ends. Unless Congress takes action, SNAP Supplemental Allotments, suspension of SNAP time limits on unemployed and underemployed adults, and reduced barriers to SNAP for college students all are slated to sunset.


To learn more about the 2023 Farm Bill, please visit the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).

 

SNAP Emergency Allotments


As it has in previous months, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will issue an emergency SNAP supplement to households who are issued SNAP benefits for November 2022. The emergency allotment will be the difference between their budgeted allotment and the maximum allotment for their household size or $95, whichever is greater. Further information is available here. As a reminder, these benefits are not on a regular schedule. If clients want to know when their emergency SNAP allotments are available, they can check their available SNAP balance at https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/ebt/.

 

These emergency allotments are scheduled to continue for one month beyond the end of the federal public health emergency, currently scheduled to expire January 13, 2023.

 

ACCESS HRA Multi-Factor Authentication


To comply with City Cyber Command, ACCESS HRA's optional multi-factor authentication process will become mandatory when clients try to access their SNAP, Cash Assistance, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Fair Fares, or Medicaid case data online in 2023. Currently, clients can provide an email address to optionally set-up multi-factor authentication on ACCESS HRA. In December, this will be expanded so that clients can provide a phone number to receive a text message or phone call to set-up multi-factor authentication. DSS is exploring methods for clients without an email address or phone to access their benefit information online, such as via challenge questions, to be in place when multi-factor authentication becomes mandatory in 2023.


EBT Scams Currently Impacting Recipient Households

 

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has been made aware of increasing incidents of temporary assistance and SNAP benefits theft via several scams, including phishing and card skimming. Phishing scams have employed deceptive tactics ranging from “smart tablet giveaways, in which recipients are asked to submit personal case information to participate. OTDA will never send correspondence prompting a recipient to provide their account information. OTDA has shared information that can be used by households to help safeguard their benefits going forward by:


  • Frequently changing the EBT account PIN. It is recommended that cardholders avoid selecting a PIN that is easy to guess such as a repeated or consecutive numbers.


  • Reviewing the account and transactions on a regular basis. Households should regularly review their account transactions and balances and immediately report their card lost or stolen should they notice any suspicious or questionable activity or transactions.


  • Reporting suspicious devices and activity. If they notice any sign that a skimmer may be in use, it’s recommended that they alert the retailer and refrain from using the possible compromised machine.


Households may report their card lost or stolen at the EBT Customer Service Helpine (1-888-328-6399), or on the web here, or on the ConnectEBT mobile app. For additional information about what steps can be taken to safeguard information and benefits, please click here.


HEAP 2022-2023 Opening Dates

 

The regular HEAP season opens on November 1, 2022. More information including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can be found here.


The Emergency HEAP Benefit opens on January 1, 2023. The Emergency HEAP Benefit provides assistance to those who are in a heat related emergency. More information including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can be found here.


The opening date for the 2022-2023 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) and Heating Equipment Clean and Tune (C&T) was Monday, October 3rd. Applications are now being accepted. Benefits will be provided on a first come, first serve basis to eligible applicants through September 29, 2023, or until funding is exhausted.


Please find more information about HERR here. More information about C&T can be found here

 

DHS Services for Asylum Seekers Arriving in NYC

 

As of November 16, 2022, over 25,100 asylum seekers have come to DHS, over 18,200 of whom remain in shelter as of that date. DHS is meeting its legal and moral mandate to provide shelter to all who need it, and since July have opened 58 emergency sites to accommodate need. These numbers are updated weekly as this information changes daily.  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.

 

DSS Info Sessions for CBOs – Navigating Benefits for New Arrivals/Asylum Seekers

 

In response to demand for info sessions provided in early October, DSS is offering additional community information sessions relating to the possible benefits eligibility for new arrivals to NYC from the southern border. The information session will provide general overviews of the different immigration statuses and situations of those newly arriving as well as potential benefits eligibility as they relate to those categories.


Register here for the next session below


  • November 29th at 2:00 pm


We will continue to add additional sessions in response to ongoing demand.

 

Ride for Half Price – Fair Fares

 

The Fair Fares NYC program offers eligible New Yorkers regardless of immigration status a 50% discount on NYC subway and eligible buses and Access-A-Ride paratransit fares. Fair Fares enrollment is simple and can be completed anywhere online. Apply for Fair Fares on ACCESS HRA!


The discount is available to everyone who is eligible. NYC residency requirement does not include a minimum timeframe.

 

To find a location please visit the Fair Fares website. Fair Fares enrollment assistance is also available at the NYC Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center. 

 

Clients who need a replacement card or a refund can visit an office or mail in 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 their first and last name, date of birth, and Fair Fares Client ID number in the envelope with the card.

 

All new cards and replacement cards will be mailed to the client.  

 

Fair Fares Updates and Outreach Materials

 

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.

 

We encourage our partners to help get the word out about Fair Fares with our Social Media Fair Fares toolkit and short video. Please share and amplify!

 


Additional Resources and Information

 

Federal Student Loan Repayments Re-Start After December 31, 2022


Federal student loan repayment, which as been on pause since March 13, 2020, will resume after December 31, 2022. Once the payment pause ends, borrows will receive a notice of their payment restart date and the amount of such payments. Borrows can get more information on their payments and restart dates by contact their loan servicer. Information about contacting loan servicers can be found here.


Federal Student Loan Debt Cancellation Paused

 

On November 14, the federal U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit issued an injunction against the Biden Administration halting the student loan debt cancellation plan. As a result, the Federal Student Aid Office has paused acceptance of applications until further notice. More information can be found on the Federal Student Aid website here.

 

NYC Emergency Management Strengthening Communities 2022-23


NYC Emergency Management is issuing grant funding up to $40,000 to Community Networks to develop a community emergency plan through its Strengthening Communities program.


The Strengthening Communities training program focuses on five key areas to build a community-specific emergency plan: (1) creating a needs assessment; (2) designing community maps of the area where you provide services; (3) building a resource directory; (4) preparing a communication strategy; and (5) creating donations and volunteer management plans. NYC Emergency Management staff will provide training, coaching sessions, and tools that guide participating networks through the program. Up to 20 organizations will be selected.


Watch the information session here.


Find more information or apply here.


Homeowner Tax Exemption and Rent Freeze

 

The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) recently released their 2022 Annual Rent Freeze Report. New Yorkers who are 62 years or older or have a disability may qualify to freeze their rent. Assistance is available by contacting the Public Engagement Unit’s Rent Freeze support office at (929) 252-7242 or by visiting one of the DOF Business Centers weekly (more information is available here). 

 

Homeowner Tax Exemption (THE) season is also here. New Yorkers who are 62 years or older or have a disability may qualify for a tax exemption if they own a home. Contact the Public Engagement Unit’s Rent Freeze team for free one-on-one support in accessing this benefit at (929) 252-7242.

 

Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (ACP Outreach Grant Program)

 

On August 5, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (ACP Outreach Grant Program) to raise awareness about the nation’s largest ever broadband affordability effort, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a $14.2 billion FCC benefit program that helps ensure that qualifying low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

 

The ACP Outreach Grant Program provides new federal funding for the FCC to grant eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the ACP among those households most in need of affordable connectivity. The FCC will make up to $70 million of competitive funding available under this FY 2023 ACP Outreach Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).


The ACP Outreach Grant Program is comprised of four complementary grant programs:

 

National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP) & Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP)

Through this ACP Outreach Grant Program, the FCC seeks to enlist and empower trusted community messengers to develop innovative outreach strategies to reach historically underserved and unserved communities. This includes providing those partners with the funding and resources needed to increase participation among eligible, low-income households in need an affordable internet connection

 

Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program (YHYI) Outreach Grants

The Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program is a one-year pilot program designed to increase awareness of the ACP, specifically among recipients of federal housing assistance, including: recipients of Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers); Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/Section 811; Public Housing; and Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians. This pilot program will facilitate enrollment in the ACP by providing targeted assistance with completion of the program application.

 

ACP Navigator Pilot Program (NPP) Outreach Grants

The ACP Navigator Pilot Program is a one-year pilot that will provide a limited number of neutral, trusted third party entities, such as schools and school districts, or other local, Tribal or state government entities, access to the National Verifier for purposes of assisting consumers with completing and submitting an application for the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

 

Eligible Entities: For FY 2023, eligible entities may include the following governmental and nongovernmental organizations to serve as outreach partners to the FCC to conduct outreach to persons who live in low-income households:


  • State governments and subdivisions thereof (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico);
  • U.S. Territory governments and subdivisions thereof such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
  • Local governments and subdivisions thereof (including county, borough, municipality, city, town, township, parish, local public authority, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, and agencies or instrumentalities of multi-regional or intra-state or local government);
  • Tribal governments and subdivisions thereof, as well as tribal organizations;
  • Public housing agencies;
  • Tribal designated housing entities;
  • Social service providers (e.g., food banks, community transportation, childcare);
  • Education organizations, such as schools and other institutions of higher education;
  • Workforce development training organizations;
  • Non-profit organizations;
  • Community-based organizations (including faith-based organizations and social service organizations);
  • Community anchor institutions;
  • Public service organizations; and
  • Consortia of the entities listed above


Complete applications must be received through https://www.grants.gov .grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 9, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted. FCC expects to complete its review, make selection of successful applicants, and process awards on or before March 10, 2023.

 

Contracting with the City of New York – Resources for Contractors/Applicants

 

The Mayor's Office of Contract Services has created a new online tool to help potential vendors navigate the path to contracting with the City of NY: The online tools can be found at: Your Path to Contracting with the City.

 

This tool provides a visual representation of a vendor's typical roadmap to contracting with the City of New York. .

 

New York State’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Program Community Grants

 

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the opening of applications for $50 million to strengthen safety and security measures at nonprofit and community-based organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission. This funding is the greatest amount ever available through New York State’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program.

 

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice will accept applications for up to $50,000 per project. Each eligible organization may submit up to three applications for a maximum of $150,000. An eligible organization also may submit a separate application for up to $50,000 to fund a cybersecurity project.

 

Applications must be submitted to DCJS by Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

 

Visit the Grants/Funding page of the DCJS website for eligibility requirements, instructions, guidelines and additional information.

 

Webinar Series for Small and Emerging Nonprofits

 

In partnership with DYCD and City Council, the NonProfit HelpDesk at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Coney Island is hosting a new online workshop series for small and emerging nonprofits. Topics include organizational planning, fundraising, leadership development, storytelling and communications, social media, data collection, data visualization, and giving feedback. Workshop participants will also have access to one-on-one assistance and office hours following the presentations, if time permits.

 

Additionally, new and emerging organizations can apply for short consultations in the areas of governance (by-laws, nonprofit tax exemption, corporate policies, employee handbooks), executive coaching, fundraising and financial management.

 

For more information, or to register for a workshop or apply for consultative support, please visit the NonProfit HelpDesk website here.

 

Building Bridges 2022

 

DYCD and other NYC agencies are hosting an information session for small, emerging nonprofits that are interested in learning how to apply for NYC funding. The next session will be held on Wednesday, December 7, from 10 am – 11:30 am.

 

What to expect:


  • Learn how to apply for NYC funding
  • Find out when and where to apply for New York City Discretionary Funding
  • Learn about additional services available to support nonprofits


A shareable flyer is available for download here.

 

Call for Proposals – Community Led Transformation of Public Space

 

The Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) and the Urban Design Forum and they have issued a “Call for Partners” and collaborators to join a new design technical assistance program to support community-led transformation of public space. They will be holding an information session (ahead of the submission deadline of Monday, 12/12 of an interest form) to explain to potential partners including community development corporations, cultural groups, merchant groups, under-resourced business improvement districts, and community-based organizations that have a vision for the future of a public space. 

 

The information session will be held on Wednesday, 11/30, 12 noon – 1 pm, via Zoom. RSVP to rsvp@urbandesignforum.org


Funding of up to $125,000 over the course of two years is offered; a dedicated team to provide pro bono design-led technical assistance; and connections to city agencies, capacity building, and access to a learning community with other organizations across the city. An independent jury will review proposals and select four projects in January 2023. Email questions to localcultures@urbandesignforum.org


NYC Department of Education Middle School Applications

 

The New York City Department of Education middle school application process is underway. All applications for middle school need to be completed and submitted to the DOE by December 1, 2022. The application and additional information on the middle school application process can be found here

 

The David Prize

 

The David Prize, an annual open call for applications from New Yorkers with an innovative vision for NYC, is actively seeking nominations and applications (applicants do not need to be nominated, the application is open to direct applications or nominations). The David Prize awards $200,000 to applicants with an innovative idea for New York City. Additional information can be found here.

 

Department of City Planning Zoning Initiatives


The Department of City Planning (DCP) has 3 new zoning initiatives:


Zoning for Zero Carbon (ZZC). The project aims to modernize the zoning regulations in support of the City’s climate goals. The changes would focus on supporting a renewable energy grid, making buildings clean and efficient, support for electric vehicle charging and micro-mobility options, and reducing waste and stormwater. 


Zoning for Economic Opportunity (ZEO) is focused on providing small businesses with the flexibility needed to for them to change and grow, especially as the city recovers from COVID-19. The proposals would remove unnecessary and outdated limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occupied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces.


Zoning for Housing Opportunity (ZHO) is a direct response to the City’s housing crisis. This inclusive, citywide approach to expanding and diversifying the housing supply, will ensure that every neighborhood does its part to help meet housing needs and provide equitable access to housing for all New Yorkers.


Learn more here.



Health-Related Updates

 

Monkeypox Information

 

The City has opened second-dose Monkeypox vaccine appointments to anyone who received their first dose at least 28 days ago, and opened eligibility to people under 18 and who meet all other eligibility criteria (and whose parents consent).

 

Find everything about monkeypox at nyc.gov/monkeypox.  

 

New Yorkers can also text MONKEYPOX to 692692 for updates. For alerts in Spanish text MONKEYPOXESP to 692692.

 

To stay up to date on information regarding vaccination appointments, please check the NYC Health Department Monkeypox website, follow @NYCHealthy on Twitter, and sign up to receive text alerts from the City for updates on appointment availability.

 

More information about how you can prevent monkeypox is available here and Monkeypox 101 information is here

 

Palm Cards, information for providers, and other materials are available in multiple languages here.

 

Additional Resources

CDC: Monkeypox

 

COVID Vaccines

 

The CDC has approved the use of updated Covid booster shots that specifically target the two prominent omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5.

 

To be eligible for the new bivalent booster you must be at least two months out from completing your primary two-dose vaccination series or your last booster and be aged 12+ for the Pfizer shot and 18+ for Moderna. If you have recently had Covid, you must be fully recovered with negative tests to receive another vaccine.

Find a location to receive your booster shot here.

 

COVID-19 Testing

 

Resources and information about COVID-19 Testing is available at the NYC Test and Treat home page, as well as our COVID-19 Community Updates page.

 

As of Friday, September 2nd, the federal government is no longer providing free COVID-19 at-home rapid testing kits.


Test-and-Treat

 

The New York City Test & Trace Corps, established during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, is rebranding as the Test & Treat Corps to reflect the priority to provide New Yorkers with life-saving COVID-19 treatments.

  

New Yorkers can visit nyc.gov/covidtest to find a city-run testing site most convenient and accessible to them. Multiple COVID-19 treatments are available for people ages 12 and older and can be delivered to New Yorkers’ homes for free. 

 

For more information on COVID-19 treatments, call 212-COVID19 and press 9 or visit nyc.gov/health/covidtreatments. Calling 212-COVID19 provides New Yorkers an immediate connection to a clinician who can refer them to monoclonal antibody treatment or prescribe antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, and arrange to have it delivered to their home that same day.

  

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 & Treat 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.

 

Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL)

 

The trained staff at the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) can provide assistance with:

 

  • Ordering tests.
  • Understanding instructions for test administration and test results.
  • Providing alternative instructions for traditional at-home tests for people who are unable to access, read, or understand the manufacturer’s version.
  • For those who cannot use an at-home test, DIAL operators can:
  • Assist with ordering “swab and send” kits to collect a sample and mail it back for results.
  • Connect callers to local organizations for assistance locating other testing options in their community, including in-home testing programs or transportation or companion support to visit a community-based testing site.

 

Call 888-677-1199 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern) or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.

 

Community-wide Conference Call

 

We look forward to your continued participation on our monthly briefing calls 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 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, 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,

 

Gary P. Jenkins

DSS Commissioner