Additional information
State Waivers
As reported during our prior calls and in our previous communications, we have eliminated all requirements for HRA in-person appointments for clients and we will not take any adverse case actions if HRA clients do not keep previously scheduled appointments or assignments. This includes, but is not limited to, appointments for services such as with the Office of Child Support Services as well as appointments or assigned activities with Career Service providers.
Additionally, clients who would otherwise be required to recertify their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps or Cash Assistance (CA) cases do not need to do so at this time. When recertification resumes, the agency will notify clients and community partners on this process.
We have submitted requests to the State and federal governments to waive signature requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP/Food Stamps and Cash Assistance (CA) to assist clients who need help from our staff or providers to apply through ACCESS HRA. We will keep you informed as these requests move forward.
Medicaid
In New York City, all active cases will be extended. No Medicaid case will be closed for failure to renew or failure to provide documentation. The State has determined that any case that is closed for failure to renew or failure to provide documentation that had Medicaid coverage on or after March 18, 2020 will be re-opened with coverage restored to ensure no gap in coverage. Renewals will be extended for 12 months.
Former SSI recipients and any discontinued Temporary Assistance/Medicaid cases that require a separate Medicaid eligibility determination will have Medicaid coverage extended. No renewal is required to be sent at this time and no redeterminations are required at this time.
During the COVID-19 Emergency, New York City residents who are age 65 or over; living with a disability or blindness; in receipt of Medicare and are not a parent or caretaker relative of minor children; or are young adults under age 26 who were formerly in foster care are able to submit a Medicaid application via fax to 917-639-0732.
All other applicants not in the categories listed above may submit an application via the NY State of Health at
www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov
or by calling 1-855-355-5777.
Apply for Cash Assistance Online
With a State waiver, we began accepting Cash Assistance (CA) applications online via ACCESS HRA on Friday, March 20. If you or anyone you know is new to this online resource, or needs a refresher, you can find a copy of our
user guide here
. The interview portion of the CA application process is being conducted by telephone. Here is a
link to the flyer
for clients regarding the public benefits changes that we have described.
ACCESS HRA and Document Upload
Clients applying for benefits should be opening a new account through ACCESS HRA and uploading documents through the ACCESS HRA mobile app. We are aware of problems that were experienced previously due to increased volume and these issues have been resolved.
Center Consolidations and Closings
With our programs online and in order to protect clients and staff, we have consolidated our HRA Job, SNAP, and Medicaid Center locations. As a result of these consolidations, we are advising New Yorkers to apply for public benefits online at ACCESS HRA in order to prevent unnecessary visits to an HRA center. For clients who cannot or do not want to apply online, a list of Job, SNAP, and Medicaid center locations that will remain open can be found here:
Job
,
SNAP
,
Medicaid
.
We have also consolidated HASA Center locations, and one HASA Center will remain open in each borough. Even though these offices are still open, clients do not need come into our offices as assistance can be obtained online and by telephone. For HASA clients who cannot or do not want to apply online, we strongly advise them to call the Service Line at (212) 971-0626 for help rather than traveling to an office.
For the most recent information about this and other changes, however, please visit our
website
.
Moratorium on Evictions and Utility Shut-Offs
Along with elected officials, service providers, and advocacy organizations, we successfully advocated for a moratorium on evictions as well as utility shut-offs – both of which will avoid unnecessary visits to an HRA Center to apply for these emergency benefits.
CityFHEPS Renewals
City rental assistance (CityFHEPS) is being automatically renewed for all those eligible New Yorkers receiving it, so no one has to worry about reapplying.
Home Visits
For the safety of our clients and staff it is critical that HRA reduce contact with our most vulnerable clients by limiting home visits. If a client does require a home visit and is unable to use ACCESS HRA, a home visit can be made pending the client’s willingness to have a worker in their home.
Home Visit Needed (HVN) clients are receiving regular wellness check-in calls from HRA staff. These client check-ins focus on COVID-related health issues as well as food insecurity. If a client may be experiencing symptoms of COVID, they are directed to call their treatment provider. If the client is experiencing food insecurity appropriate referrals are made for home delivered food as needed. New HVN requests indicating a food emergency are also receiving similar outreach to ensure food insecurity and wellness are being addressed.
Food Resources
New York City is taking steps to make sure every New Yorker has access to the food they need. For individuals who are in need of support with meals and food, here are some resources that we want to be sure you are aware of:
- Any New Yorker can receive three free meals a day at one of more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city. Find out more information here.
- The City has created the GetFoodNYC food delivery program to provide food for coronavirus (COVID-19)-vulnerable and food-insecure New Yorkers not currently served through existing food delivery programs. Find out more information here.
- If you are interested in the location a food pantry, please visit the Food Help NYC pantry locator. We recommend calling to ensure the particular location is open. We’ve provided all of our emergency food providers with information about grab and go meals and how to implement social distancing at food pantries.
Shelter
We remain committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers experiencing homelessness have access to safe and secure shelter placements. Together with our network of providers, DHS is working hard to protect shelter residents and our shelter staff during this time. We will continue to communicate regularly to share guidance on shelter cleaning, social distancing, and isolating of clients who are showing symptoms. We have also taken the following steps, with more to come:
- Stood up more than 700 isolation beds in commercial hotels for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19
- First prioritized transfer of DHS clients aged 70 and older to commercial hotels, and now transferring additional clients in congregate shelters to commercial hotels
- Securing additional safe haven beds and drop-in centers
- Streamlined the process for families applying for shelter by eliminating in-person appointments and conducting interviews by phone
Federal Stimulus Payments: Economic Impact Payments
On March 27th, 2020, the federal CARES Act authorized a one-time payment of $1,200 to certain individuals. While many people will receive their payments through direct deposit or mailed checks, those who were not required to file a federal income tax return for 2018 or 2019 will need to take additional steps.
- You are a citizen or a non-citizen with a Social Security Number;
- You did not file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return because your gross income was under $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples). This includes people who had no income. Or
- You weren’t required to file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return for other reasons.
If you receive the below benefits, the IRS already has your information and you will receive $1,200. If you have qualifying children under age 17, you can use the
"
Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here
"
application to claim the $500 payment per child.
- Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits
- Railroad Retirement and Survivor Benefits
SSI/SSD Recipient Stimulus Payments
SSI recipients with no qualifying children do not need to take any action in order to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. The payments will be automatic.
SSI recipients who have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should now go to the IRS’s webpage and visit the
Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info
section to provide their information. By taking proactive steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment. If SSI beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait until later to receive their $500 per qualifying child.