October 5, 2020

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 Tuesday call, 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.

Census
 
The preliminary injunction issued at the end of last month permits the census count to continue through October 31, 2020. This provides an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum toward reaching the prior deadline to engage as many New Yorkers as we can, particularly those in traditionally underrepresented communities. An undercount jeopardizes New York’s ability to receive our fair share of Federal funds and political representation. We can’t risk these important resources. It is critical that we dispel myths and encourage all New York City residents to complete the census. Please help the City reinforce to clients and constituents the critical importance of completing the 2020 census.
 
The Census asks just 10 simple questions that can be answered in just a few minutes online by visiting my2020census.gov or calling 844-330-2020. More information about how to get involved/volunteer can be found here. The census is easy, safe, and confidential. There are no questions about citizenship or immigration status. 

Voter registration

The deadline for voter registration is October 9, 2020. Please help remind clients and constituents of this important deadline. Individuals can sign up to vote here. To confirm voter registration, call 866-868-3692. All New York voters are eligible to vote by mail/absentee ballot this November. Individuals can sign up to vote by mail online here or by calling 866-VOTE-NYC. The deadline to register for an absentee ballot is October 27. Early voting is also available between October 24 and November 1.


SNAP and Cash Assistance Interviews and On-Demand

This week, Congress passed and then the President signed a stopgap appropriations bill which included language to reinstate the SNAP partial interview waiver for new applications that we requested. As we reported previously, the SNAP partial interview waiver for new SNAP applications ended in September. The appropriations continuing resolution puts the partial interview waiver back in place through June 30, 2021. We will provide additional information on the impact of this appropriations legislation on SNAP benefits as it becomes available. 

As a result of this reinstatement of the SNAP partial interview waiver, our plans to activate On Demand interviews for SNAP applications have been postponed because interviews will not be required for all applicants. We will continue to conduct any interviews required for SNAP recertifications and new applications by reaching out to clients directly. There is no need for clients to contact or visit an HRA Center for recertification or new application interviews. If an interview is required, HRA will contact clients.

  • SNAP clients who are re-certifying or submitting a new application for SNAP do not need an interview (unless they are in one of the limited categories listed in the “Additional Information” section below). 
  • Clients submitting Cash Assistance applications and recertifications need an interview by telephone. The waiver permitting the telephone interview for Cash Assistance will continue through December 31, 2020. HRA will contact Cash Assistance applicants to conduct an interview.

Pandemic EBT

The continuing resolution appropriations bill that Congress passed last week provides an additional $8 billion for nutrition benefits, and also extends a suite of nutrition-related regulatory waivers through Federal Fiscal Year 2021, including measures to help families with school-aged children buy groceries and flexibility for school districts to make meals more accessible to students. 

The bill extends Pandemic-EBT benefits through September 2021, and also expands the program to include younger children who might have received meals at daycare programs that are closed or operating on reduced hours. Please see informational flyers on P-EBT at nyc.gov/getfood in 13 languages. As we receive additional information on the extension of P-EBT we will share it in our weekly update communications and on our Tuesday calls. Detailed information on the current P-EBT benefits can be found below in the “Additional Information” section.

Evictions – Governor’s Executive Order and Tenant Safe Harbor Act Protections

On September 29, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed an Executive Order which broadens and extends the Safe Harbor Act protections through January 1, 2021. Under the Tenant Safe Harbor Act and the Executive Order, tenants who have experienced financial hardship any time after March 7, 2020, including those who were facing an eviction proceeding or who received a judgement or warrant of eviction prior to March 7, 2020, may not be evicted through January 1, 2021 for failing to pay rent. Although protection under the Tenant Safe Harbor Act may prevent the landlord from evicting a tenant, a court can still allow the landlord to take other legal action to collect unpaid rent from the tenant. 

There are still a number of open issues. For example, the courts could find that the Tenant Safe Harbor Act protects tenants from eviction for reasons other than failing to pay rent. Also, different protections may apply to a tenant facing eviction depending on when they first owed rent. Therefore, for tenants with questions about whether the Executive Order or Tenant Safe Harbor Act may apply to them, free legal assistance through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice is available by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline.

Shelter – Use of Commercial Hotels

As we reported on our weekly call, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic DHS was moving toward discontinuing the use of commercial hotels for shelter, a practice that dates back to the 1960s. As a result of the pandemic, DHS has used additional commercial hotels for single adults who had been in congregate shelters to provide social distancing to ensure the safety of our clients experiencing homelessness. Our efforts to phase out the use of commercial hotels for families continues independent from the use of COVID temporary relocation hotels for single adults who would otherwise be in congregate shelters.

COVID Alert NY

COVID Alert NY is New York State’s official Exposure Notification App created by the New York State Department of Health in collaboration with Google and Apple. This is a free smartphone app for anyone 18+ that lives and/or works in New York that is available for download in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The COVID Alert NY app notifies users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Upon receiving an exposure notification, the app will encourage users to contact their physician or the State Health Department hotline (1-833-227-5045) to get more information about quarantining and testing.

Anyone who downloads the app does not have to worry about being tracked, identified or having their personal information shared. The app is completely anonymous and does not track a user‘s location or movement. No personal data is collected. COVID Alert NY uses Bluetooth proximity-enabled exposure notification technology provided by Apple and Google which is safe and secure. For more information or to download the app, please visit the website: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-alert-ny

Fair Fares

Starting in July 2020, DSS/HRA made the Fair Fares discount available on Access-A-Ride paratransit trips with the cooperation of Metropolitan Transit Authority. This was made possible through an interim process of linking the Fair Fares account of Access-A-Ride clients with their Access-A-Ride account in order to access the benefit.

The interim process for applying for Access-A-Ride discounts has now been replaced with the ability to complete the linkage through ACCESSS HRA by adding the Access-A-Ride ID to the profile section of an ACCESS HRA account or by adding the Access-A-Ride ID during an applications or renewals. Starting on October 5th, there will be a quick link on the ACCESS HRA website to direct FFNYC customers to the right place. The customer verification process with the MTA will be completed on a daily basis.

Department of Education COVID-19 Testing

The NYC Test and Trace Corps will begin random testing of New York City public school children and teachers starting on October 5, 2020. In order to do so, schools must obtain consent from parents and guardians of school children. Please help the City get the word out about this critical initiative in order to ensure participation from families with children attending NYC public schools.

Supplemental Lost Wages Assistance Program – Unemployment Benefits Supplement

As we reported last week, funds received through the Lost Wages Assistance Program to individuals receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits from the State will not be counted as income in eligibility determinations for SNAP, Cash Assistance, Medicaid and HEAP. We have confirmed that the funds received through this supplement are not limited to a specific time period. The exemption provides that any funds received under the Lost Wages Assistance program are not considered as income or a resource when determining eligibility for or benefit levels under state- or federally-funded income assistance or resource-tested benefit programs. 

Detailed information is provided below in the “Additional Information” section.

Cash Assistance Six Month Mailer

In an effort to make the process of returning the Cash Assistance six-month recertification mailer, we have requested and received approval from State OTDA to permit clients to upload the Cash Assistance six-month mailer using the ACCESS HRA mobile document upload app as an additional official method for submission. 

The mobile document upload feature in ACCESS HRA is available on the ACCESS HRA mobile app. Instructions and information on the mobile app are available here: www.nyc.gov/accesshramobile. Or go to the Google Play or App Store on your phone or tablet and search for ACCESS HRA. 

An instructional video on uploading documents using the app can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBpCe48zr6w
 
Phone Numbers Provided to Clients

During this time while many Job and SNAP Centers remain closed to comply with public health guidelines except for certain Centers in each borough, we have made changes to the client notifications in order to ensure that clients have the correct phone numbers for reaching HRA offices. Clients will receive notices of agency actions with the phone number of Infoline rather than the number of the closed Centers. In addition, at those Centers that are currently closed, the phones are being forwarded to Infoline. When clients call closed Centers, they will be re-routed to Infoline for assistance.

Client notices with Fair Hearing information will provide a unique phone number that clients can call to request a conference by phone. Once requested, clients will be contacted by HRA at or around the date and time the client provides as a good time to contact them to conduct a Fair Hearing conference.

Public Rest Rooms

We have received several inquiries on the Tuesday community briefing calls regarding public rest rooms for individuals experiencing homelessness. The NYC Parks Department has open facilities across the City. Information and a list of all locations can be found here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/bathrooms

Storage Allowance/Grant

An allowance for storage of furniture and personal belongings is available under client circumstances involving temporary shelter, eviction or relocation as long as eligibility for Cash Assistance or Emergency Assistance is met. Applicants and clients can apply for storage assistance through ACCESS HRA. Applicants for a storage allowance are no longer required to provide three (3) estimates before payments can be made, but the request must meet certain storage size and cost requirements.

Community-wide Conference Call

We appreciate your continued participation in our weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the changes we’ve undertaken quickly during this emergency are being communicated to our clients.

If you were not able to join Tuesday’s call, 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.
 
Each week we provide all of the information included in each of our prior communications in the “Additional Information” section below. If you would like to reference a specific prior communication, please click on the links below:
 

As a reminder, we have a standing informational call on Tuesdays at 4:00PM. Details about this call are sent separately for those who have expressed an interest in joining.

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, as we found when the weekly community calls first began, 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 in the “Additional Information” section below.

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


Additional Information

DSS Contact information

Please refer to the contact information for general assistance:

  • All case-specific inquiries: Infoline at 718-557-1399 (legal advocates have been provided with additional contacts)
  • Medicaid inquiries: Medicaid Helpline at 888-692-6116
  • General HRA/DHS questions and questions that are related to these communications/changes, and/or to enroll in the ACCESS HRA Provider Portal: email DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov
  • State Pandemic EBT program questions: otda.sm.eisp.pebt@otda.ny.gov
  • Child Support inquiries: NY State Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485


FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Supplemental Lost Wages Assistance Program – Unemployment Benefits Supplement

The Lost Wage Assistance (LWA) Program provides an additional $300 per week in Supplemental Lost Wages (SLW) payments to individuals receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits from the State for the weeks ending August 2 through September 6, 2020. We have received confirmation from the State that the SLW benefits received by individuals will not be counted as income in determinations for Medicaid and HEAP; as reported last week, SLW benefits will not be counted as income for SNAP and Cash Assistance eligibility. This supplement is considered emergency assistance and is not considered as income or a resource when determining eligibility for or benefit levels under state- or federally-funded income assistance or resource-tested benefit programs.  

New Yorkers who were employed during part of this period may still be eligible for one or more SLW payments for the weeks covered.

New Yorkers eligible for SLW payments received a secure DocuSign email from the NYS Department of Labor (DOL) with a link to certify, or they can call 833-491-0632 to certify via an automated phone system. Please note that FEMA has exhausted its funding for the program, and it will not continue beyond the 6 weeks.

In order to receive SLW payments, unemployment must be related to COVID-19. New Yorkers who are already qualified for SLW payments received an email and/or text message from the State Department of Labor (DOL) on September 11 (for the weeks ending August 2, 9, and 16) and/or on September 19 (for the weeks ending August 23, 30, and September 6) informing them they do not need to take any action to receive SLW payments. If clients fall into this category, they do not need contact the Department of Labor to inquire about the program. Claimants can also call 833-491-0632 to certify via an automated phone system.

An updated LWA Program fact sheet developed by NYS DOL can be found here.

Apply for Cash Assistance Online
 
With State approval, we began accepting Cash Assistance (CA) applications online via ACCESS HRA on Friday, March 20. We have placed a copy of the user guide here. Our ACCESS HRA online training sessions are also providing updated information on completing the CA application through ACCESS HRA.

Through an Executive Order, the interview portion of the CA application process has been conducted by telephone. Here is a link to the flyer for clients regarding the public benefits changes that we have described. State OTDA has now extended the CA telephone interview waiver through December 31, 2020.
 
SNAP Eligibility – Assets

Under federal broad-based categorical eligibility, most SNAP households are not subject to a resource or asset test. The only income-eligible households that are subject to SNAP resource limits are households that contain individuals who are disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits due to an intentional program violation (IPV) or sanction, and households that contain an individual who is aged or has a disability and have gross income in excess of 200% of the federal poverty level. For these households, assets/resources for SNAP recipients must fall below the following limits:

  • $2,250 for households without a member over the age of 60 or a household member with a disability
  • $3,500 for households with a member over the age of 60 or a household member with a disability.

For the purposes of SNAP eligibility, funds that could be made available for the purchase of food are considered assets, such as money in a bank account. Equity in a home is not considered money that is available for the purchase of food and is thus not counted in the asset calculation for SNAP eligibility. 

Rental/Emergency Assistance AND Ongoing Cash Assistance Benefits

Clients can apply for emergency assistance grants as well as ongoing Cash Assistance through ACCESS HRA. To apply for Cash Assistance, a client does not need to apply for an emergency grant, but we do ask questions during the online application process in order to make sure that an emergency grant is not needed to ensure the financial security of the clients. Therefore, every ACCESS HRA Cash Assistance application starts with a series of emergency indicator questions. 

As provided previously, below are instructions for applying for Cash Assistance through ACCESS HRA. We encourage organizations to sign up for an ACCESS HRA training webinar for additional information on using our online tools. Click here to view the webinar options.

To apply for Cash Assistance or a one-time emergency grant (one shot deal), clients will need to take the following steps:

  1. Visit ACCESS HRA and log-in
  2. Select the ‘Benefits’ link from the menu options on the homepage
  3. Select ‘Start a New Application’
  4. Select the ‘Cash Assistance’ option in the ‘Select Application’ page
  5.  Identify any applicable emergency indicators and click ‘Next’
  6. Select the type of benefits you would like to apply for. The three options are: Cash Assistance, One Shot Deal, or Child Care without Cash Assistance (CILOCA)
  7. Complete and submit the application
  8. Follow instructions in the ACCESS HRA confirmation page and submit required documents using the ACCESS HRA Mobile App

Clients with an active Cash Assistance case can submit a special grant request for rent or utility arrears via ACCESS HRA. To submit a Cash Assistance Special Grant Request, clients will need to:

  1. Visit ACCESS HRA and log-in
  2. Enter identifying information to ‘Find My Case’ and link to your HRA case
  3. Select ‘View Case’ in the ACCESS HRA user home page
  4. Select ‘Request Special Grant,’ located on the left-hand side
  5. Identify the special grant you are requesting, complete the request and submit
  6. Follow instructions in confirmation and submit required documents using the ACCESS HRA Mobile App

Emergency Grant Repayment

Not all emergency grants require repayment. As part of the application process, if rent arrears or utility arrears are identified, clients are asked to sign a State-required repayment agreement at the time of application in ACCESS HRA. We do so because, when the application is filed initially, HRA does not know which category of assistance the client will ultimately be eligible for and we want to avoid the delay of having to ask clients to sign the required repayment agreement at the end of the process when an eligibility decision has been made and time is of the essence to stave off an eviction. In order to make this clear to clients during the application process, we are adding the below clarifying information to the grant applications:

“Please note that you will have to review and e-sign the repayment agreement before submitting your application. Not all emergency grants require repayment. If you are eligible for a grant, the notice you receive will let you know whether or not you need to repay."

In particular, clients receiving SSI are not required to repay emergency grants. Other clients may also be eligible for non-recoupable rent arrears or utility arrears payments under State law. These determinations are made upon review of the full application. 

Medicaid

In New York City Medicaid cases with authorization ending in the months of March – December will be extended for 12 months. 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.

The renewal extension applies to all renewal cases including Office of Mail Renewal, Managed Long Term Care (MLTC), Nursing Home Eligibility, Medicare Savings Program, MBI-WPD (entitled to 6 months extended grace period if loss of employment), Stenson/Recipients who lose their SSI eligibility, and Rosenberg/Recipients who lose their eligibility for Cash Assistance

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 855-355-5777.

Emergency Utility Intervention Program (EUIP)

In August, HRA completed its low-income rate match for the Con Edison utility rate reduction programs for customers receiving social services benefits. HRA clients with utility accounts were automatically enrolled and provided an opportunity to opt-out of the program if they wished. 

Enrollment is ongoing and HRA clients who were not automatically enrolled can participate by contacting their utility company to enroll, see details below:

To apply for the Con Edison low-income rate discount, please submit documentation (acceptance or current budget letter) to verify receipt of public benefits from at least one of HRA’s social services programs (Cash Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP). In addition, HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) can serve as qualifying benefits.

Clients can contact Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) to enroll by phone, or by email at lowincomerate@coned.com. Con Edison will provide further instructions regarding enrollment requirements. Applicants need to have their account number available when calling Con Edison and include it in any correspondence.
 
For questions, clients should contact the Emergency Utility Intervention program at 212-331-4120 or by email at EUIP@hra.nyc.gov.

Childcare

Recipients of Cash Assistance who are participating in an approved education or training program outside of the home, or are employed, may be eligible for childcare assistance. These needs are assessed at application and recertification. Clients who become employed or engaged outside of the home in between recertifications can submit their employment or engagement information and need for child care through ACCESS HRA by submitting documentation and including a contact number. We will follow-up directly with the client on next steps. Clients requesting childcare often need to submit additional information, so it is important that clients provide a phone number where they can be reached and answer our call.

Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and NYS Extended Benefits Program

The Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) provides an extension of traditional UIB for 13 weeks. Individuals are eligible for this benefit extension once they have exhausted all 26 weeks of traditional unemployment insurance. Individuals who have received the Pandemic Unemployment Supplement are not eligible for continuation under PEUC.

New York State provided an extension of Unemployment benefits as of July 5, 2020 for an additional 20 weeks. Eligibility requires that individuals have exhausted 26 weeks of traditional UIB and all 13 weeks of Pandemic Unemployment. Individuals who have received the Pandemic Unemployment Supplement are not eligible for continuation under the Extended Benefits (EB) Program.

The total number of weeks of traditional UIB these programs make available to individuals receiving benefits is 59 weeks.

The State Department of Labor will send out letters with instructions to claimants who may be eligible for EB. Individuals who believe they are eligible but have not received a letter yet, should take the following actions:

If the person’s Benefit Year has not expired, continue to certify for benefits:

  • Online at www.labor.ny.gov/signin: Log in to the “My Online Services” page, select “Unemployment Services,” and choose “Claim Weekly Benefits.”
  • By telephone: Call the Tel-Service toll-free number: 888-581-5812. Tel-Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If the person’s Benefit Year has expired, file a new claim:
   
  • Online at unemployment.labor.ny.gov: Select “Login,” and then choose “File A Claim.” It will be necessary to call the Telephone Claims Center to complete your claim.
  • By telephone: Call the Telephone Claim Center at 1-888-209-8124, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 7:30 pm

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:

  • The Neighborhood Opportunity Network is operating Nutrition Kitchens with locations in five boroughs. These sites provide free groceries for individuals and families in need. More information can be found here.

  • The City has created the Get Food NYC food delivery program to provide food for coronavirus (COVID-19)-vulnerable and food-insecure New Yorkers not currently served through existing food delivery programs. More information can be found here.

  • If you are interested in the location of a food pantry, please visit the 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: Pursuant to federal requirements, SNAP benefits cannot be used to cover delivery fees.

Farmers Market Health Bucks

Many NYC farmers markets remain open as an essential service and all accept Health Bucks coupons and most accept SNAP. Health Bucks are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all NYC farmers markets. SNAP recipients are eligible to receive Health Bucks. For every $5 spent at farmers markets using SNAP on an EBT card, individuals can receive $2 in Health Bucks. Health Bucks are available year-round at NYC farmers markets that accept SNAP. Find a farmers market here. 

For additional information on how individuals can access and use Health Bucks, please refer to this video: How People with SNAP Benefits Use Health Bucks.

Organizations may apply for free Health Bucks to distribute to clients. Organizations can apply from mid-May through November. Health Bucks are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply for Health Bucks online.

HRA-Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)

We have updated the eligibility criteria for our Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) providers to allow additional organizations to meet eligibility requirements. Applicant organizations are now required to have operated a pantry for four months rather than six. The application and eligibility criteria to operate a food pantry can be accessed here and more information can be found at feednyc.org.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) provides supplemental nutrition to food insecure New Yorkers. EFAP currently funds over 570 emergency food programs (food pantries, community kitchens and mobile pantries) throughout NYC, providing shelf-stable and frozen food, and administrative funding for non-food related expenses.

Financial Counseling

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.
 
Medicare Savings Program

In response to questions about the extension of the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), the 12-month extension of Medicaid cases due to renew in March – December also applies to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP).

Burial Claims/Funeral Services

We issued an emergency rule increasing the amount of the burial/funeral services allowance from $900 to $1,700 with a total funeral cost cap of $3,400. The Mayor’s Office has worked with MOIA and others to raise private dollars to offer funeral assistance to all eligible individuals regardless of their immigration status. More information is available on the HRA Burial/Funeral Services website.
 
CUNY Emergency Relief Grants

CUNY has established the Chancellor’s Emergency Relief Grant Program in response to the serious financial hardships many CUNY students and their families face as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. The program will provide one-time $500 grants to qualifying CUNY students regardless of immigration status, including student parents, to help cover their basic living expenses as the pandemic and its economic consequences continue to unfold. 

The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund was enacted to provide funds to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants are not calculated as part of a CA or SNAP budget, nor considered a resource when determining eligibility or continued eligibility for CA and SNAP cases. They are one-time grants to address a specific crisis.

Pandemic EBT Benefits (P-EBT)

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits are currently being 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.

In an effort to assist organizations in getting information to clients regarding State OTDA’s P-EBT program, the City has created P-EBT flyers for clients that are available in 13 languages.

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.

State OTDA has provided the following email address to direct all questions regarding the distribution of P-EBT benefits: otda.sm.eisp.pebt@otda.ny.gov.

State OTDA has also created a page for P-EBT frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Advocates who are contacting the State on behalf of clients may email otda.sm.eisp.pebt@otda.ny.gov with questions, and use “Advocate Inquiry” in the subject line in order to facilitate appropriate routing of the inquiry to expedite a response. 

With federal approval, P-EBT benefits are being distributed by the State to all families of eligible school-aged children. The State’s P-EBT Plan authorizes OTDA to issue P-EBT benefits to provide nutritional support for children who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals (FRPMs) due to school closings necessitated by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Families of public school (or participating private school) children between the ages of 5 and 18 are eligible for the one-time benefit of $420 for each eligible child. This payment represents the value of school meals for the period of time from March when the schools closed until the end of the school year on June 26. Payments will be issued for each eligible school-aged child living in the household. All students attending Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits. As of September 2017, all NYC public schools are considered CEP schools

There is no application process for receipt of these funds. School enrollment information for distribution of funds will be provided to State OTDA by local school districts (for NYC, the NYC Department of Education). OTDA will be using the March 2020 school enrollment data to determine eligibility by age and enrollment status.

Payments have been issued as follows:

  • Cohort I: Families of eligible school-aged children who are currently receiving SNAP and Cash Assistance received a P-EBT benefit directly on their existing EBT cards. Families have received $420 for each eligible child. These payments were made as follows:
  • On May 19     $193
  • On June 16     $227

  • Cohort II: Families of eligible children with Medicaid-only cases received the full payment in the last two weeks of June. These benefits were issued on a separate benefit card for each child in the household. The benefits were issued in the name of the case-head.

  • Cohort III: Families with eligible children who are not living in households receiving CA, SNAP, or Medicaid benefits are receiving a P-EBT benefit of $420 for each eligible child in the household. These children are certified eligible by enrollment rosters from the NYC DOE. Families will receive an EBT card loaded with the $420 in benefits.

The State has completed distribution of benefits for Cohorts I and II (I – recipients of SNAP and Cash Assistance, II – recipients of Medicaid only). Cohort III includes all remaining NYC public school students and students at other NYC school participating in the free lunch program. Cohort III includes approximately 6,000 students. All of these students should have received their P-EBT cards by the end of September.

Individuals who believe they should have received benefits in one of the first two cohorts (recipients of CA, SNAP and/or Medicaid) and have not received these benefits should contact the State OTDA helpline at 833-452-0096. The State is able to look up clients in the State P-EBT database for issuance of benefits that were not received by the client. State OTDA advises that all other callers who have questions about P-EBT benefits should have their case/account number located at the top of the State benefits letter available when they call in order to receive assistance.

Because the State uses client data collected by HRA to confirm addresses, Medicaid clients who have lost their EBT cards and have a change of address should contact the Medicaid helpline to update their contact information at 888-692-6116. Clients can also use the form 751K to make this change and fax it to 917-639-0837. Additionally, clients can send a letter requesting the address change. Letters must include identifying information (name, DOB, case number). As a reminder, HRA does not have any role in the distribution of P-EBT benefits, but addresses should always be up-to-date in our systems in order to help facilitate the State’s distribution of any benefits.

P-EBT beneficiaries in the first two cohorts received funds directly on their EBT cards. Beneficiaries in the third cohort received an EBT card in the mail pre-loaded with benefit funds.

Additional information regarding P-EBT benefits:

  • P-EBT benefits are provided to all eligible children regardless of immigration status.

  • Children ages three and four who are attending a Universal Pre-K program and are receiving free lunch under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) for schools are eligible for P-EBT. However, children of this age who are receiving care in a child care facility and receiving free lunch under the Child and Adult Care Food Program are not eligible. The Child and Adult Care Food program provides meals to children in day care centers, not schools. 

  • P-EBT benefits are available to students who are enrolled in non-public schools where free lunch is provided under the NSLA. There are 450 schools providing free meals under this program in New York State. Parents and guardians are advised to contact their schools to determine if their school participates in the NSLA. State OTDA is unable to provide information to individuals regarding specific school eligibility at this time.

  • The USDA has advised that P-EBT benefits are non-transferable and cannot be donated to individuals, food banks, or pantries. The benefits are intended to purchase food for the household/children to whom they are issued. Every NYC family who receives a P-EBT card should use the benefit to buy food for their own households. If families are interested in supporting food pantries, they should consider a financial contribution to a local charity or food program. You can find a food program near you here. 

  • Children who are living in foster care, juvenile detention or other living situations not with their parents will receive P-EBT benefits if they are part of a SNAP case through the benefits cardholder for the case. For children who are not part of a SNAP case, they will receive a letter at their address of record with the Department of Education with instructions on how to access the P-EBT food benefits.

  • As a reminder, Medicaid-only clients must create a pin number by calling 1-888-328-6399 to access the Pandemic -EBT benefit with their Medicaid CBIC. To do so, the client will need to enter the zip code on record in WMS for their case and the last 4 digits of their Social Security number. If a client is not sure what zip code is on record or is unable to set up a PIN due to entering the wrong zip code, they should contact the Medicaid Helpline at 1-888-692-6116 to confirm the information.

Please note:

  • Reporting case changes (as required for ongoing SNAP benefits) is not required for P-EBT benefits.

  • Expired benefit cards will not be reactivated for P-EBT. P-EBT benefits will only be added to active EBT cards. Clients without active EBT cards will receive new EBT cards with P-EBT benefits.

Please remember that HRA has no role in the administration of these benefits. Distribution of these benefits is being handled directly by the State’s vendor. 

 
PROGRAMMATIC UPDATES

SNAP and Cash Assistance Recertifications
 
SNAP: As required by the USDA, recertification for SNAP benefits has resumed, starting with those cases due to expire in September. Clients must recertify in order to continue receiving benefits. Recertifications can be completed through ACCESS HRA. There is no need for these clients to come into an HRA office.

In accordance with our SNAP interview waiver from the USDA, which will continue through December 31, 2020 for all recertifications only some SNAP cases will require an interview. Those clients who do require an interview will receive a telephone call from HRA staff. As a reminder, based on the USDA waiver, we can issue 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.

Consistent with the USDA’s SNAP requirements, the Periodic Mailer for SNAP and the Six-Month Mail-in Recertification for Cash Assistance have resumed. Previously the requirement for clients to complete these mail-in recertifications was suspended in accordance with the waiver that we had obtained. The waiver for suspension of this requirement expired in September. Clients will begin receiving these notices in the mail and must complete and return them in order to ensure continuation of benefits.  The SNAP Periodic Mailer can be completed online via ACCESS HRA. Cash Six-Month Mailer forms should be completed and submitted using the ACCESS HRA mobile document upload app or mailed in.

Cash Assistance: Consistent with the USDA’s SNAP requirement, recertifications for Cash Assistance benefits have resumed as of September 2020. 

Clients who are due to recertify must do so in order to continue receiving benefits. Recertifications can be completed through ACCESS HRA and clients will receive a phone call to complete the interview. There is no need for these clients to come into an HRA office.

Interviews for CA: We have received an in-person interview waiver through December 31, 2020 for all CA applications and recertifications. HRA will call all CA applicants and recertifying clients for their phone interview.

Please note: HRA will contact clients to conduct interviews for CA and SNAP applications. Please help encourage clients to answer their calls to conduct their interviews. These calls will come from any of the following phone numbers:

  • 347-227-3301
  • 929-267-5002
  • 718-269-3231
  • 914-274-5743

When a caller calls any of these 4 numbers back, the caller will hear the following recorded message:

You have reached non-working exchange phone number of DSS. For further assistance, please call DSS Infoline at 718-557-1399.

Additional State Waivers

We have received a 12-month extension on Medicaid cases due to expire in December. With this extension, all cases due to expire in the months of March – December are extended for 12 months.

We have lifted employment sanctions for Cash Assistance recipients who contacted the agency and stated a willingness to comply, and we have suspended all employment-related requirements. We have also called clients with an employment sanction to inquire if they are willing to comply. For clients who we have successfully reached, and who agreed to comply, we are lifting their non-durational employment-related sanctions. Demonstrated compliance can be established by expressing a willingness to comply in the future.

We have mailed letters to Cash Assistance and Medicaid recipients with an existing child support sanction giving them an opportunity to lift that sanction by calling, emailing or writing to the Office of Child Support Services and stating their willingness to comply with the child support program.

We have received an extension of the SNAP and Cash Assistance signature waiver for phone applications taken by HRA staff through December 31, 2020.

The waiver granting us the ability to conduct the drug and alcohol and DV screening by phone has been extended through December 31, 2020.

The State-set 180-day length of stay limit for those living in Domestic Violence shelters has been waived. We have received authority to use hotel space for confidential DV shelter.

With federal and OTDA approval, we have implemented a process to waive signatures for SNAP and Cash Assistance applications and recertifications taken by HRA staff over the phone for clients who are homebound or have challenges using ACCESS HRA for application submission. Clients who call Infoline (718-557-1399) and indicate that they are unable to apply online will be provided with alternatives, including the option to apply by telephone. This waiver has been extended through December 31, 2020. As we have reported, our waiver request to permit community-based organizations to provide this telephone application service has been denied.

In response to a request from State OTDA which we supported, the USDA has granted a State-wide waiver of the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements which commences on October 1, 2020 and runs through September 30, 2021.

Our request to the State to postpone the Income Savings Plan (ISP) notices that were due to be issued to clients in shelter in September and October has been approved. Additionally, DSS has been authorized to apply good cause for any non-payment of ISP contributions which were required to be paid during the months of March, April, May, June, July, August, and/or September of 2020, as a result of the economic impact of the public health emergency.

Status of Other Requested Waivers

The items listed below are recent waiver requests made to the State and their current status:

  • Waiver of the State FHEPS eligibility requirement that an eviction proceeding has been commenced in court – denied
  • Waiver of the 45-day wait period for Safety Net Cash Assistance applications – denied
  • Waiver of the Cash Assistance eligibility interview – denied
  • Waiver of/modifications to certain aspects of the Cash Assistance Resource Policy — denied
  • Waiver of the need to provide proof of application for Unemployment Insurance Benefits — denied
  • Ability to grant blanket good cause and lift child support sanctions – denied
  • Ability to grant blanket good cause and lift employment related sanctions – denied
  • Authority to allow prepared meals to be purchased with SNAP benefits – denied by USDA
  • Authority to adjust the DV shelter per diem due to COVID factors and underutilization – pending


BENEFIT RELATED INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Public Charge

On Friday, September 11, 2020, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the federal injunction issued on July 29, 2020 that temporarily blocked the Public Charge rule from taking effect in New York, Connecticut and Vermont. On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, following the Court’s decision, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will apply the new Public Charge rule to all applications and petitions postmarked (or submitted electronically) on or after February 24, 2020.

Updates can be found at nyc.gov/publiccharge.

Quick Facts:
  • The Public Charge rule does not change eligibility requirements for public benefits.
  • Many immigrants do not face a Public Charge test in their immigration applications.
  • There is no Public Charge test for green card holders applying for citizenship.
  • USCIS has stated that it will not consider testing, treatment, or preventative care related to COVID-19 for Public Charge purposes.

What You Can Do:
  • Empower New Yorkers to continue to seek care without fear. Use MOIA’s social media toolkit to share multilingual graphics and videos on social media.
  • Share MOIA’s Immigrant Resource Guide with COVID-19 resources. Translations of this resource guide include downloadable PDF files and translated COVID-19 graphics (25+ languages) about City services available to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.
  • Encourage immigrant New Yorkers with questions about public charge and immigration to call New York City's ActionNYC hotline at 1-800-354-0365, Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., to connect with City-funded, free and safe immigration legal help.
  • Share the statement from MOIA Commissioner Bitta Mostofi.

Telephone Recertification for Seniors

As a reminder, many seniors can recertify for SNAP benefits by telephone 24 hours a day if they receive the IVRS packet AND all adults in the household are aged 55 and over or have a disability, and have no earned income. The IVRS number for eligible SNAP participants is 866-761-8357.

Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Allotments

As it did in September, OTDA is issuing an emergency SNAP supplement to households who were issued SNAP benefits for October 2020 and whose issuance was less than the maximum allotment for their household size. The amount of the supplement is the difference between the amount the household was issued and the maximum allotment. 

For example, if a SNAP household of two people was issued $237 for October 2020, the household is issued a supplement of $118 because the maximum allotment for two people is $355.
                                                 
The emergency SNAP supplement is being issued to households even if their SNAP case is currently closed. However, households who already received the maximum SNAP allotment will not receive an emergency supplement for October. Further information is available here.

Benefit Card Assistance/Issuance of Replacement or Temporary CBIC Cards

Benefit cards are sent directly to clients by mail via the State’s vendor. There is no need to come in to a service center to request a card or receive a replacement CBIC card. If an emergency card is needed for a new applicant who is eligible for expedited SNAP or an immediate needs grant, applicants can visit any open HRA center to request a Vault Card (temporary benefit card). While the Brooklyn CBIC distribution office remains open, clients do not need to come to this office to obtain their cards. Note that State photo cards cannot be issued in-person or through the mail for clients who never had their photo taken as part of the Automated Finger Imaging System (AFIS) process which has been eliminated by the State.

Clients can request a replacement card from the State by calling 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. For anyone having difficulty accessing a replacement card by phone, cards can also be requested by setting up an online EBT account at https://www.connectebt.com/. Clients can use this account to request a replacement card, check card balance, review transaction history, change a PIN, and more.

It is critical that we continue to comply with the State and local social distancing orders. In order to do so, and keep both clients and staff safe, please encourage clients to utilize the mail service option to the extent possible for replacement card requests.

Reporting Requirements for Changes in Residence

Individuals are required to receive public assistance benefits in the county where they reside. Clients who may travel outside of the district for a limited period of time are permitted to do so without reporting a change. Those who plan to change their residence need to first alert the district they have been living in. That district will note the change and close the benefits case accordingly, with that district maintaining responsibility for benefits for the month following the month of the move. Clients may then file with the new local district office for public assistance benefits once they have moved.  

The five boroughs of New York City comprise one social services district. The remainder of New York State is divided into 57 Local Departments of Social Service (LDSS). The listing of all LDSS offices for New York State can be found at: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/localdss.asp.  

Reporting Changes in Income

In accordance with federal and state law, clients are required to submit changes in income to HRA. On our SNAP FAQ, we include important information about the rules for changes which must be reported 10 days after the end of the month in which the change happened. Some examples include:

  • Changes in any source of income for anyone in your household
  • Changes in your household’s total earned income when it goes up or down by more than $100 a month
  • Changes in your household’s total unearned income from a public source such as Social Security Benefits or Unemployment Insurance Benefits when it goes up or down by more than $100 a month

Clients should not submit a new application to report a change in income. For SNAP, clients should report income changes via a case change request in ACCESS HRA. For Cash Assistance, clients should upload documentation via ACCESS HRA to report income changes, including the loss of a job. Documentation may include paystubs, an employer letter, a layoff/termination letter or form, or an attestation of loss of employment from a client when one cannot be obtained from their employer.

HRA Office of Domestic Violence

The Safe Horizon Domestic Violence Hotline continues to operate 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. HRA’s No Violence Again (NoVA) social workers are serving clients remotely who are referred by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) when they apply for shelter or are clients who experience domestic violence (DV) in DHS shelter. The social workers assist DV survivors in accessing DV residential programs; provide crisis intervention and counseling; and provide referrals to non-residential DV programs. In addition, we are continuing to make referrals remotely to HRA’s Domestic Violence Liaisons (DVLs) who provide DV assessments and crisis intervention so that DV survivors can safely apply for Cash Assistance and secure child support and work requirement waivers.

Benefits Eligibility and Substance Use Disorders

We are still screening CA applicants for substance use issues, and, if needed, connecting them to remote telephonic substance use assessment and/or treatment. However, we have waived the requirements that would normally apply to clients in substance use treatment programs, and we are not taking negative case actions for noncompliance.

Clients may also receive Case Management services to support substance use treatment compliance, as well as other services such as medical and/or mental health services. HRA Customized Assistance Services (CAS), which oversees this program, is conducting proactive outreach to HRA clients receiving substance use treatment. CAS offers support with treatment, and with COVID-19 and other wellness related issues and provides referrals when appropriate.

Clients who complete qualifying substance use treatment programs and who owe child support arrears to NYC DSS may qualify for the Office of Child Support Services Parent Success Program, which can reduce their DSS child support debt. Clients can ask their substance use treatment provider about the Parent Success Program.

Center Consolidations

With our programs and benefits available 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. As we have discussed on our weekly calls, those Centers that we have closed will remain closed to protect the health and safety of staff and clients. HRA will follow public health guidelines in determining when it is appropriate to re-open any of our closed Centers. A list of open centers 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 to 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.

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 related to a Cash Assistance/SNAP issue and is unable to use ACCESS HRA or a phone call with HRA staff cannot resolve the matter, a home visit can be made pending the client’s willingness to have a worker in their home. 

The HRA Special Services programs are conducting regular wellness checks via telephone when possible. If checks via telephone are not possible, home visits are occurring for Adult Protective Services, HIV/AIDS Services, and Home Care Services Program clients.
 
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.

The Substance Use program is also conducting client check-in calls. All clients are advised of the availability of Narcan for free with no prescription at local pharmacies. In addition, if any clients have relapsed and are seeking treatment, staff will conduct a telephone assessment and refer them for treatment.

Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) Updates

  • For clients who have a child support sanction, they can get rid of it and restore Cash Assistance and Medicaid benefits by informing the NYC Office of Child Support Services that they are willing to comply with the child support program. Clients can do so by calling 929-221-7656 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.

  • If you would like to apply for child support services, you can download an application at childsupport.ny.gov or call the NYS Child Support helpline at 888-208-4485 to have an application mailed to you.

  • The New York State Court System opened virtually on June 10 for pending child support cases. For more information, go to www.nycourts.gov. Family Court is accepting support modification petitions and motion requests through EDDS (the court’s electronic document delivery system on its website), by U.S. mail addressed to the appropriate county Family Court, or by telephoning 212-343-1122 (LIFT), 646-877-6050 or 332-215-5389 (OCSS), or 646-386-5299 (Family Court) for assistance. The date of contact with the court and postmark will be recorded. No conferences or hearings will be scheduled on these cases at this time. The Court will begin scheduling hearings for several months in the future.

  • For pending cases, the Court is trying to reach parties by telephone, email, or mail to notify them of an upcoming hearing. 
 
  • The Court is not accepting new filings for child support matters at this time, with the exception of modifications. The Court will also accept stipulations for establishment cases. 

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

  • OCSS is offering free remote notary service for child support documents. To have your child support documents notarized remotely, you will need a smartphone or a computer with Internet and scanning or faxing capability, as well as a valid photo I.D. To request this service, email dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us, with REMOTE NOTARY entered as the subject line of your email. Please include your name, child support account number, and a phone number where you can be reached. You will be contacted to schedule an appointment during these hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 10am to noon, or Wednesday and Thursday 2pm to 4pm.

  • Forms to challenge an administrative enforcement action can be found below:


  • OCSS Customer Service Office is closed. Clients can email their inquiries to dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us or can use this email address to request a telephone interview with an OCSS customer service caseworker. Clients should include their case number, contact information, and, in the subject line, the reason for their inquiry or that they are “requesting a customer service appointment.” Updates can be found at our website at www.nyc.gov/hra/ocss. Clients can also call the New York State Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485.

  • Clients who owe child support arrears to the New York City Department of Social Services can apply for debt reduction programs here, including the Arrears Cap and the Arrears Credit Program.

New York State Department of Health Medicaid and NY State of Health Insurance Updates

The New York State Department of Health and the New York State of Health have posted important Covid-19 related updates to their websites.  

New York Department of Health:


The New York State of Health has posted the following information on health insurance:


IDNYC Municipal ID Card Program

IDNYC is the free identification card for all New York City residents. During NYC’s current public health emergency order, IDNYC enrollment centers are temporarily closed; however, we continue to process online renewals for the approximately 715,000 NYC cardholders who enrolled in 2015 and whose cards are set to expire in 2020. New Yorkers can visit our website for real-time program updates and to start their online renewal application at http://nyc.gov/idnyc.

 
HOUSING RESOURCES

Enterprise Data Warehouse Report for Housing Advocates

As of July 10, 2020, we have a streamlined process for obtaining client and case information to assist in Housing Court cases. The Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) will produce a consolidated report providing all relevant client and case information to assist advocates in Housing Court cases. This report replaces the numerous screens and printouts from the State Welfare Management System (WMS) that the HRA Landlord Ombudsman Service Unit (LOSU) was collecting and providing upon request. Housing Advocates can submit requests to LOSU using the newly created Housing Court Report Request Form (HPA-106).  

The State Family Homelessness Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS)

The State FHEPS program is a rent supplement for families with children who receive Cash Assistance and have been evicted or are facing eviction, who lost their housing due to a domestic violence situation, or who have lost their housing because of health or safety issues. Formerly known as the Family Eviction Prevention Supplement (FEPS), the program has been expanded to include survivors of domestic violence and their children. The administration of this State program has transitioned from the State to the City. Potentially eligible families must have an active Cash Assistance Case and will be screened for this benefit once an Emergency Grant and/or ongoing Cash Assistance application has been received. There is no dedicated FHEPS application. Clients can only be considered for the program by applying for Cash/Emergency Assistance. Cash/Emergency Assistance applications are available on ACCESS HRA or at open job centers.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Eviction Moratorium

As we have reported, on September 4, 2020 the CDC issued an order under the Public Health Service Act to temporarily halt residential evictions in an effort to prevent the further spread of Covid-19. This order is effective September 4 – December 31, 2020.

The Federal moratorium is a temporary eviction moratorium and does not relieve any individual of the obligation to pay rent, make a housing payment, or comply with any other obligation that the individual may have under tenancy, lease or similar contract. The order does not preclude the charging of fees, penalties or interest as a result of failure to pay rent or other housing payments in a timely manner under the terms of the lease.

Individuals may invoke their right to halt eviction proceedings by declaring in writing to the landlord the following:
  • They have made every effort to avail themselves of all government assistance for rent or housing
  • They have an individual income of less than $99,000 annually ($198,000 for married couples); or are not required to report income to the IRS in 2019; or have received an Economic Impact Payment under the CARES Act
  • They are unable to make full rent/housing payments due to substantial loss of income or costly medical bills
  • They are making every effort to make partial payments
  • Eviction would likely render the individual/family homeless or forced to live in overcrowded conditions

New York City tenants with questions about how the CDC’s guidance may affect them or how to prepare the required declaration can access free legal assistance through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice by contacting the City’s Tenant Helpline via 311. Note that the current administrative order suspending all evictions in New York City issued by Chief Administrative Judge Marks remains in effect until October 1, 2020. 

State Tenant Safe Harbor Act

The State Tenant Safe Harbor Act prohibits evictions against tenants financially impacted by COVID-19 for nonpayment of rent owed during the emergency. Under the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, tenants who have experienced financial hardship any time from March 7, 2020 to the date when all COVID-related safety restrictions are lifted in the region may not be evicted for failing to pay rent first owed during that period. Although a judge can still issue a money judgment against a tenant for the rent owed, a qualifying renter should not be evicted for the nonpayment of rent accrued during the pandemic. For public assistance purposes, this legislation does not preclude an individual from being eligible for assistance with rent arrears. Each case is evaluated individually to ensure that any unique circumstances are considered. An applicant seeking assistance with rental arrears will not be denied solely on the basis of the Safe Harbor Act as a means to meet the emergency.

As noted above, the protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act were broadened and extended through an Executive Order issued by the New York State Governor on September 29, 2020.

New York City tenants with questions about how the Tenant Safe Harbor Act and the Governor’s new Executive Order may affect them can access free legal assistance through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice by contacting the City’s Tenant Helpline via 311.

Tenant Resource Portal

The Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) and the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit's (PEU) Tenant Support Unit (TSU) have created an online tool to help renters in New York City navigate public and private resources that can stabilize their housing situation. A tenant seeking help will be taken through a series of questions and directed to the most useful resources based on their responses, including information about free legal services for tenants through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice (OCJ). MOPT and PEU have included resources from multiple City agencies, Legal Services Providers, and Community-Based Organizations.

Legal Services Providers or Community-Based Organizations are encouraged to recommend additional resources using the online feedback form found here.

City FHEPS and Rental Assistance

City FHEPS is one of the programs that provides ongoing rental assistance. This is a benefit that is made available to clients who are in shelter or for some individuals facing eviction. More information about City FHEPS eligibility for community tenants can be found here and information on eligibility for households residing in shelter can be found here.

The Homebase program can help eligible clients facing eviction obtain rental assistance. Homebase locations are currently closed but are providing their services by phone. Clients can find the phone number for the Homebase location that serves their zip code here.

For existing City FHEPS clients in shelter, we continue to operate the 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 a virtual viewing and walk-through process. Clients will also be able to view apartments virtually.

  • HRA is still processing and issuing rental assistance checks.

Housing Related Information/Resources

Senior Rental Assistance Increase Exemption (SCRIE): While the SCRIE Unit office at HPD remains closed to the public, seniors can submit applications and ask questions by email at SCRIE@hpd.nyc.gov or mail, at:

SCRIE Unit
100 Gold Street
Rm 7M-3
New York, NY 10038

Section 8 Vouchers: While the HPD Section 8 Customer Service Office is closed to the public, the HPD Section 8 team is still available to the public. Voucher holders facing rent hardships due to drops in income should email DTRAI@hpd.nyc.gov or fax at 212-863-5299.

During this time, any HPD Section 8 voucher set to expire will be automatically renewed. Clients do not need to reach out to HPD for an extension.

All subsidy terminations in process are suspended until further notice. All tenant conferences & briefings are postponed & will be rescheduled. All hearings for appeal are cancelled until further notice. HPD will continue to pay the subsidy until final determinations are made.

NYCHA Rent Reduction: A household may qualify for a NYCHA rent reduction based on a rent hardship. NYCHA has simplified its Rent Hardship Policy to make it easier to reduce rent in NYCHA during the COVID-19 crisis.

NYCHA accepts applications through an Interim Recertification if an individual’s hours at work have been cut or for loss of a job.

  • Households can now submit Interim Recertifications for Income Changes via a new simplified Self-Service Portal interface.
  • There is no waiting period to apply.
  • Until further notice, NYCHA residents may self-certify their income loss. This means that supporting documents such as pay stubs, a letter from the employer, and/or verification of unemployment benefits, which are usually required to submit the Interim Recertification, are not required at this time.
  • Households now have the ability to contact the Customer Contact Center (CCC) to make these requests over the phone. NYCHA CCC staff is equipped to answer questions related to the Rent Hardship policies put in place in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency. Households can call 718-707-7771 and select option 5.

Tenant Protection Information: Resources for tenants impacted by COVID-19 can be found at the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants’ webpage here: Information and Resources for NYC Tenants Impacted by COVID-19

Relief for Homeowners

The Federal and State governments have taken steps to provide relief to homeowners during the pandemic. Information can be found here.

Citywide Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project

The Citywide Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project will serve New Yorkers each month by addressing rent-related issues in a mediation setting outside of the Housing Court system. The program will operate in all five boroughs but will prioritize communities hardest hit by the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Through the program, nonprofit Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) will assist tenants and small landlords in finding solutions to rental issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to resolve these cases before they reach litigation and avoid the long-term effects of an eviction proceeding which can lead to displacement for vulnerable tenants and limit future housing options.

Eligible tenants will be referred to non-profit CDRCs in each borough who will manage case intake, provide mediation sessions and monitor cases for follow-up for tenants.

Housing Court, Legal Assistance, and Rent Arrears 

The following is in accordance with the August 12, 2020 Order of Chief Administrative Judge Marks:

  • Eviction cases filed on or before March 16, 2020 (pre-COVID) may proceed only if the Housing Court holds a status or settlement conference with the parties. The court is required at such a conference to refer unrepresented parties to local civil legal service providers and housing counseling agencies.  HRA’s Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) is working with nonprofit legal providers and court administrators on procedures to refer unrepresented tenants to free legal assistance for these conferences when they are scheduled by the court. 

  • The City Department of Investigation has issued a notice to all NYC marshals stating that notices of eviction dated prior to March 16, 2020 are now stale, which is located here.  

  • If tenants have received an eviction notice before March 16, 2020, the landlord must file a motion and get permission from the court to proceed with evicting a tenant. The Housing Court began accepting these motions on August 20, 2020 and is scheduling court dates for virtual conferences.  For those who receive a motion like this, or receive a warrant of eviction, HRA’s Office of Civil Justice can provide free legal representation to help tenants with their case. OCJ will be prioritizing the assignment of these cases since they are at risk of eviction. All tenants who are currently facing pre-pandemic eviction warrants are eligible, regardless of ZIP code, immigration status or whether the tenant may have previously declined or been found ineligible for legal representation under the Universal Access program, and regardless of household income with an income waiver by OCJ. For more information, contact 311 and ask for the City’s Tenant Helpline to connect with free legal help through OCJ.  

  • NYC Housing Court began accepting new eviction filings effective June 20, 2020. These cases are suspended for the time being. Landlords are only permitted to file new eviction cases by mail or electronic filing. Tenants who are served with papers for an eviction case do not need to visit the courthouse to respond. Nevertheless, unrepresented landlords or tenants who come to the courthouse to file a case or answer will be assisted.    

  • All new eviction petitions are required to include a notice to tenants that they do not have to visit the courthouse to respond to their eviction case. The notice includes information about how a tenant can respond to the petition by phone, and it will include information about access to free legal help, including the legal services phone number operated by the nonprofit Housing Court Answers – 718-557-1379 – in partnership with HRA’s Office of Civil Justice and the Office of Court Administration. Housing Court Answers provides callers with basic legal information and connection with HRA's free legal services. Given the impacts on health and stability faced by many New Yorkers since the start of the pandemic, the court will not be defaulting tenants who fail to respond to an eviction petition.

  • The court is scheduling settlement conferences in previously pending eviction cases in which both sides are represented by counsel. 

  • The court has begun scheduling trials in some number of cases that were ready for trial before the March closure in which both sides are represented by counsel. 

  • OCJ has conducted outreach to households that may receive notices of eviction by City marshals informing these households of the availability of free legal assistance through OCJ.   

  • HRA is ready to receive applications for emergency rental assistance for those in need and in most cases the entire process can be done without a visit to a local HRA office.  

HOMELESS SERVICES

Congregate Shelter

Any changes to the density reduction initiative through which we have relocated clients from congregate shelters to temporary hotel sites to stop the spread of the virus will be informed by public health guidance. Since the beginning of the current health crisis, we have been working closely with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to inform safety measures we have taken for clients living in congregate shelter, including the temporary emergency relocations to commercial hotels. We will continue to work in partnership with DOHMH to determine when and how to phase out the hotel relocation initiative, adhering to all public health guidelines for the safe housing of our clients in shelter.

Our COVID-19 testing efforts in shelter are ongoing. DHS is offering testing throughout our congregate shelters (including settings serving individuals experiencing street homelessness) and the temporary emergency relocation hotels. 

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 shelter residents who are showing symptoms. We have also taken the following steps to ensure resident safety:

  • Stood up more than 700 isolation beds in commercial hotels for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive. Currently there are 2 sites with ~200 isolation beds that are available as needed.

  • Stood up ~500 beds for quarantine to comply with NYS E.O 205, which requires individuals returning from certain states to quarantine for 14 days as well as space for clients awaiting testing results from intake.

  • First prioritized transfer of DHS clients aged 70 and older to commercial hotels, and then began the transfer of additional single adult clients in congregate shelters to commercial hotels, with approximately 13,000 of the 17,000 single adults in the DHS shelter system in commercial hotels as this initiative was fully implemented.

  • Securing new safe haven and stabilization beds to help clients experiencing homelessness on the streets and in the subways, including opening such beds in commercial hotel rooms and soliciting additional beds in commercial hotels.

  • Adding a drop-in center near Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx and continuing to have an open request for providers to add additional drop-in capacity.

  • Streamlining the process for families applying for shelter by eliminating in-person appointments and conducting interviews by phone.

  • Ensuring that all shelter staff have access to requisite PPE while at work and distributing face coverings for our clients. 

  • Began voluntary COVID-19 testing for clients at all single adult shelters, adult family shelters, safe haven and stabilization beds, and now testing approximately 1,200 clients per week and continuing to ramp up. DHS has completed the first round of testing at 163 sites and has begun a second round of testing. DHS also began testing at all adult intake sites during the week of August 3.

In response to the need for appropriate shelter placements for homeless individuals who are coming out of the subways during the MTA’s overnight shutdown, we have established a new process by which outreach providers can conduct intake in subway stations and provide a direct placement from the subway station. This allows clients to be moved directly into shelter from the subway station without having to go to a DHS intake location. More than 400 clients currently remain in shelter through these efforts, including the operation of additional stabilization beds.

We have received a waiver of the State-set 180-day time limit for those living in Domestic Violence emergency shelter beds. We have received an additional waiver to add new DV capacity in a commercial hotel if needed. 

For individuals who are being released from Rikers and other facilities, DHS is working with our partner agencies to ensure appropriate placement, including placing some into DHS shelters. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice is finding appropriate placements for others who require a different level of services than the level provided at DHS shelters.

DHS has implemented the Governor’s Executive Order 205, which requires anyone traveling from restricted states listed here to quarantine for 14 days

DHS continues to seek proposals from qualified vendors to operate additional stabilization and safe haven beds. If you are interested in learning more about DHS’s open-ended RFP or submitting a proposal for save haven or stabilization capacity, please contact DHS at Administrator_Carter@dhs.nyc.gov.

Homeless Outreach and Security

The NYPD is longer involved in homeless outreach and the management of security services in DHS shelters.

These changes have been effectuated in the FY2021 budget which includes $4.5M in funds that have been shifted from the NYPD to DHS to support services for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. A portion of this reallocated funding will cover nurse staffing for the DHS outreach program and staffing for DHS’s takeover of shelter security management.

The staff of the NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit has been reassigned to other patrols and the NYPD will no longer participate in DHS’s Street Homelessness Joint Command Center. 

Street and subway homeless outreach will continue to be conducted by DHS and contracted social service providers, including the new DHS street outreach nurses and DHS Street Medicine contracted providers, which will enhance the ability of DHS and outreach teams to respond to clients' medical or behavioral health needs.

DHS Isolation Sites and Non-COVID Hospital Discharges to DHS shelters

Our processes at isolation sites conform to the NYS Department of Health guidance about the length of the isolation period.

In addition, all non-COVID medical discharges are accepted 7 days a week for the duration of the pandemic.

Access to Bathrooms for Individuals Experiencing Street Homelessness

In an effort to provide New Yorkers living unsheltered access to facilities to maintain basic hygiene during the height of the COVID pandemic, the City temporarily deployed portable toilets/hand washing stations in 12 locations across the five boroughs, including three toilets and two hand-washing stations per location. Unfortunately, those toilets and hand-washing stations were vandalized and destroyed, and ultimately had to be taken out of operation. 

Our dedicated outreach teams continue to connect unsheltered New Yorkers to a range of specialized resources as meets their needs, including shelter, safe havens, and stabilization beds, focused on preserving the trust developed with these individuals every day and building on those relationships, as we acknowledge their humanity and encourage them to come in off the streets. Engaging those in need isn’t easy or quick work, nor is accepting services for those who’ve lived unsheltered for some time and been let down by multiple systems – it requires persistence, compassion, and trust, and we will keep coming back.

 
COVID HEALTH RESOURCES

Health and Hospitals - Self-Isolation Hotel Program

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be eligible to self-isolate in a hotel for 14-days if they are unable to safely isolate from others where they live through a program provided by NYC Health and Hospitals. Examples of situations where individuals may be eligible include:

  • A home that does not have space to stay six feet away from others
  • Shared rooms or a bathroom
  • Living with someone who is vulnerable

For more information visit this site.
 
Flyers are available for download here.

COVID-19 Test and Trace    

As a reminder, getting tested in safe, confidential, and free. All New Yorkers should get tested, even those who do not have symptoms or are unsure if they were exposed to COVID-19. For those who have been exposed or have symptoms, or who are planning to visit a loved one who is at risk, free COVID-19 swab tests are available. Most results are returned in about 48 hours.

New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a call from the Test & Trace Corps to make sure that they receive care and can safely separate to prevent the spread. Be sure to answer any calls from NYC Test & Trace or “212” numbers to get free resources and support.

Locations of testing sites can be found here www.nyc.gov/COVIDtest or by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. Learn more about how New York City is here to help with testing and tracing in this Test and Trace FAQ or by visiting www.testandtrace.nyc.

The City is offering Covid-19 testing at mobile testing sites that move throughout the five boroughs. These sites provide 80 tests per day. Locations can be found here.


ACCESS HRA and PROVIDER RESOURCES

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. For a tutorial on how to submit documents using the ACCESS HRA mobile app, click here.

We are aware of problems that users reported previously due to unprecedented demand and traffic on the system. We have implemented improvements to the system in order to handle the increased volume and we are continuing to monitor performance.

The ACCESS HRA document upload is the most effective way to submit documentations to HRA. As an alternative, clients can submit documents using SNAP and Job Center RightFax, but this should only be used if clients are unable to use ACCESS HRA as it takes longer to associate these documents with a case. Fax numbers are listed on our website. Remember: When submitting by fax, the process of indexing the documents to the client’s case number will take more time than a submission through ACCESS HRA.

Online ACCESS HRA Training

DSS is offering online ACCESS HRA training webinars. These are open to CBOs and elected officials’ offices and will provide information on the use of ACCESS HRA for SNAP and Cash Assistance applications as well as the ACCESS HRA Provider Portal. ACCESS HRA SNAP or Cash Assistance application trainings walk attendees through a simulated application submission on ACCESS HRA.

ACCESS HRA Provider Portal

To enroll in the ACCESS HRA Provider Portal, email DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to receive the onboarding package and information on how to become a Provider Portal Partner. 

If your organization is already a member of the Provider Portal, email DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to receive your Organization ID and instructions on how to create an account.

Authorized Representative Forms for Clients

As a reminder, SNAP applications can be submitted by community organizations on behalf of clients by serving as an authorized representative for the client. Clients may authorize a representative to submit applications and communicate with HRA on their behalf.

To become an authorized representative, service providers will need to obtain a signed copy of the SNAP Authorized Representative Request Form and complete the application on the individual’s behalf on ACCESS HRA by doing the following:

  • Step One: Once you have the signed and completed authorization in hand, create an account for the individual at nyc.gov/accesshra by selecting a username (this could be a username or email address), password and answering one security question. If the individual does not have an e-mail address, please select the User Name option.

  • Step Two: During the course of completing the SNAP application, you will be asked to indicate if an Authorized Representative has been appointed to represent the individual. Indicate “Yes” and enter the information requested.

  • Step Three: At the end of the application, you will need to initial the application as the authorized representative, using your own initials.

  • Step Four: After submitting the SNAP application, immediately download the HRA Mobile Application at www.nyc.gov/accesshramobile. Using the same credentials that you used to login to the website, upload the completed and signed Authorized Representative Request Form referenced above, connecting it to the pending case. The form must be complete, signed and dated by both parties. If this step is not completed appropriately, the application will not be able to be processed. If you are unable to immediately link to the case, please note that application registration only occurs on business days and there is occasionally a delay in the Application Registration process, so the application may have not been registered yet. Please try again later.

It is recommended, but not required, that all applicants/providers use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Authorized Representative Request Form (LDSS-4942) when designating an authorized representative. However, if the Authorized Representative form cannot be completed and submitted, the applicant/provider may write a letter with the relevant information from the form to designate an authorized representative.

Electronic Authorization to Release Case Information

In response to requests from our community partners, we have created a fillable PDF of our third-party authorization form that can be signed digitally/electronically by clients using Adobe or other third-party software. The PDF form can be downloaded here. Completed third-party authorization forms can be emailed to constituentaffairs@hra.nyc.gov or faxed to 212-331-4685.


OTHER INFORMATION/RESOURCES

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. The census guides distribution of federal funds based on population. These are resources that our City and our communities 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!

Grab-and-go meals

With public schools now open Grab-and-Go Meals will continue. Students learning in-person at a DOE school will receive both breakfast and lunch in school. For students who are learning remotely full-time, or students who are at home during their remote days in blended learning, students and their guardians can pick up free grab-and-go meals from approximately 1,100 locations across the City. No sign-up or registration is required.

In addition, there are over200 Grab-and-Go locations across the City that are open to all New Yorkers, no questions asked. Some of these are dedicated kosher and Halal locations. In order to ensure social distancing and safety for school children and school staff, and so that the distribution of meals does not conflict with the school day, these meals are available from 3-5 pm on school days. 

Up to date information on locations of Grab-and-Go meals can be found here.

Flu Shots

Free flu shots are available throughout the City. For more information, please visit the City’s flu page. The map of locations for accessing flu shots is available here.

SNAP Scam Alert

The USDA issued the following notice on September 10, 2020 to protect SNAP participants, after receiving reports of several possible SNAP Fraud attempts:

Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information. The text might say you were chosen to receive food stamps or SNAP. If you do not know if a request for information about SNAP is real or not, contact your local SNAP office. 

Never share personal information with individuals or organizations that you do not know. Personal information includes your social security number, bank information, or SNAP electronic benefits transfer card or PIN number.

If you think the text is a scam, do not reply at all. Just delete. 

To stay on top of potential scams, please visit USDA’s SNAP scam alert webpage.

Student Loan Forbearance

The relief afforded to federal student loan borrowers under the CARES Act has been extended through December 31, 2020. This relief includes suspension of loan payments and a temporary 0% interest rate on loans.

Driver Licenses and Non-Driver ID cards

For those who need information about renewing driver licenses and non-driver ID cards, please refer to information which can be found here.

All driver licenses and non-driver ID cards that expired March 1, 2020 or after have been extended. The Real ID federal enforcement deadline has been extended for one year until October 1, 2021.

LGBTQI Resources during COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NYC Unity Project surveyed hundreds of LGBTQ programs and service providers across New York City to develop a resource page for LGBTQ resources that remain available during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This information can be found here.

As part of this survey, HRA identified food assistance providers in each borough for inclusion in the guide. There is a separate page for LGBTQ+ food assistance, which can be found here.

Resources for People with Disabilities

The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities has created a resource website with information on Food/Supply Delivery, Social Security/Medicaid Benefits, Home Healthcare Services and more.

COVID-19 Related Fraud

The FBI has seen a significant increase in fraud schemes related to the pandemic. Please help get the word out as some of these schemes target our shared clients by posing as assistance with or opportunities to access public benefits and CARES stimulus payments. Additional information and resources can be found here.

CBO Referrals from 311

In an effort to connect clients with organizations that can provide assistance with access to benefits and other support services, we are asking for any organizations interested in accepting referrals from 311 to contact us. If your organization is currently providing in-person or phone assistance to clients applying for HRA benefits, including providing assistance with ACCESS HRA and/or Fair Fares, and you are interested in accepting referrals from 311, please reach out to dssoutreach@dss.nyc.gov for more information or to share your information with 311.