August 9, 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. To be added to the invitations for the weekly briefing calls or to the distribution list for this weekly update, please send an email request to dssoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
ERAP Briefing
DSS and sister agencies hosted a briefing for our government partners, including representatives of federal, state and city elected officials, on the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s ERAP program. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here. Access Passcode: DSSErap_2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates
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.
Vaccination and Testing Apps
New Yorkers can meet vaccine and/or testing requirements by carrying their paper vaccination card with them, or scanning and storing it in one of two authorized mobile apps - Excelsior Pass Wallet and NYC Covid Safe.
The Excelsior Pass Wallet, developed for New York State, allows an individual to find and store their proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. The app will only work for people who have been vaccinated in New York, as it confirms the vaccination information against city or state records. The app, called NYS Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
The NYC Covid Safe app doesn’t connect directly to vaccine records. The app allows a person to upload 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. The app is also available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
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.
As a reminder, 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. P-EBT benefits remain on the card for 274 days from date of issuance.
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, clients will need to order a replacement card from the State. Replacement P-EBT Food Benefit cards can be ordered by calling 1-888-328-6399.
Clients with an active Cash Assistance or SNAP case who receive P-EBT food benefits may see up to 7 separate payments (one for each month from September 2020 through March 2021) for the total amount allocated per month based on number of eligible children in their SNAP household.
In order to set up a PIN with State OTDA for an EBT card with P-EBT food benefits, families can take the following steps:
- Call 888-328-6399
- Enter the 19-digit number listed under Card Number
- Press 1 to “Create a PIN”
- Check the name of the child that appears on the card (the child is the card holder) and enter the following information when prompted:
-
The system asks for the last four digits of the card holder’s social security number. DO NOT enter the SSN information. Instead, the caller must enter the month and day (MMDD) of the child’s actual birthday (example: If July 4th is the child’s birthday, the caller enters 0704)
- Caller enters their zip code
- Caller enters a 4-digit PIN
- Caller reenters the same 4-digit PIN
OTDA does not yet have enrollment rosters for non-public schools. It is not yet known when families of students in non-public schools will receive their P-EBT food benefits. OTDA anticipates that benefits for the entire period of benefit eligibility (September 2020 through June 2021) will be issued to eligible non-public school children beginning in September 2021.
Excluded Workers Fund Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the Excluded Workers Fund. The Excluded Workers Fund (EWF) is a benefit for people who lost income due to COVID-19 and aren’t eligible for Unemployment Insurance due to immigration status. The application doesn’t ask any questions about citizenship or immigration status. New Yorkers who lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for one of two tiers of benefits:
- Tier 1 provides up to $15,600 in benefits (minus taxes)
- Tier 2 provides up to $3,200 in benefits (minus taxes)
Eligibility:
- Currently live in New York State and lived here before March 27, 2020.
- Lost 50% or more of weekly work income or total household income at any time between February 23, 2020 and April 2, 2021.
- Are not eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI) due to immigration status.
- Earned less than $26,208 in the 12 months before April 2021.
CUNY Comeback Program
On July 28, Governor Cuomo announced the CUNY Comeback Program, a plan to eliminate up to $125 million in unpaid debt for at least 50,000 students who attended CUNY and suffered financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility:
Students enrolled at a CUNY college at any time between March 13, 2020 and the end of the Spring 2021 semester are eligible to receive forgiveness of outstanding balances owed to CUNY, including recent graduates and students who dropped out after taking classes during this time. Students who meet any of the below criteria will automatically have their eligible tuition and fees forgiven.
- Any student who was eligible for Pell Grants, based on their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) as provided after completing the FAFSA, even if the student did not receive Pell grants. This may also include students who are eligible for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) but did not receive the full award.
- Students who graduated from CUNY since the national emergency was declared on March 13, 2020, and owe any outstanding balance from the Spring 2020 semester through the Spring 2021 semester.
- Students who have an outstanding balance of $100 or less per semester, for any of the following semesters: Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.
Students whose balances will be forgiven automatically will see this reflected in August 2021. They will receive a notification by email once the cancellation has been processed in the student’s CUNYfirst account. All other potentially eligible students will receive a letter in their preferred CUNY email with details on how to apply for financial hardship.
The CUNY Comeback Program is open to all students who are or were enrolled during the COVID-19 national emergency, regardless of citizenship status. For more information, students should contact their campus’ financial aid office.
NYS Department of Labor Updates
On September 5, 2021, several Federal unemployment benefit programs will be expiring across the country, in accordance with federal law.
The Federal benefit programs that will be expiring are:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
- Extended Benefits (EB)
- $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
“Regular” Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits will continue to be paid to eligible claimants even though these four Federal programs are ending. To be considered eligible for UI after September 5, 2021, a claimant would need to be unemployed AND be in the first 26 weeks (or 104 effective days) of benefits. Claimants can find their effective days remaining for UI benefits in their online Payment History. Because FPUC is ending, any weeks a claimant is eligible to receive UI benefits after September 5, 2021 will no longer include the additional $300. Claimants will be contacted through emails and text messages to inform them of which program they are currently in and whether they will be eligible to continue receiving benefits after the federal benefit expiration date.
The US Department of Labor (USDOL) has asked States to accept new PUA claims for a period of 30-days after September 5, 2021. The NYS Department of Labor will accept those claims, evaluate for eligibility, and backdate where appropriate, as required by USDOL.
Medicaid Application Submission and Updates
Medicaid applications from individuals age 65 and older or who have a disability can be dropped off in marked drop boxes at Medical Assistance Program “MAP” (formerly known as Medical Insurance and Community Services Administration or MICSA) locations and may also be faxed to 917-639-0732.
The end of New York State’s state of emergency declaration does NOT change the easements granted for Medicaid cases. The Medicaid easements are based on the federal Public Health Emergency, which is still in effect.
Medicaid easements have been extended through December 2021. This includes the automatic extension for cases with an authorization that ends between August and December 2021, even if the client doesn’t submit their renewal. These cases will be extended for 12 months.
Any case that is closed during the COVID-19 emergency for failure to renew or failure to provide documentation will be re-opened and coverage restored to ensure no gap in coverage. Excess resources cases will be extended for 6 months.
Child Tax Credit – Advance Payment Impact on Medicaid Eligibility
New York State Department of Health (SDOH) recently released guidance advising that this tax credit is not taxable income and therefore not countable in Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)-based eligibility determinations. For non-MAGI determinations, tax refunds are not countable as income and are an exempt resource for 12 months.
Emergency Rental Assistance Application (ERAP) Update
The State has confirmed that there are streamlining changes being implemented for the ERAP application process. These details will be shared as soon as we receive them from the State.
Additional ERAP details:
- Once an application for ERAP is submitted, the applicant is protected from eviction for the entire time that their application is being processed.
- Households that do not have a lease can still apply for ERAP if they can provide other proof of a rental obligation such as a landlord statement, canceled check or proof of electronic payment. Landlords will also be asked to provide proof that the individual is a tenant.
- If a tenant applies for ERAP assistance and is determined eligible, their rental arrears will be issued to their landlord. If the landlord cannot be contacted to provide necessary information so the rental payment may be issued, the State will hold that payment on behalf of the tenant for 180 days. During that 180 days the tenant is protected from eviction, and after 180 days if a landlord does not claim the payment, the tenant’s rent arrears are fully cleared and will not have to be paid.
CityFHEPS Rate Increase
Rent levels for CityFHEPS clients are scheduled to be increased. The proposed rule to implement the increase and other changes is subject to notice and comment and the proposed rule can be found here.
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 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.
Hunts Point
845-847 Barretto Street, Bronx
Client Reopening Date*: August 2, 2021
Fordham
2551 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx
Client Reopening Date*: August 9, 2021
Jamaica
165-08 88th Avenue.
Client Reopening Date*: August 9, 2021
East End
2322 Third Avenue, Manhattan
Client Reopening Date*: August 9, 2021
Veterans
25 Chapel Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Client Reopening Date*: August 30, 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.
Morrisania Medicaid Office Closure
The Morrisania Medicaid Office, located at 1225 Gerard Avenue in the Bronx, will close permanently on August 13th. This Medicaid Office has already been closed to the public due to the pandemic. The Rider Medicaid Office, located at 305 Rider Avenue will continue to be open to the public, and the Fordham Medicaid Office, located at 2541 Bainbridge Avenue, is scheduled to reopen on August 9th.
HRA’s Medicaid clients who have questions about their case or their Medicaid card or who wish to report case changes, such as change of address, can call the HRA Medicaid Helpline at 1-888-692-6116. Pursuant to a federal waiver, Medicaid easements allowing for applicant attestation of all elements of eligibility except identity and immigration status are in place until the end of the year and Medicaid renewals due between now and December 31, 2021 will automatically be renewed.
FEMA and HRA Funeral Reimbursement
To be eligible for burial assistance from the HRA Office of Burial Services (OBS), State OTDA has directed that clients who meet the eligibility requirements for FEMA funeral assistance must explore and apply for the FEMA reimbursement. If a client hasn’t received a decision from FEMA, they can submit an application for burial assistance from HRA and HRA will wait for FEMA’s decision before processing the HRA burial assistance application. Information on the HRA Office of Burial Services (OBS) burial assistance can be found here.
As a reminder, 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.
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. There is not an online application.
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.
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
