May 10, 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 vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
Participating pharmacies are now offering a second COVID-19 vaccine to individuals who received the first vaccine elsewhere. Participating pharmacies are:
The in-home vaccination program is continuing. Homebound 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:
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“Take Care” packages which include enough personal protective equipment for a household of three to quarantine for 10-14 days. Learn more here.
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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.
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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.
In response to questions received on our weekly community briefing call, we have confirmed that the expansion of SNAP eligibility for students applies to both undergraduate and graduate students.
As a reminder, the Federal Emergency Relief Act temporarily expands the SNAP student eligibility rules by amending the allowable exemptions to the rule in two additional ways:
- A student is eligible if they are eligible to participate in state or federal work-study, regardless of whether the student is actively employed or participating in work-study; and
- Any student that has an “expected family contribution” of $0 may participate in SNAP if otherwise eligible.
Beginning on January 16, 2021, students meeting the expanded criteria above are eligible to receive SNAP benefits. Students must provide verification that they meet one of these new criteria.
These amended federal eligibility qualifications for students will be in effect until 30 days after the COVID–19 federal public health emergency is lifted.
Students granted eligibility under these amended federal qualifications will maintain student eligibility until the next recertification regardless of whether the emergency declaration is lifted at any time during the certification period.
HRA has shared this information with advocates, community providers, and elected officials in our weekly communications and on our weekly call. We have also posted information on our COVID-19 updates page on our website and on the ACCESS HRA homepage.
Information and guidance on the expansion of student eligibility has been included in mandatory training for all SNAP and Cash Assistance staff. HRA has also issued a Policy Bulletin informing all staff on these changes.
This is a temporary further expansion of the student eligibility criteria for all students regardless of the program or school they are enrolled in. However, as we reported in November, student eligibility was also extended for CUNY students participating in career or technical programs. CUNY students are receiving their Student Verification of Enrollment forms directly through their student account. CUNY is reviewing current enrollment status for all students. Those students who satisfy all of the SNAP requirements for a career and technical education exception will receive the Verification form in their student account. The Student Verification of Enrollment form must be submitted as supporting documentation with a SNAP application.
Uninsured individuals can still sign up for health insurance through the New York State of Health website. There are new subsidies included in the American Rescue Plan that make Obamacare more affordable than ever. More information, fact sheets, and the FAQ in various languages can be found on the New York State of Health website.
SNAP, Cash Assistance and Medicaid Overpayment Cases
Billings for recovery of overpayments and repayable grants for SNAP, Cash Assistance and Medicaid remains stayed through July 20, 2021, which is the date of the current extension of the public health emergency. Where we are legally required to continue collection efforts and the case is approaching the Statute of Limitations, HRA is sending a payment request letter. Enforcement actions on judgments remains stayed until July 20, 2021.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Waitlist Lottery
The Section 8 Waitlist Lottery for New York State Homes & Community Renewal's New York City vouchers is opening for applications from May 17th through May 28th, 2021.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) operates a federally funded Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program in New York City. Income eligible applicants are selected to receive a voucher through a waitlist. That voucher provides a subsidy to ensure that recipients do not pay more than 30% of their adjusted gross income towards housing costs.
Applicants will be able to apply using an online portal on HCR’s website during the application period. A call center will be available to assist applicants. HCR will also be initiating an extensive and wide-ranging advertising campaign. Applying does not guarantee a voucher. HCR will select 15,000 households for the waitlist through a lottery. Those selected for the waitlist will be offered a voucher as one becomes available and will be subject to additional eligibility screening. There will be a preference for homeless/at risk households.
Emergency SNAP Allotments
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 May 2021.
As a reminder, starting with the April SNAP benefit, all households, even those receiving the maximum SNAP allotment, began receiving the supplement. Households that previously would have received a supplement of less than $95 will now receive a supplement of at least $95. For households receiving a supplement of greater than $95, this policy change will not affect the amount of the supplement received. For households receiving supplements greater than $95, the supplement will continue to be the difference between the amount the household was issued and the maximum benefit amount for the household size.
This new provision which allows for the supplement to bring the benefit above the maximum allotment is the result of a lawsuit brought in Pennsylvania against the USDA. The plaintiffs in the case argued successfully that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCR) sought to provide an emergency allotment to all SNAP recipients during the fiscal crisis, including those who received the maximum benefit.
As an example, if the maximum allotment for a household is $430 and the household received $370, the supplement would be $95 rather than $60 (as it would have been previously). But if the maximum allotment for the household is $430 and the household received $320, the supplement would remain $110.
Households that received benefits less than the maximum amount based on the size of the household for the month of May will receive the supplement, even if the case is now closed. Further information is available here.
Emergency Protect Our Small Businesses Act of 2021
The New York State Emergency Protect Our Small Businesses Act, passed on March 9, 2021 and providing protections for commercial eviction proceedings and certain commercial foreclosures, has been extended through August 31, 2021. Please refer to the website for additional information and updates.
What is provided here is an overview of the protections included in the March 9th Act. These have been extended through August 31, 2021 under the moratorium extension:
These protections include:
- Staying pending commercial eviction proceedings and many commercial real property foreclosure actions (Covered Commercial Foreclosure Actions) for sixty days
- Staying commercial eviction proceedings and many real property commercial mortgage foreclosures filed within 30 days of March 9, 2021 for sixty days.
- Providing “Hardship Declaration” forms to be used by commercial tenant respondents in certain eviction matters (Covered Commercial Eviction Proceedings) and defendant mortgagers in Covered Commercial Foreclosure Actions in reporting financial hardship due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Staying (or delaying the filing of) Covered Commercial Eviction Proceedings or Covered Commercial Foreclosure Actions where a Hardship Declaration has been properly sent to the landlord, mortgagee or court as described below.
Note: Covered Commercial Foreclosure Actions are foreclosures involving a mortgager which owns ten or fewer commercial units (whether directly or indirectly) and is a business resident of New York, independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employing fifty or fewer persons.
Covered Commercial Eviction Proceedings are evictions involving a commercial tenant which is a resident of New York State, is independently owned and operated, nor dominant in its field, and employing fifty or fewer persons.
Use of Commercial Hardship Declarations: When signed and submitted by commercial tenants and commercial mortgagors, the Hardship Declaration requires that the case be temporarily delayed. Also, the Declaration can help prove financial hardship that may be a defense against commercial eviction or commercial foreclosure under New York State law.
If a landlord or mortgage holder has not yet started a proceeding, the Hardship Declaration should be sent to the landlord or mortgage holder (or to their agent). If the commercial eviction or foreclosure proceeding has commenced, the Hardship Declaration should be filed with the court, and a copy sent to the landlord or mortgage holder (or their agent).
More information and links to the Hardship Declaration can be found here.
Home Energy Assistance (HEAP)
As we previously reported, 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.
Below is a re-cap of HEAP information shared in prior communications:
HEAP Emergency Benefit
The application period for Emergency HEAP benefits opened on Monday, January 4, 2021. The utility shut-off moratorium will not affect eligibility for Emergency benefits.
Emergency benefits are available to assist eligible households with a heating emergency or a heat-related domestic emergency. Only one Emergency benefit of each type is available per HEAP household for the 2020-2021 season. Temporary relocation for housing emergencies and propane tank deposits to obtain new propane vendors are also available under the Emergency benefit component. Regular HEAP benefits, if available, must be utilized first to resolve heating emergencies for eligible households before an Emergency HEAP grant can be obtained.
To be eligible for an Emergency benefit, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- A Regular HEAP benefit must not be available or any credit remaining on an account is insufficient to resolve the applicant’s emergency.
- The applicant must be facing a heating emergency or heat-related domestic emergency:
- The applicant’s utility service is terminated or scheduled for termination;
- The applicant’s electric utility service necessary to operate the primary heating equipment is terminated or scheduled for termination; and/or
- The applicant is without heating fuel or has less than one quarter tank of oil, kerosene, or propane, or less than a ten-day supply of other heating fuels.
- The applicant must be the customer of record for the utility or deliverable fuel account.
- The applicant households must not have more than $2,000 (or $3,000 if the household contains a member age 60 or older) in available liquid resources.
- Applicants in receipt of ongoing Temporary Assistance (TA) have already been resource tested.
2020-2021 HEAP Emergency Benefit Amounts:
Oil, Kerosene and Propane
$675
Wood, Wood Pellets, Corn, Coal or other deliverables
$525
Natural Gas, Heat Only
$350
Natural Gas Heat with Domestic Electric
$490
Electric Heat
$490
Heat-Related Electric
$140
Temporary Relocation
Maximum of $500 per program year
Propane Tank Deposit
Maximum of $500 per program year
Regular HEAP Benefit
As a reminder, the 2020-2021 Regular HEAP benefit season opened on November 2, 2020. Recipients of HEAP benefits may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help pay for heating costs. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, is age 60 or older or has a permanent disability. Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat. HEAP recipients can use HEAP approval letters as documentation to support Con Ed reduced rate programs and Verizon Lifeline.
A household may be eligible for a regular benefit if:
- Clients and/or household members are United States Citizens or qualified immigrants;
- The household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides; or
- The applicant is in receipt of:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or
- Temporary Assistance or
- Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone)
To apply, please contact 212-331-3126 or visit the ACCESS HRA website for instructions here. HEAP applications are available for download here. Please note, the HEAP application cannot be submitted through ACCESS HRA at this time. All HEAP applications need to be completed, signed by the applicant or their authorized representative and returned by mail or dropped off at a designated HEAP assistance location. There is no need to come in to a Center. The completed application can be mailed back to HRA at:
NYC DSS/HRA/HEAP
PO Box 1401
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
Information can be found here.
Applicants can check on the status of a HEAP application by calling the State OTDA Helpline at 800-342-3009.
Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) Cooling Assistance Component
Applications for the 2021 HEAP Cooling Assistance Component (CAC) are being accepted as of Monday, May 3, 2021. Benefits will be provided on a first come, first served basis to eligible applicants through Tuesday, August 31, 2021, or until funding allocated to this component by the State is exhausted.
As a reminder, to be eligible for a CAC benefit, the applicant or a household member must have a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat. Requirements for medical documentation for a CAC benefit may be waived for applicants who are unable to obtain such documentation due to COVID-19. Additionally, the applicant household must not have a working air conditioner newer than five years old, or must not have received a HEAP-funded air conditioner within the past five years.
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.
NYS Eviction Protections for Tenants in Place Through August 31 – Hardship Declarations
Tenants and occupants who complete and return a Hardship Declaration form may not be evicted until at least August 31, 2021, and they are able to prevent their landlord from filing or continuing an eviction proceeding until at least August 31, 2021.
Hardship declaration forms are available to download in 20 languages on the New York Courts website. The Hardship Declaration permits a tenant to declare hardship for:
- loss of significant household income; or
- increased expenses related to health impacts or essential work; or
- increased child care or other family care expenses during the pandemic; or
- inability to obtain meaningful employment because of circumstances relating to COVID-19; or
- inability to afford to move or difficulty securing alternative housing making it a hardship to relocate to another home during the COVID-19 pandemic; or
- vacating and moving would pose a significant health risk if the tenant or a member of the household is over 65 years of age or has a disability or underlying medical condition.
Tenants may proactively complete the Hardship Declaration and return it to the landlord whether or not a case is pending. Tenants may also submit completed Hardship Declaration forms to the Housing Court by email to the account associated with the county in which the tenant’s eviction proceeding is taking place:
Bronx
Kings (Brooklyn)
New York (Manhattan)
Queens
Richmond (Staten Island)
The exception to this protection is in the event that the landlord is seeking eviction for causing an ongoing nuisance condition or presenting a substantial danger to the safety of other tenants. Tenants who are protected under this law are still responsible for all required rent, fees, penalties or interest under their lease.
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.
Right to Counsel, Housing Justice for All, and JustFix.nyc have launched a website to help tenants submit their hardship declaration forms online. EvictionFreeNY.org provides an accessible, easy to use format that ensures tenants can take full advantage of the temporary protections provided by the State law. The provision of this information about these efforts is for informational purposes only and does not represent an endorsement by the City of New York.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Reimbursement
As we have been reporting, FEMA is providing financial assistance to individuals with COVID-related funeral expenses. Beginning on April 12, 2021, applications are being accepted through a dedicated COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585).
In order to be eligible for funeral assistance, the following conditions must be met:
- The death of the individual must have occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
- The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national, or have a qualified immigration status that meets the federal definition for “qualified alien.”
- The citizenship status of the deceased person is not taken into consideration.
Certain eligibility documents will be required, including an official death certification and documents related to funeral expenses. Also, individuals who think they may be eligible for an HRA burial allowance can apply for an HRA burial allowance even if they got FEMA funeral assistance.
FEMA has created flyers to help spread the word about this important benefit. Please access the flyer here.
IMPORTANT: FEMA has reported reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA will not contact anyone until they have called FEMA or have applied for assistance. If you receive an unsolicited telephone call or email, do not disclose information such as the name, birth date, or social security number of any deceased family member or other individual. If you doubt that someone who says they are a FEMA representative is legitimate, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or the National Center for Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 to report suspected fraud.
There have been 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.
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.
Paying Family Caregivers through Medicaid Programs – Webinar May 21, 2021
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is hosting a webinar about Paying Family Caregivers through Medicaid. Programs that can pay family members for providing care can help support home- and community-based care for Medicaid enrollees and help states address the demand for long-term services and supports. The webinar is on Friday, May 21 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm. Register and learn more here.
NYC Unity Works – Workforce Development Project
As we announced last week, NYC Unity Works is a new initiative launched through a partnership between the NYC Unity Project, the Administration’s citywide LGBTQI policy and programming initiative, and the Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest LGBTQI homeless youth service provider. The program will be a comprehensive workforce development program for LGBTQI communities, and will specifically focus on supporting homeless and runaway LGBTQI youth by connecting them to a full suite of services including basic and higher educational opportunities; paid internships and training, work credentials, and job placements; career coaching, and comprehensive, LGBTQI affirming case management that incorporates full wraparound supports and mental health counseling Click here for more information.
Office of Child Support Services
HRA’s Office of Child Support Services has a new initiative so that noncustodial parents, regardless of their income, with orders payable to NYC DSS or the custodial parent now have the opportunity to work with an OCSS Customer Service representative to discuss and agree to a modification of their order in accordance with standard child support guidelines. OCSS Customer Service staff speak by phone to the noncustodial parent and/or custodial parent to draft an agreement and obtain supporting documents. The Office of Legal Affairs reviews the signed agreement, petition, and supporting documents. The approved stipulation package is filed in Court for a hearing to be scheduled. Typically, only one Court appearance is required for an Order on Consent. Noncustodial parents who are interested in participating in a stipulated agreement should email OCSS at dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us, entering “Stipulated Agreement” in the subject line and including in the email their name, child support account number, and a phone number where they can be reached.
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
