August 23, 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. To be added to the invitations for the weekly briefing calls or to the distribution list for this weekly update, please send an email request to dssoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates
As of August 17, indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment establishments are requiring proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter. To enter one of these establishments, individuals will need to show proof of vaccination. Valid forms of proof of vaccination include the CDC card, NYS Excelsior pass, NYC COVID Safe App, OR any other vaccine record.
Enforcement of these requirements goes into effect on September 13, 2021. This applies to New Yorkers ages 12 and older including customers, workers, and patrons.
The CDC now recommends that some persons who are immunocompromised receive three doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, rather than the standard two-dose regimen. This applies to people 12 and older who have a condition or are taking medications or treatments that moderately or severely weaken their immune system, and who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
New Yorkers receiving a third dose will be asked to attest to their qualifying medical condition. No other documentation will be required. Additional vaccine doses are not recommended for any other group at this time.
The third does is now available at all City-run vaccination sites, except H+H facilities, which will have 3rd doses available in the coming days.
The City has created a vaccine fact sheet which can be found here.
As a reminder, New York City will pay $100 to anyone who goes to a city-run vaccination site for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The money will be issued in pre-paid debit cards that can either be emailed to recipients in digital form or mailed in physical form to them. To learn more go to nyc.gov/vaccineincentives. Vaccine incentives are not considered in budgeting for HRA-administered benefits.
NYC continues to offer an incentive to community and faith-based organizations to help get people vaccinated by awarding $100 for each referral for each first dose at a City-run site. When an individual makes an appointment ahead of time or arrives for a walk-in vaccination, they can identify which community organization referred them to get vaccinated. Once they receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the referral organization will be credited $100 after the program ends. Organizations can earn up to $20,000 each. Interested organizations must sign up at nyc.gov/vaccinereferralbonus.
NYC Mobile Vaccine Buses continue to provide vaccines in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here. Walk-ups are welcome and you can also book in advance through the Vax4NYC website.
As a reminder, New Yorkers ages 12 years and older can continue to receive 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 vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
Vaccination and Testing Apps
New Yorkers can meet vaccine and/or testing requirements by carrying their paper vaccination card with them or scanning and storing it in one of two authorized mobile apps - Excelsior Pass Wallet and NYC Covid Safe.
The Excelsior Pass Wallet, developed for New York State, allows an individual to find and store their proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. The app will only work for people who have been vaccinated in New York, as it confirms the vaccination information against city or state records. The app, called NYS Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
The NYC Covid Safe app doesn’t connect directly to vaccine records. The app allows a person to upload a vaccine card and/or a recent COVID test. The vaccine card will stay on the app unless removed, but test results will disappear from the app after seven days. The app is also available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
COVID-19 Testing
Free in-home COVID PCR testing is now available for all immunocompromised New Yorkers and people 65+. Call 929-298-9400 to schedule an appointment.
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.
Eviction Protections – Update
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a portion of the NYS Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Protection Act (EEFPA) was unlawful. Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, many eviction protections for NYC tenants remain in effect. The Supreme Court’s decision means that submitting a NYS hardship declaration has no legal effect. As a result, eviction cases in which a tenant submitted a Hardship Declaration can be scheduled for appearance in Housing Court before August 31.
However, under NYS law:
A tenant cannot be legally evicted without having a court proceeding (including a scheduled court conference) and only after an order by a judge of the Housing Court.
- Tenants whose eviction cases are scheduled for appearance in Housing Court have access to free legal services, regardless of ZIP code, under NYC’s right-to-counsel law. Tenants can access free legal services by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline or by calling Housing Court Answers at (718) 557-1379, or they can receive access to free legal services at their first scheduled court appearance.
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Tenants who file an application for rent assistance with the NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will have their eviction case stayed (paused) until their application is reviewed and decided by NYS. Additional protections in eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent will apply to tenants whose applications are approved, and landlords who accept ERAP payments are also restricted from evicting for an expired lease or holdover for a year after the first ERAP payment.
- Tenants who can prove that they had financial hardship during the State COVID-19 emergency period (March 7, 2020 to June 24, 2021) may have a defense in court to eviction for non-payment of rent owed during that period, under the NYS Tenant Safe Harbor Act.
- Tenants who qualify for protection under the federal CDC eviction moratorium and submit the required declaration are currently protected under that law (scheduled to expire on October 3, 2021).
In addition, following the Supreme Court’s ruling the NYS Office of Court Administration (OCA) issued two statewide administrative orders governing residential eviction proceedings, requiring landlords with pending eviction cases to inform the court about the status of emergency rental assistance applications for their tenants, and clarifying when and how the Housing Court can schedule eviction cases for conference in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Tenants with questions about their protections from eviction 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, call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline, or visit HRA’s Office of Civil Justice online at www.nyc.gov/civiljustice.
Eviction Moratorium Ruling – Impact on FHEPS
We are currently operating under an OTDA waiver which allows us to accept a Hardship Declaration Form for State FHEPS applications in lieu of the OTDA eviction case requirement. That waiver remains in effect and has not ended because of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Protection Act (EEFPA). In line with the State waiver, CityFHEPS is also operating under the same conditions where a court action is not required for CityFHEPS eligibility.
State OTDA Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Updates
As a reminder, as required by the State, all clients must have applied for and received a State determination on ERAP before rental arrears can be paid as a One-Shot-Deal or with CityFHEPS.
Please continue to encourage those who may be eligible to apply, and please remember that help is available for landlords and tenants across the City through a network of community-based organizations: https://nyc.gov/erap. Questions can also be answered via the State’s ERAP call center: 844-NY1RENT (844-691-7368) or the hearing-impaired TTY phone number: 1-833-843-8829.
ERAP payments are not countable as income or as a resource for Cash Assistance, SNAP, or HEAP eligibility or for budgeting purposes. For recipients who are granted ERAP benefits for prospective (future) rent, these payments will cover the difference between the Cash Assistance Shelter Allowance grant and the monthly shelter cost.
Tenant Requirement to Provide ERAP Information when Their Landlord Applies
Either a landlord or tenant may initiate an ERAP application. All OTDA ERAP applications require documentation from both the landlord and tenant to be deemed complete and to be reviewed for payment of arrears and other expenses. As such, when a landlord files an ERAP application, tenants are required to provide requisite information to complete the application.
Utility Shutoff Moratorium
As a reminder, the New York State Utility Shutoff Moratorium remains in effect through December 21, 2021.
City Advertising and Social Media Campaign to Promote the State OTDA ERAP Program
As promised on the community call last week, below is an outline of the City’s social media and advertising campaign to publicize the OTDA ERAP program:
Phase One - June
- Social Media – geo-targeted ads and boosted posts to the 33 neighborhoods most impacted by COVID
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Twitter
- HRA mailing to over 1 million individuals, including Cash Assistance/SNAP clients and cases prioritized in Housing Court
- Mailing to small landlords
- Mailing to community-based organizations
Phase Two – July
- Community & Ethnic Newspapers – 5-month run in 11 languages
- Television
- NY1 (17 weeks)
- News 12 – Bronx, Brooklyn – (12 weeks)
- NYC Media
- TaxiTV
- LinkNYC
- NYC TV Channels
- Posters in HRA Centers and DV Shelters
Phase Three – August
- Bus Shelters – multiple shelters in each neighborhood and City Center including 33 zip codes most impacted by COVID
- Radio - mainstream stations and as well as Spanish, Russian and Chinese
Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants – Resource Guides
The Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants has created resource guides for tenants and residential property owners to help those struggling as a result of financial hardship caused by the pandemic.
Linked here is a Resource Guide for Residential Owners. The guide summarizes programs through which owners can access rental arrears, foreclosure protections, loans, and individualized assistance.
The Tenant Flyer provides useful information for tenants who may be struggling to pay rent or facing eviction. The flyer can be found online here.
SNAP Increase
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, a set of guidelines which are used to calculate the level of SNAP benefits. USDA conducted a review of the Thrifty Food Plan based on surveys and interviews with recipients as well as updated dietary recommendations and food costs. The resulting changes represent the first time the purchasing power of the plan has updated since it was first introduced in 1975. This is not a temporary increase during the pandemic. Every recipient of SNAP benefits will receive the increased amounts indefinitely, with average benefits rising more than 25 percent from pre-pandemic levels. The increase raises the maximum allotment for a family of four to $835 and the minimum allotment to $20.
Since March 2020, minimum and maximum SNAP benefits have been supplemented with emergency allotments each month, for households that did not receive the maximum allotment for their household size. Beginning in January 2021, the maximum SNAP benefit amount increased by 15%. Beginning in April of 2021, all SNAP households received at least a $95 emergency allotment. These temporary increases and emergency allotments have been effective on a month-to-month basis through September 30, 2021. The new permanent increased SNAP benefits will take effect on October 1, 2021.
SNAP Emergency Allotment
As it has in previous months, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is issuing an emergency SNAP supplement to households who were issued SNAP benefits for August 2021. The emergency allotment will be the maximum allotment for household size or $95, whichever is greater. Further information is available here. 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/.
Child Tax Credit (CTC) Resources
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) can help families access up to $3,600 per child between July 15, 2021 and the end of tax season in 2022. Families who file taxes will receive the credit automatically. In NYC, up to 400,000 children are in families who are not currently tax filers, and these families need to take action to benefit from the Child Tax Credit.
Almost anyone with one or more dependent children under 18 is eligible, even those with no income, and claiming the credit does not affect other benefits.
The advance payments will be up to 50% of a filer’s total CTC split into equal monthly payments – up to $300 per month for each qualifying child under the age of 6 and up to $250 per month for each qualifying child between the ages of 6 and 17 for those who start receiving the advance payments in July. Filers will receive the remaining 50% when they file their tax year 2021 return in 2022, as either part of their refund or to reduce any taxes owed.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) just launched brand new tax prep sites and developed a number of materials to provide information and support in navigating the CTC. Resources include:
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A recording of their Child Tax Credit training that can be accessed at this link using the password 2021ChildTaxCredit.
The three most impactful things organizations can do to help clients access the Child Tax Credit are:
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Help clients make appointments for tax filing (this can be done at nyc.gov/taxprep).
- Filing taxes helps clients access both the CTC and many other resources available via tax filing. This is the best way to help clients access the most in terms of direct cash payments, and other government-funded or provided resources.
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There are options for in-person or virtual tax prep appointments, drop-off, and online self-prep with help. If in-person or drop-off service is needed, or for services in languages other than English, or for assistance applying for an ITIN, please help clients find a location on this map and call for an appointment.
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Clients need ID, SSN/ITIN, and W2/income statements to file taxes. A full checklist of required documents is available at nyc.gov/taxprep.
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Direct clients to the NYC Free Tax Prep website at nyc.gov/taxprep.
- NYC’s Tax Prep website points clients to several resources, including in-person and virtual tax filing services, and the Child Tax Credit non-filer portal.
Child Tax Credit Funds Garnishment
Overdue taxes or other Federal or State Debts:
The IRS has stated that Advance CTC payments that families receive between July and December will not be used as offsets for federal taxes owed in previous years.
However, the remaining 50% of the CTC that families will receive when they file their 2021 tax return (in 2022) can be used as an offset for federal taxes owed in previous years.
Child Support:
The IRS has stated that CTC funds are not subject to garnishment for child support.
Private Debts:
The IRS has stated that CTC funds are not federally protected from garnishment for private debts. However, New York passed a law in May 2021 (S.5923-A/A.6617-A) that prevents private garnishment of all pandemic-related stimulus or tax credit funds. New Yorkers are protected under this law and their CTC funds cannot be garnished for private debts.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ) Update
The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has announced that individuals who have been granted Special Immigrant Juvenile status (SIJs) by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will be considered as Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) for Safety Net Assistance (SNA) eligibility, effective immediately. To be eligible for SIJ status non-citizens must be unmarried, under 21 without legal immigration status, and must have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by at least one parent. Prior to USCIS recognizing an individual as a SIJ, that individual must have a qualifying juvenile court order issued by a state court.
Under this new policy, non-citizens granted SIJs who are otherwise eligible will be eligible to receive SNA, but ineligible for Family Assistance (FA), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because of federal eligibility limitations. In order to demonstrate USCIS SIJs approval, clients may provide the following documents:
- Form I-797, Notice of Action, indicating approval of an I-360 petition for SIJs, or
- Any other authoritative USCIS or government document indicating that a non-citizen is an SIJ.
NYS Department of Labor Updates
On September 5, 2021, several Federal unemployment benefit programs will be expiring across the country, in accordance with federal law.
The Federal benefit programs that will be expiring are:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
- Extended Benefits (EB)
- $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
“Regular” Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits from the NYS Department of Labor will continue to be paid to eligible claimants even though these four Federal programs are ending. To be considered eligible for UI after September 5, 2021, a claimant would need to be unemployed AND be in the first 26 weeks (or 104 effective days) of benefits. Claimants can find their effective days remaining for UI benefits in their online Payment History. Because FPUC is ending, any weeks a claimant is eligible to receive UI benefits after September 5, 2021 will no longer include the additional $300.
Claimants will be contacted by the NYS Department of Labor through emails and text messages to inform them of which program they are currently in and whether they will be eligible to continue receiving benefits after the federal benefit expiration date.
The US Department of Labor (USDOL) has asked States to accept new PUA claims for a period of 30-days after September 5, 2021. The NYS Department of Labor will accept those claims, evaluate for eligibility, and backdate where appropriate, as required by USDOL.
Fair Fares
While Fair Fares offices remain closed due to the pandemic, clients can check eligibility and submit an application online here.
To request a replacement card for a card that is damaged or not working, or to request an immediate refund on an expired card that has money remaining on the card, please mail such cards to:
Fair Fares NYC
PO Box 7099
New York, NY
10008-7099
The following information should be included in the envelope with the returned card:
- First and last name
- Fair Fares Client ID number
- Indicate if there are funds remaining on the card
Organizations can order Fair Fares outreach materials - including palm cards, brochures, and posters through the Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS) website here, after registering on the login page.
HRA Centers Re-opening
HRA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Job Center, and Medicaid locations, which had been consolidated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect clients and staff, have begun reopening to offer in-person service to clients starting in mid-July. However, clients do not have to come into an office for assistance, and we encourage clients to use ACCESS HRA online to manage their Cash Assistance and SNAP cases, receive case information and complete their applications and recertifications.
Please refer to our website for continued updates on open centers.
Hunts Point
845-847 Barretto Street, Bronx
Client Reopening Date*: August 2, 2021
Fordham
2551 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx
Client Reopening Date*: August 9, 2021
Jamaica
165-08 88th Avenue.
Client Reopening Date: August 9, 2021
East End
2322 Third Avenue, Manhattan
Client Reopening Date: August 9, 2021
Chinatown
115 Chrystie St, Manhattan
Client Reopening Date: August 16, 2021
Veterans
25 Chapel Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Client Reopening Date: August 30, 2021
HRA Office of Burial Services Information
The HRA Office of Burial Services (OBS), formerly the Burial Claims Unit, is now open for in-person services and to receive phone calls Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM. The office had previously only been open on Wednesdays due to COVID-19.
In person: 33-28 Northern Blvd, 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101
By phone: 929-252-7731
Clients can find OBS information (including the Application for Burial Allowance
[M-860w] fillable form, brochure, and frequently asked questions [FAQs]) online by:
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Visiting www.nyc.gov/hra
- Clicking on I Need Help
- Selecting Burial Assistance and scrolling through the information on that page.
As a reminder, DSS/HRA issued an emergency rule regarding burial assistance:
- Increasing the burial allowance from $900 to $1,700 and increasing the cap on burial costs from $1,700 to $3,400.
- Extending the timeframe for when you can apply to 120 days from the date of the individual‘s death.
Applications received on or after March 12, 2020 will be considered for the increased burial assistance allowance. All applications received will be reviewed regardless of immigration status. Clients can submit the application and supporting documents to the agency by email at BurialServices@hra.nyc.gov or by fax at 917-639-0476.
Community-wide Conference Call
We appreciate your continued participation on 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.
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
