April 26, 2021


Dear Community Partner:
 
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Following our standing weekly call, we continue to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications which can be found on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page
 
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates
 
New Yorkers ages 16 years and older can now get their COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment at select sites across NYC. Sites can be found here. New Yorkers are required to provide proof of age and residency in order to receive the vaccine. Additional information can be found here.
 
While walk-up vaccines are available at City operated vaccination sites, appointments can still be made by using https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ (not accessible with Internet Explorer) to find locations and schedule an appointment.
 
Use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine has resumed as of April 23, 2021 and with it vaccinations at mobile buses and vans, pop-up sites at houses of worship and other locations that are reliant on the single-dose vaccine. Some providers will first exhaust their allocation of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, which were used while the Johnson & Johnson evaluation was underway. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will continue its extensive outreach to providers and clinicians to ensure they are aware of the new federal guidance

Beginning on Friday, April 23, the Museum of Natural History will begin providing 1,000 vaccines daily. The site will operate Tuesday – Friday from 8 am – 6 pm. 
 
The in-home vaccination program has resumed. New Yorkers interested in receiving an in-home vaccination can sign up at nyc.gov/homebound or by calling 1-877-VAX-4-NYC.

Assistance for New Yorkers Who Test Positive for COVID
 
NYC Health & Hospitals' Test & Trace Corps is providing special services for New Yorkers who test positive and their close contacts:

  • “Take Care” packages which include enough personal protective equipment for a household of three to quarantine for 10-14 days. Learn more here.
  • A free hotel room for up to 14 days if quarantining at home is impossible. Click here to learn more or call (212) 268-4319 to book a room.
  • Free dog walking and other pet drop-in services to ensure New Yorkers can remain safely separated in a hotel or at home. Learn more here.

COVID-19 Testing
 
Free testing continues to be available throughout the five boroughs. A schedule of mobile testing locations throughout the City as well as detailed information on locations and types of testing offered at regular testing sites (including rapid testing and antibody tests) can be found here. 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.
 
The Test-and-Trace corps offers the COVID 19 Wait Times Dashboard, which displays estimated wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. This wait time information is updated by site staff every two hours.
 
COVID-19 Resources
 
COVID-19 + Vaccines: A South Asian Community Conversation
Join the NYC Health Commissioner, the Senior Adviser for Public Health in the New York City Office of the Mayor, and the Senior Liaison for the City of New York’s Community Affairs Unit for an intimate conversation around keeping the South Asian community safe during the pandemic. 

Wednesday, April 28 
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
Home Energy Assistance (HEAP)
 
As we reported last week, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced an additional $12M in funding to help eligible New Yorkers facing home heating emergencies. Households can now apply for a third emergency HEAP benefit, even if they have already received a HEAP benefit this season. The deadline for HEAP applications has been extended from April 30 until August 31, 2021, or until funds allocated to this program have been exhausted. The State announcement can be found here. Additional information can be found here.

Excluded Workers Fund
 
As we reported last week, the recently passed state budget included the Excluded Workers Fund, a $2.1 billion program designed to provide cash payments to workers who suffered income loss due to COVID-19 but were ineligible for unemployment and other federal assistance such as stimulus payments due to their immigration status or other factors. The program will allow applicants to receive either $15,600 or $3,200 depending on which of the criteria the applicant is able to satisfy. Further program details, including how to apply, will be shared when they become available.  
 
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Hotline
 
We have received several reports that people are unable to connect to the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance hotline. FEMA is aware of the issue, which is due to an overwhelming call volume. They have posted information on their website asking individuals to call back and with a reminder that there is no deadline to apply for the program. More information can be found here.
 
FEMA also indicates that they have received reports of scammers who reach out to individuals offering to enroll them for FEMA Funeral Assistance. FEMA is not sending out such notifications and is not reaching out to any individuals who have not registered with FEMA for assistance.
 
Federal Eviction Moratorium For Most Tenants Effective Through June 30, 2021 
 
Under a federal order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a moratorium on residential evictions was extended through June 30, 2021 which protects tenants facing eviction for nonpayment of rent who provide their landlord with a declaration (which can be found here) that they meet one or more of the following conditions:
 
  • They received a stimulus check (Economic Impact Payment) in 2020 or 2021; or
  • They were not required to report any income to the IRS in 2020; or
  • In 2020 or 2021, they earned (or expect to earn) less than $99,000 as an individual or less than $198,000 as a joint tax filer. Tenants who have received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are likely to have earned under these amounts.
 
To be protected under the CDC moratorium, a tenant must also declare that they cannot pay their full rent because their household income has gone down substantially, they have been laid off from work, their work hours or wages have been cut, or they have extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.
 
The CDC Order does not apply where state or local laws provide the same or greater protections against eviction, as they do in New York State until at least May 1, 2021 for tenants who submit a NYS Hardship Declaration (for more information about the state Hardship Declaration, please see below). If the NYS protections are not extended beyond May 1, then tenants who are eligible for protection under the CDC eviction moratorium and who submit a completed CDC declaration to their landlord will be protected from eviction until at least June 30, 2021.
 
Tenants with questions about their protections from eviction under the CDC order or New York State eviction protections can get free legal advice and other assistance through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice. For more information on how to access free legal services for tenants in NYC, you may contact the Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline, or visit HRA’s Office of Civil Justice at www.nyc.gov/civiljustice.
 
NYS Eviction Protections for Tenants – Hardship Declaration Effective Until May 1, 2021
 
Under New York State law, tenants and occupants who have suffered financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and were unable to pay some or all of their rent, or for whom moving from their home during the pandemic would pose a hardship can submit a Hardship Declaration and be protected from eviction until at least May 1, 2021. Tenants and occupants who submit a completed NYS Hardship Declaration to their landlord and/or the Housing Court cannot be evicted from a primary residence pursuant to a pending eviction case, and the landlord may not file a new case to evict until at least May 1, 2021, unless the tenant or occupant is causing a nuisance condition for other tenants or is a danger to the safety of others. Hardship Declaration forms are available to download in 20 languages on the New York State Courts website at http://nycourts.gov/EEFPA.
 
Tenants with questions about their protections from eviction under New York State law can get free legal advice and other assistance through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice. For more information on how to access free legal services for tenants in NYC, you may contact the Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline, or visit HRA’s Office of Civil Justice at www.nyc.gov/civiljustice.
 
Immigration Policy Updates
 
The Biden Administration recently announced that they would not be increasing the cap of refugee admissions for this Fiscal Year from the historic low set by the Trump Administration of 15,000. Prior to this announcement, President Biden signed an executive order which will increase the refugee cap to 125,000 in Fiscal Year 2022.
 
In an effort to shift to more inclusive and dignified language, on April 19, 2021, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sent memos directing their staff to stop using the terms "alien" and instructing them instead to use "noncitizen," "migrant," "undocumented noncitizen," or "undocumented individual."

American Rescue Plan Payments Impact on Fair Fares Eligibility

As we reported previously, monies received through the following Rescue Plan provisions are excluded from consideration for HEAP, SNAP, and Cash Assistance benefits, and Medicaid. (including receipt of payments retroactively as a lump sum):

  • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Benefits (FPUC). Regular unemployment (UIB) is subject to consideration for benefits eligibility.
  •  Recovery Rebates for Individuals ($1,400 stimulus payment)
  • Child Tax Credit payments
 
This exemption of funds now also includes the Fair Fares discount.
 
Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund
 
Through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund, $26.6 million is available to support essential workers and first responders in New York by providing reimbursement for out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging and other qualifying expenses that enabled workers to perform their duties during the COVID crisis. Qualifying applicants include first responders, health care, and many multi-industry workers, and up to $1,000 is available per household. Families who earn up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level – or $125,470 for a family of four –- are eligible to apply for the funds to cover expenses. 
 
Applications are open from April 16 through June 15, 2021. Learn more and access the application here.
 
Health Bucks
 
New Yorkers who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free locally-grown fruits and vegetables through the Health Bucks program. Health Bucks are $2 coupons redeemable for fresh fruits and vegetables at all NYC farmers markets. The New SNAP incentive level for 2021 is: For every $2 spent in SNAP benefits at NYC farmers markets, shoppers get $2 in Health Bucks up to $10 per day all year round. To find a NYC farmers market by zip code, text “sogood” to 877-877.  
 
Get the Good Stuff
 
New Yorkers who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free fruits, vegetables and beans through Get the Good Stuff, at certain supermarkets in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. For every $1 spent in SNAP benefits on eligible fruits, vegetables and beans, shoppers get $1 added to a pink Get the Good Stuff card (up to $10 per day) to spend on their next purchase of eligible foods including:

  •  Fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs
  • Frozen and canned fruits, vegetables, and beans without added sugar, salt, or fat
  • Dried beans and lentils

Customers with SNAP can enroll in the program by visiting the customer service desk at a participating supermarket. See here for a list of participating supermarkets.
 
A Call to Action: Eliminating Compounded Disparities for People with Disabilities in a Year of COVID-19 (Friday, May 14th from 8:30am-1:30pm)
 
Join AHRC NYC, Pace University, and Georgetown University, along with DSS and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for an online Symposium, featuring presentations and workshops that explore the intersectionality of disability, race, ethnicity, gender identity, culture and the political determinants of health. Featured speakers include, among many others: Daniel E. Dawes, noted author and Executive Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine ; Judy Heumann, international disability advocate, founder of Disabled in Action and star of the 2021 Academy Award nominated film Crip Camp; Lydia X. Z. Brown, disability justice advocate, organizer, educator, attorney, strategist, and writer; Britney Wilson, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Rights and Disability Justice Clinic, New York Law School

Learn more and register here: https://www.ahrcnyc.org/2021-symposium/ 
 
“Pay It Off” Extended Through April – Child Support Debt Reduction – One More Week
 
The Pay It Off Child Support Debt Reduction Program began on March 1 and was originally scheduled to run through March 31 — we have now extended the program through April 30, with one more week to participate. Pay It Off allows noncustodial parents to reduce their child support debt owed to the New York City Department of Social Services (NYC DSS) twice as fast. For this limited time, noncustodial parents can get qualified payments matched dollar for dollar. More information can be found at nyc.gov/payitoff.
 
Community-wide Conference Call

We appreciate your continued participation in our weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information and details about changes we are making in response to the pandemic are being communicated to our clients. Your active engagement is appreciated, and your questions and suggestions help us better understand the needs of those we serve and respond accordingly. 

If you were not able to join our weekly call (usually on Tuesdays), please find an audio recording here and use Covid-19 as the password The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared as well as new developments.

Each week, we will provide all of the information included in each of our prior communications on our website on the COVID-19 Community Updates page. If you would like to reference a specific prior communication, links to each of the prior communications can be found on the community updates page.
 
As a reminder, we have a standing informational call on Tuesdays at 4:00PM. In the event that the date or time of the weekly call needs to change due to extenuating circumstances, a notification is sent out from DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov, in addition to an updated calendar invitation to those who have signed up to join the calls. To be added to this list, please reach out to DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.

Please note that there are several hundred participants on these weekly calls, and as a result they may start a few minutes late to allow as many people to join as possible and hear all the information. In addition, the large number of participants does not allow us to have individual conversations efficiently, which is why we respond to individual inquiries through the chat box. If you have additional questions after the call, please reach out to DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov or the appropriate contact area listed on our COVID 19 Community Updates page.

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is available during these calls as an accommodation for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Please contact oria@dss.nyc.gov at least four hours prior to the call to enable this service.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership in serving New Yorkers in need, particularly now when our clients need us more than ever. If you have any questions or concerns about the changes we have made and are continuing to develop to address the COVID pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.


Sincerely,


Steven Banks
DSS Commissioner
New York City Department of Social Services