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 call on Tuesday, as we have been doing each week, we want to share important updates, with a synopsis of prior communications at the bottom of this letter. We will continue to provide these updates weekly and encourage you to reach out to us at dssoutreach@dss.nyc.gov with questions .

Online ACCESS HRA Training

As we mentioned last week, DSS is now offering online ACCESS HRA training webinars. In response to high demand for these online trainings, we have added several additional days each week. If you attempted to sign up for training and the session was full, please check back to sign up for one of these additional sessions. These are open to CBOs and elected officials’ offices and will provide information on the use of ACCESS HRA for SNAP and Cash applications as well as the ACCESS HRA Provider Portal. As a reminder:

  • The ACCESS HRA Cash Assistance Webinar will simulate the Cash Assistance (CA) application process via ACCESS HRA. You can sign up for an upcoming session by clicking HERE.

  • The ACCESS HRA SNAP Webinar will simulate the SNAP application process via ACCESS HRA. You can sign up for an upcoming session by clicking HERE.

  • The ACCESS HRA General Overview Webinar is a three-part presentation that offers an overview of the ACCESS HRA client facing website and Mobile App; and the Provider Portal case management tool. You can sign up for an upcoming session by clicking HERE.

  • The ACCESS HRA Provider Portal Webinar offers an in-depth presentation of the Provider Portal, the case management tool that allows participating organizations to view real-time case information for clients that have provided consent. You can sign up for an upcoming session by clicking HERE.

Unemployment Insurance Benefits Supplement – Impact on Benefits Eligibility

  • Under the CARES Act, eligible individuals receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) will receive an additional $600 weekly Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payment.

  • The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) provision of the CARES Act expands coverage to certain workers who traditionally are not eligible for unemployment benefits under state law, such as individuals who are self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, or who have exhausted all rights to regular or extended unemployment benefits, among others. This is particularly important for those who work in the gig economy, who work largely as independent contractors and freelancers. This expansion is also very important for noncustodial parents who are required to make court-ordered child support payments. 

  • Although income received through UIB is typically counted as income under the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for the purposes of benefits eligibility, the CARES Act has specifically instructed states to disregard the $600 weekly additional payment (Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) when determining eligibility for Medicaid.

  • The regular UIB payments are still counted for MAGI for the purposes of benefits eligibility.

  • Additionally, the CARES Act relief payment in the form of the “recovery rebate” or “stimulus payment” is up to $1,200 for single adults, $2,400 for married couples filing jointly and $500 for children under age 17. This stimulus payment is not taxable income and is therefore also not countable in MAGI based eligibility determinations.

  • For non-MAGI determinations, rebates are not countable as income and are an exempt resource for 12 months. After the 12-month period any portion of the stimulus payment remaining is a countable resource.

  • The CARES Act relief payments are not countable for Cash Assistance (CA) or SNAP eligibility.

  • The CARES Act stimulus payments made to eligible noncustodial parents who owe past-due child support and who are subject to intercept under the Federal Income Tax Refund Offset Program will be offset by the amount of past-due child support.

  • We do not yet have guidance on the impact of the UIB increase for SNAP and Cash Assistance determinations but will share it as soon as we do.

Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) Updates

  • CA referrals to OCSS have been pushed out until June. 

  • For clients who have a child support sanction, they can restore CA and Medicaid benefits by informing the NY City Office of Child Support Services that they are willing to comply with the child support program. Clients can do so by calling 929-221-7676 or emailing dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us, or writing to the New York City Office of Child Support Services, PO Box 830, Canal Street Station, New York, NY 10013. Clients should provide their name, case number, and contact information, and state that they are willing to comply with the child support program. Letters have been mailed to clients with a child support sanction informing them of this information.

  • No negative case actions are being taken for missing appointments with the Office of Child Support Services.

  • Child support appointments are being rescheduled for after June 1, 2020. 

  • If you would like to apply for child support services, you can get an application by:
  1. DOWNLOADING an application at childsupport.ny.gov OR
  2. CALLING the NYS Child Support helpline at 888-208-4485 to have an application mailed to you.

  • Family Court inquiries - The New York State court system has suspended all nonessential court functions until further notice. Family Court is only addressing emergencies, such as child protection and domestic violence cases. For more information, go to www.nycourts.gov.

  • To make a payment - For information about making a child support payment, see mail and online options here.

  • Relief from an administrative enforcement - For forms to challenge an enforcement action see below:


  • Customer Service - The OCSS Customer Service Office is closed. Clients can reach us by email at dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us, or call the NY State Call Center at 888-208-4485.
 
Pending Waivers

The items listed below are the still pending requests we have made to the State (OTDA and OCFS). Some of these waiver requests will require an Executive Order from the Governor while others will require Federal approval from the USDA.

  • Waiver of the 45-day wait period for Safety Net Cash Assistance applications
  • Waiver of the Cash Assistance eligibility interview
  • Waiver of/modifications to certain aspects of the Cash Assistance Resource Policy
  • Waiver of the need to provide proof of application for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
  • Waiver of school attendance verification
  • Ability to grant blanket good cause and lift OCSS sanctions
  • Ability to grant blanket good cause and lift employment related sanctions
  • Authority to allow prepared meals to be purchased with SNAP benefits
  • Authority to permit Providers/Agency Staff to sign applications on behalf of clients unable to use ACCESS HRA
  • Authority to allow longer stays for single adults in DV shelters
  • Authority to adjust the DV shelter per diem due to COVID factors and underutilization
  • Authority to use hotel space for confidential DV shelter

Isolation Sites and Non-COVID Hospital Discharges

Effective Wednesday, April 22, 2020, we have changed our processes at isolation sites to conform to the new NYS Department of Health guidance about the length of the isolation period. We are in the process of updating all of our written documents, but the new standard is now in effect.

In addition, as of this week, non-COVID medical discharges will be accepted 7 days a week for the duration of the pandemic.

City FHEPS Updates

We continue to operate City FHEPS program, with some modifications to our usual process:

  • For clients whose eligibility is based on employment, they will still be eligible to rent housing with City FHEPS even if they have reduced or lost work during the pandemic.

  • We will automatically reissue City FHEPS shopping letters as they expire. There is no need to reapply.

  • For apartment inspections, we have created virtual viewing and walk-through process. Clients will also be able to view apartments virtually.

  • HRA is still processing and issuing checks. Each day we are expanding our ability to work remotely to expedite payments.

Pandemic EBT

Benefits will be automatically issued by the State to EBT cards for families with children who are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The State will be rolling this out over the next couple of weeks. There is no application process; and

The State is determining how to address the issue of families who do not have an EBT card. Unlike SNAP, P-EBT is available to people who are undocumented. It is not counted under the public charge rule.

Community-wide Conference Call

If you were not able to join Tuesday’s call, please find an audio recording here and use  Covid-19  as the password. Unfortunately, the first few minutes of this week’s call were not recorded due to technical difficulties. The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared.
 
For a copy of our previous communications, click on the following links :


As a reminder, we have a standing informational call on Tuesdays at 4:00PM . Details about this call will be sent under separate cover.

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 these changes, 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
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.

We have lifted employment sanctions for Cash Assistance recipients who contacted the agency and stated a willingness to comply and have suspended all employment related requirements. Demonstrated compliance is suspended until further notice.

We have suspended all federal Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements for SNAP recipients after March 2020.

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. 

SNAP Interviews at Initial Application and Recertification

We have received a federal waiver that allows issuance of SNAP benefits without an interview, provided that both of the following conditions have been met:

  • the applicant’s identity has been verified; and,
  • all other mandatory information and verification has been provided and is valid:

  1. Identity
  2. Social Security number (as already required by federal law)
  3. Residency
  4. Gross non-exempt income (earned and unearned)
  5. Disability
  6. “Alien eligibility” (as already required by federal law)

Pursuant to the federal waiver, if either of these conditions has not been met, then an interview will be required. Under the federal waiver, interviews will still be required if any of the information submitted is unclear or cannot be verified through separate data matches. HRA will call applicants who need an interview.

We are aware that some clients are still receiving phone calls regarding missed interview appointments. While most interviews are waived, as outlined above, some clients are still required to have a phone interview. 

Issuance of Expedited SNAP

For applications eligible for expedited benefits, the only information that must be verified prior to the initial expedited issuance is the applicant’s identity. Under the federal waiver, until May 31, an interview is not required for issuance of expedited benefits.

Enhanced SNAP benefits

Supplemental SNAP benefits for households that received a SNAP benefit in March and/or April that was not at the maximum benefit level for their household size have been approved at the Federal level and the State will automatically add these benefits to recipients’ EBT account in April and May. The State will continue to identify cases and issue supplemental benefits for any cases that were not identified in the initial run either because of a late in April application or a delay in processing caused a delay in their regular SNAP issuance. Further information is available here .

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 to 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.

Home Energy Assistance Program ( HEAP )

HEAP heating season has been extended, and the HEAP program is accepting applications until June 30, 2020 . Applications can be mailed; they are not required to be submitted in person during this period. The HEAP cooling season opens May 1, 2020. If an individual with a documented medical condition has not received a cooling benefit in the past 5 years (previously the lookback was 10 years), they may be eligible for an AC unit.

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 of 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. 

  • You can now use your SNAP benefits to shop online for fresh produce and groceries. Participating online stores now accept SNAP benefits for online orders and will deliver to you. Use your EBT card to securely shop online. For participating stores, please click here. NOTE: SNAP benefits cannot be used to cover delivery fees.

DOE Regional Enrichment Centers

The Department of Education provides child care and 3 meals daily to children of essential service workers. Information about the program can be found here .

Has Your Financial Situation Changed Due to COVID-19?

NYC Financial Empowerment Center counselors are available to support New Yorkers over the phone with free financial counseling. It is free and confidential. To book an appointment, please click here .

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. 
 
According to the  IRS , if you don’t file taxes, use the " Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here " application to provide information to receive your payment. You should use this application if:

  • 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

For more information, please visit the  IRS website .

Benefit Card Assistance

If your benefit card for Cash Assistance and/or Food Stamps, was lost, stolen, or printed with incorrect information, you can get a replacement. Replacement cards can only be mailed to the address on record. You can request a replacement card online at www.connectebt.com .

You can also call EBT Customer Service at (888) 328-6399 for account information or to request that a replacement Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card for SNAP or Cash Assistance be mailed to you. Clients can also get a card in person by going to the Over the Counter site at the following locations:

  • Manhattan: 109 East 16th Street
  • Brooklyn: 227 Schermerhorn Street

Census

Please remind clients and constituents to complete the Census:

It’s not too late to fill out the 2020 Census ! Responding to the census has never been more important. Not only does the census determine funding for our schools and affordable housing, but it also impacts funding for hospitals, emergency services, and critical healthcare programs. These are resources that our City, communities, and front-line workers need now more than ever. It only takes a few minutes and you can do it from home: visit my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020. Learn more about why the census matters more than ever!