July 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

On Wednesday, July 21st, the City announced a COVID Safety Requirement for City health care workers. In order to protect the community as fully and safely as possible, all Health+Hospitals staff and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene clinical staff will be required to provide either one-time proof of COVID vaccination or a weekly negative test, starting August 2nd. 
 
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is offering health experts to join a townhall with community organizations and/or local leaders. They offer presentations from a medical expert on the COVID-19 vaccine and participants will be able to ask questions. Audience sizes of 100+ are preferred. Please visit nyc.gov/vaccinespeakers for more information and to submit a request. 
 
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.
 
City Hall in Your Borough
 
On Tuesday, July 27 the Office of the Mayor in partnership with the Bronx Borough President’s office are holding a City Resource Fair at:
 
Roberto Clemente Plaza
530 Willis Avenue
Bronx
From 12 pm until 4 pm.
 
This is an opportunity to meet with City Commissioners and senior staff to address questions and concerns including quality of life, public health, safety, and much more.
 
To RSVP please email rsvpcau@cityhall.nyc.gov or call 212-346-6302.
 
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 July 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/.
 
 
Waiver Extension Updates
 
State OTDA has confirmed that we will need to continue to submit our requests for SNAP waiver extensions on a monthly basis. OTDA has signed a declaration of continuing public need to meet the federal statutory requirements necessary for them to continue to approve the 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 have requested extensions of the following waivers that are 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..SNAP partial interview waiver.
  • 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.
 
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)
 
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.
 
Department of Labor State Assistance 
 
Legislation to aid people applying for unemployment by providing them with information for housing, food and utility assistance was signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The new law will require the State Department of Labor to provide people filing for unemployment benefits or certifying their claims with additional information on support for mortgage, rental, food and utility bills. The Department's web portal will include additional information on State assistance, including information on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Home Energy Assistance Program as well as federal mortgage relief.
 
Child Tax Credit 2021 – Advance Payments

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. 
 
As a reminder, 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.
 
Learn more about the Child Tax Credit with this IRS Toolkit for Partners.
 
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.

CityFHEPS Employment Requirement 
 
  • 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. 
 
IDNYC
 
IDNYC has opened an additional five (5) enrollment centers across the City, bringing the total number of open enrollment centers to thirteen (13). Applications for new cards or replacement cards require an in-person appointment. Appointments can be made online here. We continue to pause the online application process for new and replacement cards due to limited capacities at our Enrollment Centers. Services at Enrollment Centers are being offered by appointment only, walk-ins cannot be accommodated at this time. 
 
IDNYC has newly reopened at:

  1. DOHMH East Harlem Office, 158 East 115th Street, Room 108, Manhattan
  2. Dept. of Probation Office, 100 Centre Street, 14th Floor Office, Manhattan
  3. HRA’s Manhattan CBIC Office, 12 West 14th Street, 2nd floor, Manhattan
  4. Staten Island Dept. of Finance Office, 350 Saint Marks Place, Staten Island
  5. Manhattan Dept. of Finance Office, 66 John Street, Manhattan
 
Respective hours of operation at these sites, and a full list of open sites, can be found on the IDNYC website here:
 
IDNYC continues to operate long-term pop-up sites at:
 
  1. Henry Street Settlement Center for public enrollments at 269 Henry Street in Manhattan. (limited capacity; by appointment only through September 3, 2021); Operating Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  2. Queen’s Borough President’s Office for public enrollments (limited capacity; by appointment only through August 26, 2021); Operating Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Emergency Broadband Benefit
 
The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) gives a temporary discount on your household’s monthly broadband internet service if you are eligible. Participating broadband providers will apply this discount to your broadband plan.

  • If eligible, your household can receive:
  • Up to $50/month discount on internet plans and equipment rentals. Internet service can be bundled with voice service.
  • A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (you will need to pay a copay between $10 and $50)
  • Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household.
  • Households may be eligible if someone in the household:
  • Lost their job or were furloughed, or
  • Receives SNAP, Medicaid, or other benefits, or
  • Meets income guidelines, or
  • Goes to a school where they receive free or reduced-price lunch and breakfast
  • You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible.
  • If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), you can provide other documents.
  • Applications will be received on a first come, first served basis.
  • The benefit is temporary and will end when funding is exhausted or six months after the federal government declares an end to the pandemic, whichever happens first.
  • Apply online to receive the benefit as soon as possible.
 
Additional information can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.
 
Frequently Asked Questions can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-faq-emergency-broadband-benefit.
 
ACCESS HRA Changes
 
ACCESS HRA released the following new functionality for clients in July 2021:

  • Cash Assistance recipients are now able to request a case closure from the case change or emergency grants request page.
  • Cash Assistance recipients are now able to complete a substance abuse and domestic violence services screening as part of the online Cash Assistance recertification submission through ACCESS HRA. This is new functionality for recertifications only. New Cash Assistance applicants are already able to do this. 
  • Survivors of domestic violence and those who request the security mode on ACCESS HRA can now submit Cash Assistance case changes, emergency grant applications and case closings and no address information will be displayed online.
  • Cash Assistance clients can now enter their utility account number online during an application or recertification.
  • The Benefit Payments page now displays all payments covering the past year rather than by issuance date.
  • For all application types, a new link has been added to the summary PDF and confirmation email that will bring clients to the SNAP and Cash Assistance FAQ pages where they can learn about options for returning required documents.
  • The “Profile” page now allows SNAP, Cash Assistance and Fair Fares NYC clients to update their mailing address to an address that is outside of New York City.
  • The list of spoken languages that a client can select has been updated to include additional language options.

Updates specific to Fair Fares NYC:

  • Fair Fares NYC will now send replacement Fair Fares Metrocards to a General Post Office (GPO) address. 
  • For Fair Fares Metrocards that are lost or stolen within 15 days of the end of the participant’s current enrollment date, the system will now send a message that a new card will not be sent.
  • The Fair Fares NYC residency required documents section has been updated to provide clarity on what types of documentation are required as proof of New York City residency.
 
State Excluded Workers Fund: Subscribe for Updates

The application for the Excluded Workers Fund launches in August. Interested New Yorkers can subscribe to updates and get more information at on.ny.gov/ewf. This $2.1 billion State fund will provide financial relief for New Yorkers state-wide who have suffered income loss during the pandemic and were left out of the various federal relief programs, including unemployment and pandemic benefits.

FEMA Funeral Reimbursement Program
 
State OTDA has determined that applicants for burial assistance must, if they meet the conditions below, explore and apply for the FEMA reimbursement as an available resource. Additionally, if an applicant for or recipient of Temporary Assistance benefits receives FEMA funeral reimbursement and the funds remain available to them, these monies must be considered as a resource in initial or on-going eligibility determination.

Applicants must meet the following conditions to qualify to receive FEMA funded COVID-19 Funeral Assistance:
 
  • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or “qualified alien” as defined by federal law. There is no requirement for the decedent to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or “qualified alien.”
  • FEMA must be able to verify the applicant’s identity.
  • Funeral expenses must be incurred by the applicant after January 20, 2020.
  • A medical examiner, coroner, or other certifier indicated that COVID-19 played a role in the decedent’s death on the death certificate.
  • Applicants may also submit a statement or letter from the death certificate’s certifying official, medical examiner or coroner that attributes the death to COVID-19 for fatalities that occurred between January 20, 2020 through May 16, 2020.
  • The death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
  • No other applicant received Funeral Assistance funds for the same decedent.
 
As a reminder, to apply, individuals are directed to call the dedicated FEMA toll-free phone number at 844-684-6333 (TTY 800-462-7585) to complete a COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application with help from FEMA's representatives. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 9 pm. Multilingual services are available. No online applications are being accepted.
 
For more information, including a listing of what documentation an individual will need to have ready prior to calling, please access the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance FAQ at: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance/faq.
 
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 some 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.

Rockaway
219 Beach 59th Street, Queens
Client Reopening Date*: July 26, 2021

Bushwick/Williamsburg
2 George Street / 95 Evergreen Avenue, Brooklyn
Client Reopening Date*: July 26, 2021

East New York, FSCC Satellite
404 Pine Street, Brooklyn
Client Reopening Date*: July 26, 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.

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.
 
“Find Food Support” Website
 
Find Food Support is a website using a Google Maps tool to help individuals locate sources of free food in their communities. Google partnered with No Kid HungryFoodFinder, and the United States Department of Agriculture to identify more than 90,000 food support sites including food banks, food pantries, and school lunch pick-up locations across all 50 states.  
 
Kinship Caregivers
 
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a law which extends kinship caregiver status to non-parent relatives and family friends who are raising children in New York.
 
New York Public Library Reopening
 
All New York Public Library branches reopened with near-full service on Tuesday, July 6, including seating, unlimited browsing, and computer access.

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. 
 
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