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October 18, 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, October 18th at 4pm.
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.
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 October 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. The public health emergency is currently set to end on January 11, 2023.
On October 1, 2021, permanent changes to SNAP went into effect, resulting in a sizeable increase in the benefit issuance by household size. SNAP households have continued to receive emergency allotments on top of this permanent increase. Once the emergency allotments are no longer being issued, the permanent SNAP increase will remain in effect, but families and individuals will see a decrease in the total amount of SNAP received per month. Additional details will be shared as they become available.
Changes to IDNYC and Fair Fares Application Requirements
Effective August 26, 2022, both IDNYC and Fair Fares NYC have modified their documentation requirements at initial eligibility to accommodate the incoming population of non-citizens from the southern border. This adjustment takes into account the potential for missing documentation and as a result identifies additional forms of proof which will be accepted as 1-point documents to establish identity. The following documents will now be able to be used as additional forms of proof:
U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Notice to Appear
Notice to Appear issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dated no more than one year prior to the date submitted and including complete name, file number, and official stamp/signature. May be issued by U.S ICE as Form I-862. Document will serve as proof of identity.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Alien Booking Record
Alien Booking Record (or booking card) issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dated no more than one year prior to the date submitted and including complete name, photo, and fingerprint. May be issued by U.S. ICE as Form I-385. Document will serve as proof of identity and photo, if photo is included.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Order to Release on Recognizance
Order to Release on Recognizance issues by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dated no more than one year prior to the date submitted and including complete name, file number, and official stamp/signature. May be issued by U.S. ICE as Form 1-220A. Document will serve as proof of identity.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Order of Supervision
Order of Supervision issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dated no more than one year prior to the date submitted and including complete name, file number, and official stamp/signature. May be issued by U.S ICE as Form I-220B. Document will serve as proof of identity.
Foreign Birth Certificate (copy)
A copy of a certificate of birth issued by a current of former sovereign nation may be accepted as proof of identity only if accompanied by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) document accepted by IDNYC/Fair Fares. Copy must be legible/readable.
Foreign Passport (copy)
A copy of a foreign passport may be accepted as proof of identity and photo only if accompanied by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) document accepted by IDNYC/Fair Fares. Copy must be legible/readable.
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.
SNAP and Cash Assistance Resource Limit Increases
Resource limit amounts for Cash Assistance applicants and participants has been revised. Effective October 1, 2022, the liquid resource limits are:
- $10,000 for participant households
- $3,750 for applicant households in which at least one member is elderly (60 years or older) or disabled
- $2,500 for all other applicant households
For SNAP, the resource limits have been increased as follows:
- $4,250 for households that contain at least one person who is aged (60 years of age or older) or disabled
- $2,750 for all other households which are subject to the resource test
Donations to Support Asylum Seekers
To support the needs of asylum seekers entering New York City, The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, in partnership with The City of New York, is directing people to donate cash to the following relief organization:
United Way of New York City
Donations of new clothing, toiletry and hygiene items are welcome at the locations and times below:
MANHATTAN:
MISSION CHURCH JOHN 3:16
518 West 168th Street, New York, NY
Tuesday & Saturday 10AM - 5PM
Phone: 914-310-8948
BROOKLYN:
IGLESIAS JOVENES CRISTIANOS
8700 18th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214
Sunday 12PM - 4PM
Phone: 718-795-5645
THE BRIDGE
1894 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10AM - 4PM
Phone: 917-804-3942
BRONX:
NEW LIFE CHURCH
2757 Morris Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468
Phone: 718-562-2230
(please call before drop off)
QUEENS:
SALVATION ARMY JAMAICA COMMUNITY CENTER
90-23 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432
Monday - Thursday 10AM -2PM
Phone: 914-217-3277
STATEN ISLAND:
THE CENTRAL FAMILY LIFE CENTER
59 Wright Street, Staten Island, NY 10304
Phone: 718-273-8414
GetCoveredNYC
GetCoveredNYC is celebrating 6 years! GetCoveredNYC provides free assistance for New Yorkers seeking to enroll in health care, regardless of immigration status or income. GetCoveredNYC Specialists speak more than 20 languages and conduct outreach to proactively identify uninsured New Yorkers and help them get access to health care and other health-related benefits. Read one of the many stories from clients, featured in The Positive Community!
Contact GetCoveredNYC:
Public Assistance Policy Changes in the 2022-23 New York State Budget
Application of the Earned Income Disregard and the Work Expense Disregard
Currently the Earned Income Disregard (EID) is applied to the difference between the eligible applicant or recipient’s gross monthly earned income and the work expense disregard. Effective October 1, 2022, the EID is now applied prior to the work expense disregard. The work expense disregard js now deducted from the remainder of the individual’s gross monthly earned income after the EID is applied.
Earned Income Disregard
The EID, which excludes a percentage of earned income, changed from 55% to 50% on October 1, 2022, and will be adjusted annually beginning June 1, 2023. However, the policy of only applying the EID for earnings up to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for those residing in temporary housing shelter types remains unchanged.
Work Expense Disregard
Effective October 1, 2022, the work expense disregard increased from $90 to $150.
Single Individuals and Childless Couples
Effective October 1, 2022, the method by which gross earned income is calculated changed for Safety Net Assistance (SNA) cases for single individuals and childless couples. These cases, which were previously not eligible for the EID, are now eligible to have the EID percentage deducted from their gross earned income when calculating their budgets. These cases remain eligible to have the work expense disregard deducted to calculate their total countable gross earned income after the EID is applied.
Elimination of the Gross Income Test and the Poverty Level Income Test
Effective October 1, 2022, Automated Budgeting and Eligibility Logic (ABEL) is no longer perform the Gross Income Test (GIT) and the Poverty Level Income Test (PLT). ABEL will only perform the Needs Test in determining income eligibility for PA. For recipients, net income cannot equal or exceed the PA standard of need after deducting the 50% EID and then the $150 work expense disregard. If net income equals or exceeds the PA standard of need, the recipient is ineligible. An applicant’s eligibility for PA must be determined without application of the percentage EID unless the applicant is reapplying and has been off PA not more than four whole months.
Resource Limit Changes
Effective October 1, 2022, changes to the PA resource limit policy are as follows:
- The amount of liquid and non-liquid assets that an applicant household can own and still qualify for PA increased from $2,000 to $2,500;
- When any member of the PA household is age 60 years and older, the amount of liquid and non-liquid assets the applicant household can currently own and still qualify for PA is $3,000. This amount increased to $3,750 for PA applicant households where any household member is age 60 years and older or is disabled; and
- All PA recipient households have a resource limit of $10,000.
Elimination of the SNA 45-Day Waiting Period
For information pertaining to the elimination of the 45-day waiting period for SNA applications, please refer to GIS 22 TA/DC080 and GIS 22 TA/WMS032.
Child Support Pay It Off Program Opens
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) will be offering its Pay It Off. Program beginning October 17th through October 31st. Noncustodial parents (NCPs) can pay off their NYC DSS child support arrears twice as fast. OCSS will match payments of at least $500 made toward their DSS arrears up to the amount they owe. For those with a current support order, the court ordered child support amount must be paid first for the full payment to be matched. Those NCPs who pay the DSS principal amount owed in full can have the entire amount owed in interest forgiven. In addition, NCPs may be eligible to enroll in other DSS debt reduction programs. The Pay It Off program over the years has been used by over 3,000 noncustodial parents to reduce $16 million of debt owed to the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS). The average debt reduction per case is $5,558. Please spread the word.
Learn more at nyc.gov/payitoff.
NYC Emergency Executive Order Declaration
New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued Emergency Executive Order 224, formally directing all relevant city agencies to coordinate efforts to respond to the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis and construct the city’s Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers. In an address, Mayor Adams also called for emergency federal and state aid to handle the continued influx of asylum seekers as the city projects costs of more than $1 billion related to asylum seekers in this fiscal year, as well as expedited work permits, a national decompression strategy, and a resettlement strategy. Remarks can be found here.
DHS Services for Asylum Seekers Arriving in NYC
As of October 12, 2022, over 19,475 asylum seekers have come to DHS, over 14,777 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 55 emergency sites to accommodate need. These numbers are updated weekly as this information changes daily.
DHS RFP for Shelters for Asylum Seekers
DHS is soliciting proposals for providers to run shelters for Asylum Seekers. We are looking to stand up 5,000 units of capacity to serve the influx of Asylum Seekers coming from the southern border. DHS is seeking providers who are prepared to quickly stand up sites, and who can provide culturally competent services to this population. The RFP can be found here: HRA/DSS - Doing Business with HRA (nyc.gov)
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 by selecting one of the scheduled sessions from the drop-down list here.
Fair Fares - Ride for Half
Please help us get the word out about Fair Fares – the half price Metrocard program. The Fair Fares NYC program offers eligible New Yorkers a 50% discount on subway and eligible buses and Access-A-Ride paratransit fares. Fair Fares enrollment is simple and can be completed anywhere online or a FFNYC borough office. Apply for Fair Fares on ACCESS HRA! Citizenship is not required to be eligible to receive a half-fare Fair Fares discounted Metrocard.
To find a location please visit the Fair Fares website.
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!
Big Apple Connect - Free Municipal Broadband for NYCHA Residents
‘Big Apple Connect’ is a landmark digital equity program that will make free high-speed internet and basic cable TV available to approximately 300,000 New Yorkers living in more than 200 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments by the end of 2023. NYC's Office of Technology and Innovation officially launched Big Apple Connect in September 2022 to ensure that NYCHA residents have access to free, fast, reliable, and safe internet. NYCHA residents without existing home internet will be able to sign up for Big Apple Connect with either Optimum or Spectrum (service provider will depend on where you live). Existing Optimum and Spectrum customers will have their bills reduced to as low as $0, as monthly internet and basic cable TV charges are eliminated.
Big Apple Connect will provide residents of NYCHA developments a free bundle that consists of in-home, high-speed internet connection, including a modem and router; basic cable TV service, including a cable box and remote control; and common area Wi-Fi hotspots.
Residents of the developments listed on this page are eligible to enroll in Big Apple Connect today. More developments will be added throughout 2023.
Learn more here.
Additional Resources and Information
High School Admissions Details and Timeline
High school applications are open as of October 12. All applications are due on December 1. Applicants can include up to 12 high schools on their application, in addition to Specialized High Schools which require a separate application and testing process. Below are links to the 3 pathways to high school admissions:
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Submit a high school application.
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Optional: Apply to the eight testing Specialized High Schools.
- Registration to take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) will open on October 6 and close at 11:59pm on November 4.
- SHSAT testing will take place for most DOE eighth graders on November 17 at their school during the school day. Ninth graders, and eighth graders at non-DOE schools (charter, private, and parochial schools), students will test at central sites on a weekend date. Date and time will be listed on all SHSAT tickets.
- Optional: Apply to LaGuardia High School.
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Auditions for this school will be conducted virtually. To learn more about audition requirements, visit schools.nyc.gov/HSAuditions.
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Start exploring high school options using the public MySchools.nyc high school directory.
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Attend virtual information sessions on high school admissions on October 18, 3 pm-4 pm. Join at: https://bit.ly/2022FallHSEvents
- passcode: 123456#
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Read more about each pathway and watch the video series on the DOE website: schools.nyc.gov/High and schools.nyc.gov/SHS.
Questions? email HSEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov
Those who are unable to join the live event on October 18 can visit schools.nyc.gov/High. A captioned recording will be available on the website later this fall.
Racial Justice Ballot Proposals – Seeking Volunteers
This Election Day, when New Yorkers vote they will be asked to vote on three ballot measures that would make important changes to New York City’s Charter and the way that government works, with the purpose of laying a foundation for achieving racial equity.
Formed in 2021, the New York City Racial Justice Commission (RJC) was tasked with examining structural racism within NYC. The RJC examined the City’s Charter to identify structural barriers facing Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and all People of Color in NYC. Based on community input, the Commission produced an extensive report and put forward 3 ballot measures, all geared towards rooting out systemic racism. New Yorkers will vote on these proposed changes to the City’s Charter in the November 2022 election. Learn more here.
With the election quickly approaching, volunteers are needed to participate in a non-partisan effort to educate New Yorkers about the ballot measures and encourage everyone to vote on November 8th. Those interested in volunteering with the NYC Racial Justice Commission can register here.
Building Bridges 2022
DYCD and other NYC agencies are hosting information sessions for small, emerging nonprofits that are interested in learning how to apply for NYC funding.
The final session will be held:
- Wednesday, December 7, 10am - 11:30am (shareable flyer)
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
Learn more and register here.
STRIVE Workforce Development
STRIVE is a national workforce development leader that for 38 years has successfully provided services to populations facing significant employment barriers. They are an HRA-approved training provider offering trainings in Green Construction and Healthcare and Office Operations. STRIVE has three programs, Career Path, Future Leaders and Fresh Start. They currently offer ZOOM information sessions for candidates who may qualify or are interested Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and offer in-Person information sessions are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Learn more at this shareable flyer and access their website here.
DYCD’s 2022 Community Needs Assessment (CNA)
The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) is a stakeholder engagement process through which the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) collects feedback from community members in Neighborhood Development Areas (NDA) about the programs and services needed in their community. DYCD and Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NAB) use the feedback to develop program priorities and allocate federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds.
DYCD collects and uses data to inform program design and assess program success after CSBG funds are allocated as part of a continuous quality improvement process. NAB members, DYCD staff, and volunteers solicit feedback from community members through surveys, interviews, hearings, and other feedback collection methods.
The City has created a flyer and media tool kit to help raise awareness and increase involvement. The flyer can be found here, and the media toolkit can be found here.
The online survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022CNANYC.
Below is a list of upcoming public hearings:
Greenpoint / Williamsburg
17-Oct, 6:30-8PM
El Puente, 211 South 4th Street Brooklyn, NY 11211
Bushwick
18-Oct, 6-8PM
Hope Gardens Community Center, 422 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11221
Bensonhurst
20-Oct, 6-8PM
Bensonhurst Rehab Center, 1740 84th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214
Morningside Hts. / Manhattanville
25-Oct, 6-8PM
Manhattanville Cornerstone Community Center, 530 West 133 Street Manhattan, NY 10027
Central Harlem
26-Oct, 6:30-8PM
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, 231 West 124th Street, 2nd Floor, Lecture Hall 2, New York, NY 10027
Sunset Park
3-Nov, 6-8PM
Brooklyn 7 Community Board Office, 4201 4 Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232 Entrance is on 43rd &4 Avenue
November 8 General Election
The general election is Tuesday, November 8, and early voting will take place from October 29 through November 6. The Absentee Portal is currently open. New Yorkers that need an absentee ballot for the election can request one online at https://nycabsentee.com/absentee, and then track the absentee ballot here.
New York State ABLE
State Comptroller DiNapoli administers the NYS Achieving a Better Life Experience (NY ABLE) program which allows eligible New Yorkers with disabilities to save for qualified short-term and long-term disability-related expenses on a tax-free basis while also keeping Medicaid, SSI and other government benefits. Disability-related expenses are costly and can make it hard to save for long-term financial security; NY ABLE can help. 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
Polio Information
In August 2022, health officials found poliovirus in NYC sewage samples. This followed a case of paralytic polio identified in Rockland County in July. Officials are investigating the positive case and potential ongoing spread of the virus in several upstate counties and the NYC area. There have not yet been any identified cases in the city.
The most important way for children and adults to protect themselves from polio is to get vaccinated right away, if they have not received all recommended polio vaccine doses. New Yorkers who have questions or need to be vaccinated should contact their health care provider or their child's Pediatrician. Those who do not have a primary care physician for them or their child can call 844-692-4692 for help finding one. Make an appointment for children age 4 and above here.
For additional information about polio and the polio vaccine, please visit the following websites:
New 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.
Vaccine Booster 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
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.
Updated COVID-19 Guidance for NYC Public Schools
The NYC Department of Education (DOE) has released the much-anticipated COVID-19 guidance for NYC public schools, which aligns with the updated CDC guidance. Please visit the following NYC DOE website to view the guidance: NYC Department of Education (DOE) Fall 2022 COVID-19 Guidance
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.
The Test & Treat Corps also announced on Aug. 1 the expansion of the country’s first-ever mobile “Test to Treat” program to over 30 units, including units that will focus on providing COVID-related care to homeless New Yorkers.
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.
Free At-home COVID-19 Tests for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
The Biden-Harris Administration has launched a new initiative to expand the availability of at-home tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. The tests work with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone/tablet app to provide users with audible instructions, and audible test results. Read more about the tests.
Although the program that has provided free standard COVID-19 tests will be suspended on Sept. 2, this does NOT apply to the tests for people who are blind or have low vision. Orders will be accepted while supplies last.
People will now receive 12 test kits with each order. In addition, anyone who is blind or who has low vision is now encouraged to order the more-accessible tests.
Individuals who placed an order before July 7 and received only two tests may place another order now to receive 12 additional tests.
How to get the tests:
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Order online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
- Each order will include two rapid-antigen tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision.
- Orders will ship free, while supplies last.
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 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, 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
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