August 3, 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
Beginning Friday, July 30, 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 learn more go to nyc.gov/vaccineincentives.
In an effort to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers, effective August 16, 2021, City and contracted not-for-profit staff working in congregate settings will be required to provide either one-time proof of a COVID vaccination or a weekly negative test.. In order to protect the community as fully and safely as possible, all City and contracted not-for-profit staff will be required to provide either one-time proof of a COVID vaccination or a weekly negative test starting on September 13, 2021
The City has created a vaccine fact sheet which can be found here.
NYC is offering 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.
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.
Waiver Extension Updates
In line with the federal statutory requirements for continuing public need, OTDA has signed a declaration that will continue to approve COVID-related flexibility waivers and continue issuing the SNAP Emergency Allotment Supplemental benefits.
As we reported previously, the State OTDA has extended the following waivers through close of business on September 30, 2021:
- Allowing Temporary Assistance (TA) eligibility interviews to be conducted by phone*;
- Allowing TA recertification interviews to be conducted by phone*;
- Allowing drug/alcohol and domestic violence screenings to be conducted over the phone*;
- Extending domestic violence waivers;
- Enabling districts with local procedures or other processes that require frequent contact with individuals experiencing homelessness and residing in emergency housing to conduct these contacts via phone, with reduced frequency, as appropriate for the population; and
- Allowing temporary modifications to previously approved Case Supervisor Review (CSR) plans
*Note that starting in October 2021, recent legislation will make permanent the ability to conduct telephonic interviews for Cash Assistance applications and recertifications as well as screenings for drug/alcohol and domestic violence.
We received extensions of the following waivers that were due to expire in July:
- Waiver that provides for OTDA to suppress Income Savings Plan (ISP) notices, and DSS to apply good cause universally for clients who do not contribute to the savings plan through September 30, 2021.
- SNAP partial interview waiver through September 30, 2021.
- Telephonic signature waiver for Cash Assistance and SNAP applications and recertifications conducted over the phone by HRA staff, which can also be used for State FHEPS applications through September 30, 2021.
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)
As a reminder, Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits are administered directly by the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). All questions regarding P-EBT should be directed to the State. Receipt of P-EBT is separate from SNAP and receipt of P-EBT does not preclude clients from applying for SNAP benefits.
State OTDA is providing a P-EBT helpline at 833-452-0096. The helpline is available from 8:30am – 5pm Monday through Friday. Translation services are available. Questions can also be submitted through the State’s contact form regarding P-EBT food benefits. Note that P-EBT benefits are not visible to HRA staff, even for recipients of Cash Assistance or SNAP.
Eligible children currently receiving SNAP or Cash Assistance will have their P-EBT benefits issued to their household’s EBT card. Eligible children currently enrolled in Medicaid who successfully accessed and redeemed their P-EBT benefits for the 2019-20 school year on a NYS Medicaid card will receive their P-EBT benefits for the 2020-21 school year on the same NYS Medicaid card. Eligible children who successfully accessed their food benefits for the 2019-20 school year on a P-EBT Food Benefit card will receive their P-EBT benefits for the 2020-21 school year on the same P-EBT Food Benefit card.
All other eligible children will be mailed a P-EBT Food Benefit card with instructions explaining how to activate the card and access the food benefits.
If the NYS Medicaid card or P-EBT Food Benefit card used to access P-EBT benefits for the 2019-20 school year has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you will need to order a replacement card. You can order a replacement P-EBT Food Benefit card by calling 1-888-328-6399.
Child Tax Credit 2021 – Advance Payments
The City has created flyers in multiple languages to help spread the word about accessing the Child Tax Credit. We encourage use of these flyers to help clients use available resources to access this important benefit. The flyer in multiple languages and additional helpful information can be found here.
As a reminder, in July, the IRS begins monthly distributions of the advance child tax credit payments to eligible families of up to $300 per child. In June, the IRS sent letters to families notifying them of their eligibility and in July began sending families a second letter with a personalized estimate of their monthly payment.
The American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit for tax year 2021 from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17. Families can get half of the fully refundable credit as monthly payments in 2021, and the other half as a refund in 2022.
Additionally, households can claim up to $500 for an 18-year-old, as well as for full-time college students ages 19 to 24. These payments are not available in advance and will be distributed with a 2021 tax refund.
The Child Tax Credit Update Portal currently allows eligible recipients to opt out of the advance monthly payments in order to receive a lump sum in 2022, and to add their direct deposit information.
We want to encourage all New Yorkers to use the available resources to ensure receipt of these Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments. NYC Free Tax Prep can help those who need to file in order to receive the CTC. The fastest way to receive the advance payment is by direct deposit to a bank account. Individuals can visit the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers for help setting up a bank account.
Please use the fact sheet which can be found here to help spread the word about the Child Tax Credit.
Income limits
Full credit
Single filer - up to $75,000
Head of household - up to $112,500
Married filing jointly - up to $150,000
Phased out credit (phases out by $50 for every $1,000 of income over the thresholds)
Single filer - $75,000 to $240,000
Head of household - $112,500 - $240,000
Married filing jointly - $150,000 - $440,000
For married couples filing jointly, at least one spouse needs to have a Social Security number or an ITIN. Unmarried parents who share custody of a child cannot both receive the tax credit.
Qualifying children
For tax year 2021, a qualifying child is an individual who does not turn 18 before January 1, 2022, who lives with the taxpayer for more than one-half of the tax year, who does not provide more than one-half of their own financial support during the tax year, who is properly claimed as the taxpayer’s dependent, and who has a social security number.
How to receive the advanced tax credit
If an individual has filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if they signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, they will get this tax relief automatically and do not need to sign up or take any action.
- The 80% of people who get their refunds from the IRS through direct deposit will get these payments in their bank account on the 15th of every month until the end of 2021.
- People who don’t use direct deposit will receive their payment by mail around the same time.
Those who haven't yet filed 2019 or 2020 taxes or completed the non-filer tool need to do so in order to receive the Child Tax Credit. If an individual signs up for monthly payments later in the year, their remaining monthly payments will be larger to reflect the payments they missed. If they do not sign-up in time for monthly payments in 2021, they will receive the full benefit when they file their tax return in 2022.
Child Tax Credit – Advance Payment Impact on Eligibility
For ongoing Cash Assistance and SNAP, the advanced monthly child tax credit payments are exempt as income in the month received and are excluded as a resource for 12 months from the date of receipt.
For Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF), Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA), and Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA), available income tax refunds and credits which are determined exempt resources must be used to alleviate any emergency before the use of emergency assistance.
For HEAP, the advanced monthly child tax credit payments are excluded when determining eligibility for Regular HEAP, Emergency, Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR), Heating Equipment Clean and Tune (C&T), and Cooling Assistance benefits. Any remaining balance from monthly child tax credit payments are not considered a liquid resource for the Emergency and HERR benefit components.
SNAP Emergency Allotment
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 August through November 2021. 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/.
IVRS Recertification Extension
We’ve confirmed with State OTDA that SNAP cases eligible to recertify using IVRS starting with July have had their certification period extended and this will continue for cases expiring through October. These cases will be extended for six months. Some clients may still receive recertification notices during this time so clients should be informed that these notices were issued in error due to the timing of the notices being released by the State. As a reminder, IVRS is available to households where:
- All adults are age 55 or older; or
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All adults have a disability; AND
- There is no earned income in the household
Emergency Rental Assistance Application Update
The State has confirmed that there are streamlining changes being implemented for the ERAP application process. These details will be shared as soon as we receive them from the State.
CityFHEPS Rate Increase
Rent levels for CityFHEPS clients are scheduled to be increased. The proposed rule to implement the increase and other changes is subject to notice and comment and the proposed rule can be found here.
CityFHEPS Employment Requirement
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Families who currently have a CityFHEPS shopping letter due to employment status will be able to use their letters to find an apartment, regardless of loss of employment or reduction in hours.
- Families who were working and would otherwise have become eligible for CityFHEPS, but for the economic disruption caused by COVID-19, can also receive a shopping letter by submitting their unemployment information to HRA and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS).
HRA will automatically reissue new CityFHEPS shopping letters to people in shelter who were previously eligible as their current letters expire.
Rental Assistance Finder
The federal government continues to enact an all-of-government effort to ensure renters and landlords are able to take advantage of the relief available to them on a local level.
As part of that effort, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has developed a new tool, the Rental Assistance Finder that allows renters and landlords to find rental assistance programs in their area.
Safety Precautions in Shelter
As we return shelter residents to a congregate setting, we are working to ensure safety for all and maintaining protocols we have had in place throughout the pandemic.
Vaccinations:
Since vaccines have been made available, we have worked hard to ensure access for our clients experiencing homelessness by making it as easy as possible to get vaccinated. First, we established a dedicated vaccine site for clients, then we implemented a proactive, mobile vaccine program based on our successful COVID-19 testing program, which together continue delivering free tests and free vaccines directly to shelters where our clients reside, keeping COVID rates low and saving lives.
Throughout the DSS-DHS system, both through our dedicated hub and our mobile vaccine efforts, we have administered nearly 20,750 vaccine doses to DSS-DHS clients (primarily single adults) and staff so far – with more than 14,000 individual New Yorkers now fully vaccinated with effective vaccines.
With direct access programs like these, educational efforts to address vaccine hesitancy, incentive initiatives to encourage additional uptake, and more, we remain committed to providing every opportunity to get vaccinated for clients and essential frontline staff.
Enhancing medical oversight to codify lessons learned and ensure consistent policies and procedures:
DHS worked with H&H to develop a coordinated clinical approach to isolation and non-isolation locations, with a focus on congregate shelters, ensuring appropriate levels of care, codifying the effective strategies/recommendations this Agency used to successfully protect clients and save lives. As part of that process, H+H reviewed all protocols at DHS sites and has continually evaluated existing clinical models for use at DHS isolation sites so that we can continue to adapt, adjust, and improve as needed.
Systemwide testing, tracing, and treating to begin bringing cases down:
We are proactively offering testing to all our adult clients, going systematically shelter by shelter, to ensure we continue our progress and prevent further cases and we’re delivering this resource directly to where our clients are, providing easy-to-access, free testing on-site so that they do not have to travel to designated testing locations.
Protective and preventive resources:
All front-line DHS and HRA staff, including security staff and HRA client-facing centers, have been and will continue to be provided with PPE, such as masks, which we continue to distribute as needed, and we have sufficient supply to make masks/face-coverings available to any clients who needs a mask as well. We also conduct screening at the front door (our intake centers) 24/7, on top of existing medical clinic capacity at intake centers, and all of our isolation locations are staffed 24/7 with clinical/nursing staff. We also distributed thermometers to shelters to check temperatures for anyone who expresses they are experiencing symptoms, and to isolation locations to check temperatures for determining when symptomatic clients are without fever, so we are able to discharge.
Per DOHMH guidance, shelters are:
- Comprehensively cleaned,
- Actively monitoring clients and staff for anyone who expresses they may be experiencing symptoms,
- Coordinating in lockstep to provide care for anyone who may feel sick.
COVID Alert NY App
The City has created materials to help promote the use of the app. Links to these materials that can be printed and shared can be found on our website:
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
*Please note that as our teams continue to implement our reopening plan, while ensuring the safety of our staff and client any changes will be immediately communicated.
Morrisania Medicaid Office Closure
The Morrisania Medicaid Office, located at 1225 Gerard Avenue in the Bronx, will close permanently on August 13th. This Medicaid Office has already been closed to the public due to the pandemic. The Rider Medicaid Office, located at 305 Rider Avenue will continue to be open to the public, and the Fordham Medicaid Office, located at 2541 Bainbridge Avenue, is scheduled to reopen on August 9th.
HRA’s Medicaid clients who have questions about their case or their Medicaid card or who wish to report case changes, such as change of address, can call the HRA Medicaid Helpline at 1-888-692-6116. Pursuant to a federal waiver, Medicaid easements allowing for applicant attestation of all elements of eligibility except identity and immigration status are in place until the end of the year and Medicaid renewals due between now and September 30, 2021 will automatically be renewed.
Federal Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) Time Limit Waiver Extended
The federal ABAWD (Able-bodied Adult Without Dependents) time limit is a statute that limits an ABAWD client to 3 months of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in a 36-month period unless the individual is working or participating in certain employment and training activities. USDA has approved OTDA’s request to waive the ABAWD time limit in all areas of the State for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.
Therefore, ABAWD clients will continue to not be subject to the ABAWD requirements through September 30, 2022. New York State’s waiver of the ABAWD time limit was previously due to expire after September 30, 2021.
- Individuals who are not meeting ABAWD rules will still be eligible for SNAP, and anyone who lost eligibility already can regain it without meeting the ABAWD requirements.
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
