February 24, 2022
Dear Community Partner:
Thank you for your partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need. We hope that this communication, as well as the bi-weekly community calls, will continue to serve as an important platform to share information and answer your questions. We will continue our work toward the shared goal of fighting poverty, income inequality, and addressing homelessness in our city with care and compassion for our clients, staff, and provider partners.
As we shared last week, the weekly calls have served as an important tool for ensuring timely sharing of critical information in a rapidly changing landscape during the pandemic. As we move to a new phase of the pandemic the frequency of these calls has been moved to bi-weekly, though this communication will continue to be distributed on a weekly basis. As a reminder, please reach out to DSS Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to be added to the list of invitees for the Tuesday call and sign up here be added to the distribution list for this weekly communication.
Throughout the pandemic we have continued to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page. We encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered during the pandemic.
FHEPS
OTDA and HRA have an approved plan to raise the FHEPS rent levels to 108% of the FMR, aligning to the change the City made last year for CityFHEPS payments. The new plan is effective as of February 16th. Please refer to the chart at the end of this communication for the new FHEPS Payment Standards. For more information and updated forms, visit our FHEPS page here.
CityFHEPS
Tenants who were rejected at renewal for their CityFHEPS for being over income and are still in the same unit but having issues with paying their rent can now resubmit their renewal application at the higher income threshold of 80% AMI.
The best way to return a completed and signed CityFHEPS Renewal Request form is to email it along with images of all supporting documents to RAPrenewals@hra.nyc.gov. Applicants can also mail the completed and signed form along with copies of all supporting documents to:
Rental Assistance Program Unit
109 E 16th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10003.
Cash Assistance Six-Month Mailer
In line with the recent waiver of the requirement to return SNAP Periodic Reports due in January, February, and March, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) approved DSS/HRA’s request to waive the requirement to return the Cash Assistance (CA) Six-Month Mailer for the same period of time. No negative actions were taken for cases due to return their CA Six-Month Mailer in January but failed to do so and no negative actions will be taken for those that do not return the mailers due in February or March until March 14, 2022.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Season Extended
The dates of operation for the Regular and Emergency HEAP benefit components will be extended from March 15, 2022 to April 29, 2022, or until funds allocated to these components are exhausted, whichever comes first.
A second Emergency benefit will be available to applicants from February 22, 2022 through April 29, 2022 when the Emergency component closes. The eligibility criteria for the second Emergency benefit will be the same as the first Emergency benefit. Applicants must have exhausted, or have unavailable to them, both the Regular benefit and the first Emergency benefit to be eligible for the second Emergency benefit. First and second Emergency benefits must not be issued concurrently.
Emergency SNAP Allotments
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 February 2022. 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/.
New York State Homeowners Assistance Fund
As of February 18, the New York State Homeowners Assistance Fund (NYHAF) portal is no longer accepting new applications, and interested homeowners will be added to a waitlist. As a reminder, the New York State Homeowners Assistance Fund (NYHAF) has been designed and administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the NYS Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) will target low- to moderate-income homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, property taxes, water or sewer bills, as well as owners of cooperative or condo units behind on maintenance fees, and manufactured homeowners behind on chattel loans or retail installment contracts.
Those who qualify can receive financial assistance to catch up on missed housing payments, reduce mortgage debt to make monthly mortgage payments more affordable, and receive up to six months of future housing payments.
Eligible applicants must have household incomes at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and must be at least 30 days delinquent on monthly housing payments for their primary residence. Awards will be capped at $50,000 per household. Assistance will be structured as a five-year, non-interest, non-amortizing forgivable loan. If the homeowner remains in the home for a period of five years, the loan will be fully forgiven
Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF)
The State OTDA has announced the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) which is an allocation allotted to New York State (NYS) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(ARPA) to provide payments to help needy families purchase diapers and to help certain households containing an adult 55 years of age or older purchase additional food. These payments are intended to provide additional financial resources to improve economic security and well-being.
State OTDA issued diaper supplement payments on February 12th of $140 per eligible child to households in receipt of SNAP and Cash Assistance meeting the following eligibility criteria:
- The child is under age three at any time during the month of January of 2022;
- The child is active on either an open TA or SNAP case during the month of January of 2022; and,
- The TA or SNAP case remains open on the date of issuance.
OTDA will issue a one-time non-assistance payment during April of 2022 to support food assistance for households with children aged 17 and under that contain at least one older adult, and who are in receipt of Cash Assistance and/or SNAP. Recipients of the payment may use it to purchase food.
CA and SNAP households meeting the following eligibility criteria will receive a payment of $730 per eligible older individual:
- The older adult is age 55 or older during the month of March of 2022;
- The older adult is active on either an open TA or open SNAP case which also includes at least one child aged 17 or under at any time during the month of March of 2022: and,
- The TA or SNAP case remains open on the date of issuance.
OTDA will issue these payments directly to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account of the CA or SNAP case. Households eligible for these one-time non-assistance payments will receive a letter from NYS OTDA informing them of the total amount of the payment and Administrative Review rights.
PEAF payments will:
- Have no effect on the household’s eligibility or benefit amounts for TA, SNAP, or HEAP;
- Not be part of regular recurring TA or SNAP grant;
- Be excluded from the TA standard of need;
- Be excluded as income to the TA and SNAP household;
- Be excluded from TA and SNAP resource limits;
- Be excluded from the State sixty-month time limit for TA;
- Not be offset by child support collections;
- Not offset TA or SNAP overpayments;
- Not be subject to overpayment determinations/calculations;
- Not be included in Interim Assistance Reimbursement (IAR).
One Shot Deal – Clarification of ERAP Application Requirement
Applicants for One Shot Deal/Emergency Grants for rent arrears are no longer required to apply for ERAP to be eligible for a grant from HRA. This does not change with the re-opening of the ERAP portal. However, individuals who applied before the ERAP portal initially closed on 11/14/2021, and are still pending a State determination, must have that determination rendered before HRA is able to provide assistance for rent arrears.
Office of Child Support Services - Updates
Referral appointments for Cash Assistance cases have resumed and negative case actions may be taken if the client doesn’t comply with their appointment. All appointments will be conducted over the telephone. OCSS staff will make two attempts to reach the client by telephone to conduct the appointment.
Negative case actions MAY be taken if a client received the “Avoid a Reduction in Your Benefits – Complete Your Child Support Application Today” notice and does not return their Referral for Child Support Services form. Reminder notices are sent to clients who don’t return the form and/or comply with a telephone interview.
NYS NCP Earned Income Tax Credit
This tax credit is for noncustodial parents with a NYS Child Support order who have paid their child support obligation in full. The amount of the credit received is up to $1,358 and depends on an individual’s income on the tax return. Filers are no longer required to provide their child’s social security number in order to receive a refund and can go back two years and file for the credit that was missed. The refund will be applied towards a noncustodial parent’s child support debt, if they have one. Learn more about the credit here.
Child Tax Credit
The CTC helps families get money back to for eligible childcare costs. The amount received depends on the number of qualifying children claimed on the tax return and their ages. Those who do not have earned income are still eligible. The deadline to sign up for the Advance Child Tax Credit payment was November 15, 2021. However, the credit can still be claimed —worth up to $3,600 per child—in 2022 by filing taxes. Additional tax credit information can be found here.
For more information and to learn about virtual, drop-off, and in-person tax assistance options, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance.
Fair Fares
The Fair Fares NYC program continues to offer eligible New York City residents a 50% discount on eligible transportation. In our ongoing efforts to get the word out about this valuable benefit, the City has created Fair Fares outreach materials - including palm cards, brochures, and posters that can be ordered by community organizations and others. Please use the Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS) website here, after registering on the login page.
IDNYC
In order to assist those affected by the recent fire in the Bronx, IDNYC will now accept a letter from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), American Red Cross or any other organization licensed, certified, authorizes or funded by OEM or FDNY, for the purpose of establishing residency.
ACCESS HRA Multi-Factor Authentication Design Update
On February 21st, at the request of City's Cyber Command, ACCESS HRA implemented voluntary multi-factor authentication option. The multi-factor authentication option is available for clients to use to provide additional security for their ACCESS HRA accounts. If clients opt-in to this process by verifying a recovery email address, a code sent to that email address would be needed for any future linking to that identity from another ACCESS HRA account.
Overview:
- This new feature will allow AHRA users to set a Recovery Email Address voluntarily. An email address will not be a requirement to use ACCESS HRA.
- Process Flow:
- A user creates an ACCESS HRA account with either a username or an email address and connects to:
- their SNAP or CA case using CIN or SSN and DOB or;
- their Fair Fares case using CIN or SSN or Fair Fares ID and DOB
- Users that enter a Recovery Email Address will be sent a verification code to that email address. When the code is entered into ACCESS HRA the recovery email address will be considered verified. The verified recovery email address will be connected to that user's ACCESS HRA account and CIN or SSN, Fair Fares ID and DOB. Users can choose “I’ll do it this later” and continue without verifying the recovery email address.
- If, at a later time, a different ACCESS HRA account logs-in and tries to connect to the same CIN or SSN or Fair Fares ID and DOB , the user will be sent a verification code to the recovery email address (if one was provided) to confirm this action.
- If the user is able to access the email and successfully enters the code, they will see a confirmation screen. If the user is unable to access the email, they can continue with “I did not get a code” and use “Send New Code” to try again or “Contact Us” for help.
- If the user does not have a verified recovery email address connected to that user's ACCESS HRA account and CIN or SSN, Fair Fares ID and DOB, they can continue with “I did not get a code” and use “Cancel” to proceed without verifying the recovery email address.
- For the linked users that do not have a verified recovery email address on file, the “Contact information” pop-up is displayed. Users can either use ‘Update Now’ to enter their recovery email address or do it ‘Later’.
COVID-19 Related Updates
Home Delivered COVID Antiviral Medication
The City has begun free home delivery -- as long as there is a prescription-- of oral antiviral pills Paxlovid (made by Pfizer), and Molnupiravir (by Merck), via Alto Pharmacy, a medication provider which has partnered with the City. Since supplies of the new drugs are extremely limited, deliveries will be prioritized to those who test positive and considered to be at higher risk for COVID.
Those who have tested positive and are otherwise qualified can visit Virtual ExpressCare for a phone or video visit, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) and press 9.
NYS Mask Mandate
On Thursday, February 10, 2022 New York State officially lifted its indoor mask mandate Statewide. Masks are still required in the following locations:
- Hospitals and state-regulated health care settings
- Nursing homes and adult care facilities
- Correctional facilities and detention centers
- Homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters
- Public transit and transportation hubs including airports
- Trains and planes
- Schools (with that requirement to be reassessed in early March)
In New York City the decision to require masks indoors will be made by individual businesses and employers.
Vaccine requirements in New York City for businesses including restaurants, fitness facilities and entertainment venues will continue, as will vaccine requirements for City workers and some private sector workers.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
Until February 28, the city has reopened the $100 COVID-19 vaccine incentive for New Yorkers who get boosted at a city-run or SOMOS site. New Yorkers who receive their first dose at a city-run site will also continue to be eligible for a $100 incentive until the end of February. The incentive is being made in a continued effort to encourage New York City residents vaccinated and boosted.
Vaccination sites can be found at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX4-NYC. New Yorkers can also text their ZIP code to 438829 to receive information on vaccination sites near them, including what age groups can be served at each site.
For more information about vaccines and the vaccines for children, families can go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine and see this FAQ, or call 212-COVID19 with questions about the vaccine.
Vaccination and Testing Apps
- CDC Vaccination Card. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
- NYC Vaccination Record or other official immunization record, including from a health care provider. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. If you are unable to get this record, call 311.
-
NYC COVID Safe App. Android. iOS. This app can be used to upload a photo of a vaccine card and/or a recent COVID test. The vaccine card will stay on the app unless removed, but test results will disappear from the app after seven days.
-
CLEAR Health Pass. Android. iOS. Individuals can use the digital vaccine card option in the CLEAR app if they are age 18 or older and are fully vaccinated.
-
NYS Excelsior Pass (or Excelsior Pass Plus). Allows an individual to find and store proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. New York residents who were vaccinated out of State can learn more about their options at the Excelsior Pass FAQ. The app, called NYS Excelsior Pass Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
Vaccine Records
Individuals who are fully vaccinated but have lost their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or need verification of their vaccine status can request a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record. Individuals cannot get a replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card at this time but can get an official record noting they have been vaccinated. For more information and to submit a request visit the NYC DOHMH Vaccine Records site.
COVID-19 Testing
At-home COVID Testing for Immunocompromised Individuals
Testing in NYC
Through NYC Test & Trace Corps, 14 landmark City cultural sites and 27 branches of The New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library will receive at-home COVID-19 test kits to give to New Yorkers free of charge. Weekly walk-up distributions began Monday, February 14. Tests will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to one per person while supplies last. Test & Trace will update its testing website daily with the hours and pick up locations of cultural sites and library branches with tests available. The distribution of tests will not impact other aspects of cultural site or library branch operations. A list of participating cultural sites and their hours is available here.
Free testing continues to be available at City-run sites throughout the five boroughs. The NYC Health and Hospitals COVID-19 Testing Sites page includes detailed information about all City-run mobile, brick-and-mortar, and micro testing sites across the five boroughs, including location, schedule, and types of testing offered. 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.
COVID-19 testing at most City-run sites is walk-in only. All New Yorkers are tested on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sites allow pre-registration through this link, which will streamline check-in upon arrival.
Additional Resources and Information
The New York City Green Cart Permit Waiting List is Now Open
NYC Green Carts are food carts and trucks that bring fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods to neighborhoods that have lacked access to fresh produce. Green Cart vendors must have a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the Health Department) mobile food vending license, and operators of the cart or truck must have a Health Department Green Cart (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables) permit. For notifications, FAQs, application and instructions on how to apply go to nyc.gov/greencarts. Application will be open until April 30, 2022.
NYC Free Tax Prep and Tax Credit Resources
NYC Free Tax Prep providers can help individuals and families claim important tax credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. For the 2022 tax season, families with income of $72,000 or less and single filers with income of $50,000 or less in 2021 can use NYC Free Tax Prep to file for free. Please visit the NYC Tax Prep website for more information.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax benefit for working people and families. The amount received depends on an individual’s income and the number of qualifying children claimed on the tax return. Those who do not have children may still be eligible. As of 2022, filers can use their 2019 or 2020 tax year to maximize EITC benefits. Additional tax credit information can be found here.
For more information and to learn about virtual, drop-off, and in-person tax assistance options, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance.
Metropolitan Transit Authority – OMNY Unlimited Ride Pilot
The MTA will launch a four-month pilot project to allow unlimited weekly rides using the new OMNY tap-and-go app. Until now, the OMNY tap-and-go app had no equivalent to an unlimited Metrocard.
Starting Feb. 28, from Monday to Sunday during each week of the pilot, any subway or bus rider who uses the OMNY contactless payment system and takes 12 trips within that week, spending $33 in fares, will automatically have free trips for the rest of that week.
The week-long calendar rolls over every Sunday night.
Blueprint to End Gun Violence in New York City
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has released a “Blueprint to End Gun Violence” in New York City, which lays out numerous policy proposals Mayor Adams is seeking to implement to curb gun violence on New York City streets. The roadmap lays out Mayor Adams’ priorities to immediately address the crisis of guns on New York City streets. The Mayor's speech can be found here.
NYPD Police Officer Exam
NeighborhoodStat – Community Led Approaches to Public Safety – Request for Proposals
NeighborhoodStat (Community Led Approaches to Public Safety) Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available to view and respond. Details about the program as well as the RFP can be found here.
The deadline to respond has been extended to Monday, February 28, 2022, 5:00pm.
NYC Parks Department Lifeguard Positions Open
The Parks Department is hiring lifeguards to work five to six days each week during the summer. First-year lifeguards earn a minimum of $16 an hour, for a weekly salary of about $800. Parks’ beaches open on Memorial Day weekend, and pools open in late June; both close the Sunday after Labor Day. To qualify, applicants must pass the Lifeguard Qualifying Test, be at least 16 years of age by the start of employment, have at least 20/30 vision in one eye and 20/40 in the other - without corrective lenses, and be able to swim 50 yards in 35 seconds or less, with proper form.
Ladders for Leaders
Ladders for Leaders (LFL) recruits, screens, and mentors over 4,000 interns each year--since 2004, LFL alumni have earned over $20 million in post-internship salaries and have been placed in prestigious jobs throughout New York City. This program is an initiative of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and is supported by the NYC Center for Youth Employment and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. For more information visit the NYC Ladders for Leaders website.
Middle and High School Applications Due March 1
Public middle and high school applications are due by March 1, 2022. Offers will be sent in May. Middle schools won’t be allowed to use academic screens, but high schools can. The only screening criteria will be first semester grades from this school year and a work sample (no attendance or state test scores). The screening process will also be managed centrally, rather than by individual schools.
Community-wide Conference Call
We look forward to your continued participation on our bi-weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information shared here and in our bi-weekly calls is being communicated to our shared clients.
The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared on our bi-weekly call as well as new developments and useful information regarding other City benefits and services. All of the information included in each of our prior communications, since March 2020, is available on our website on the COVID-19 Community Updates page.
Thank you for your partnership in serving our fellow New Yorkers in need of our services. If you have any questions or concerns about the issues covered in this communication or on our bi-weekly calls, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
In partnership,
Gary P. Jenkins
DSS Commissioner
New York City Department of Social Services
