November 8, 2021

Dear Community Partner:

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following our standing weekly call, we continue to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications which can be found on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page. We encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered during the pandemic.
 
To be added to the invitations for the weekly briefing calls or to the distribution list for this weekly update, please send an email request to dssoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
 
We appreciate your ongoing participation in these calls and continuing to raise important issues that we are able to address in this weekly communication of the latest information, which you can share with the clients you serve. We welcome your continued questions and comments in order to help us make sure we are providing the most relevant information and clarifications about the evolving public benefits and government services landscape affecting our shared clients. 
 
COVID-19 Vaccination Information

The Pfizer vaccine is now approved and available for children 5-11 years old in NYC. Children aged 5-17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine, as it is the only FDA/CDC vaccine approved for children. The vaccine went through rigorous research, trials, and evaluation and is safe, free, and easily accessible in NYC. Children must have a parent or guardian's consent to get the vaccine.
 
The $100 individual incentive is available to children who get vaccinated. Children may use a parent's email address to redeem their visa gift card. Organizations participating in the $100 Vaccine Referral Bonus program are also able to get the $100 incentive per child they refer to get vaccinated. See more information at nyc.gov/vaccineincentive.
 
  • Vaccination sites can be found at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX4-NYC 
  • Online, individuals can search “Pfizer 5-11” under vaccine type for a site that administers to this age group. 
  • City-run vaccine sites are offering vaccines for children aged 5+ and there are temporary sites in over 1,000 schools as of Monday, November 8th. Sites at schools can be found on the DOE website. 
  • For City-run sites, including H+H hospitals, appointments and walk-ins will be honored. 

For more information about vaccines and the vaccines for children, families can go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine and see this FAQ, or call 212-COVID19 with questions about the vaccine.
 
The NYC vaccine referral bonus program continues to be available to small businesses, restaurants, and civic organizations, including community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and Parent-Teacher Associations. These are all eligible to receive a $100 vaccine referral bonus for each employee or customer who they refer to a City-run vaccine site for their first shot. The referred individual is still eligible to receive their own $100 bonus. To sign up for the program, businesses and organizations should use the same form we have previously shared, available here.
 
The City has created a vaccine fact sheet which can be found here, and is available in additional languages here.
 
Walk-up vaccines are available at most City-operated vaccination sites for individuals 12 years and older. To find the nearest walk-up site, or to schedule an appointment at a City-operated site, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. NYC Mobile Vaccine Buses continue to provide vaccines. The full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here.
 
Flu vaccines are available at City-operated vaccination sites and can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Locations can be found at the NYC Vaccine Finder website.

Vaccination and Testing Apps

New Yorkers can meet vaccine and/or testing requirements with:
 
  •  CDC Vaccination Card. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
  •  NYC Vaccination Record or other official immunization record, including from a health care provider. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. If you are unable to get this record, call 311.
  •  NYC COVID Safe App. Android. iOS. This app can be used to upload a photo of a vaccine card and/or a recent COVID test. The vaccine card will stay on the app unless removed, but test results will disappear from the app after seven days.
  • CLEAR Health Pass. Android. iOS. Individuals can use the digital vaccine card option in the CLEAR app if they are age 18 or older and are fully vaccinated.
  • NYS Excelsior Pass (or Excelsior Pass Plus). Allows an individual to find and store proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. New York residents who were vaccinated out of State can learn more about their options at the Excelsior Pass FAQ. The app, called NYS Excelsior Pass Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
 
Vaccine Records

Individuals who are fully vaccinated but have lost their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or need verification of their vaccine status can request a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record. Individuals cannot get a replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card at this time, but can get an official record noting they have been vaccinated. For more information and to submit a request visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/cir-parents-guardians.page
 
Individuals can access all vaccine records, not just COVID 19 vaccines. Please visit the My Vaccine Record website.
 
COVID-19 Testing
 
Free in-home COVID PCR testing is available for all immunocompromised New Yorkers and people 65+. Call 929-298-9400 to schedule an appointment.
 
Free testing continues to be available throughout the five boroughs. A schedule of mobile testing locations throughout the City as well as detailed information on locations and types of testing offered at regular testing sites (including rapid testing and antibody tests) can be found here. Locations of testing sites can also be accessed by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. These are no cost testing sites open to all New Yorkers.
 
The Test-and-Trace corps offers the COVID 19 Wait Times Dashboard, which displays estimated wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. This wait time information is updated by site staff every two hours.
 
NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing will be available at the two HRA sites below on Monday, November 8 through Friday, November 12, from 8am-7pm:

  • Rockaway HRA Center: 219 Beach 59th Street, Arverne, NY 11692
  • Hunts Point HRA Center: 845 Barretto Street, Bronx, NY 10474
 
HRA Center Re-openings – St. Nicholas Job Center -- Clarification
 
The St. Nicholas Job Center located at 132 West 125th Street in Manhattan is only open for staff at this time and is not yet ready for clients. We apologize for any inconvenience our prior communication about this site may have caused. Please refer to our website for up-to-date information regarding open HRA centers at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/locations.page
 
Medicaid Easements
 
Medicaid easements have been extended through January 2021. This includes the automatic extension for cases with an authorization that ends between through January 2021, even if the client does not submit their renewal. These cases will be extended for 12 months.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

As a reminder, Pandemic EBT is distributed by the State OTDA. The State provides a list of New York State schools and their distribution status for P-EBT. This page allows New Yorkers to look up the P-EBT issuance status for NYC schools online. The timeframe for when State OTDA issues these food assistance benefits is based on a variety of factors including the volume and nature of the data submitted by schools and the rate at which this information can be processed, and benefits issued.
 
Children who receive free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program are eligible for P-EBT food benefits if their school operated with reduced in-person attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year. This includes children who attend Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools and any private, prekindergarten, parochial and charter schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program. Those with questions concerning their child/children's participation in the National School Lunch Program should contact the school or school district.
 
The State OTDA will automatically issue P-EBT food benefits to eligible children, so no application is available or necessary.
 
Additional information can be found on the OTDA SNAP COVID-19 Information page.  
 
Child Tax Credit Upcoming Deadline
 
Families who have not filed a tax return in 2019 or 2020 must take action by November 15, 2021 in order to receive the Child Tax Credit (CTC) advance payments. The Child Tax Credit is a crucial benefit for families. Families with children are eligible for $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child aged 6-17, with half of this amount available in 2021 as advance monthly payments. Those who have not filed a tax return in the last two years will miss out on these payments unless they register or file a tax return by November 15. Families whose first payment is in November will receive up to $900 per child in November and in December. Families whose first (and only) payment is in December will receive up to $1,800 per child.
 
Families who filed taxes in recent years have automatically received the first monthly payments already, but those who have not filed taxes in 2020 or 2019 must register or file a tax return by November 15 in order to receive the advanced payments. Families can go to GetCTC.org/nyc to sign up for payments or to file a tax return by visiting nyc.gov/taxprep.
 
In an effort to reach non-filers and inform them of this deadline, the City has developed a social media tool kit and a 1-pager to support ongoing outreach efforts to families, linked here. Printed materials are also available for order and delivery. The request form can be completed here. Printed materials are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, French, and Polish. Agencies who need to have these materials delivered to multiple sites should submit individual requests for each site, along with the corresponding contact information. Orders of printed materials must be placed in multiples of 1,000 (e.g., 3,000 English, 5,000 Spanish, 1,000 Urdu).
 
As a reminder, the CTC is excluded as income, and as a resource for up to 12 months, for benefit eligibility, other than for One-Shot Deals in accordance with State law.
 
Assistance with Utility Arrears

In response to questions received on our weekly call, below are resources available to provide financial assistance with utility arrears. These are in addition to the resources we’ve previously reported (One Shot Deal - OSD, HEAP Regular Arrears Supplement – RAS, Emergency Rental Assistance Program – ERAP).
 
  • Weatherization Assistance Program – Households with incomes at or below 60% of state median income are eligible to apply for a program to reduce their heating/cooling costs through energy efficiency measures (average savings in excess of 20%).
  • Project SHARE Heating Fund – If you meet the HEAP income requirements and have exhausted all other assistance programs, you could be eligible for this program designed to help low-income NYSEG customers.
  • Low Income Household Water Assistance Program – LIHWAP grants are available to states that received LIHEAP grants. This program provides assistance to low-income households with water and wastewater bills.
  • ConEdison EnergyShare – ConEd customers with an active disconnect notice may qualify for up to $200 toward their energy bill.
  • Care and Share (National Grid) – Eligible National Grid customers may qualify for assistance toward their electricity bill.
 
Heartshare Human Services of New York provides a free diagnostic tool to help New Yorkers determine which energy assistance programs they are eligible for and provides directions on how to apply. Access the free tool here.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Regular Arrears Supplement (RAS)

As we have reported previously, the State HEAP RAS is a one-time benefit funded with the HEAP appropriation received under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This benefit is available to help pay gas and/or electricity utility arrears and will be available through September 30, 2022 or until funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
 
The application for the State HEAP Regular Arrears Supplement (RAS) is the regular HEAP application in conjunction with the HEAP RAS worksheet. The RAS worksheet is completed by HRA staff. Clients who apply for regular HEAP benefits for the 2021/22 season will receive a phone interview. The RAS worksheet will be completed at that time.
 
Applicants are required to complete the regular HEAP application (and the RAS worksheet which will be completed during their interview) under any one of the following circumstances:

  • Did not receive a regular HEAP benefit this season (2021/22 HEAP season);
  • Moved since receiving their HEAP benefit;
  • Closed Cash Assistance or SNAP case since receiving regular HEAP benefit.
 
These applicants must first complete a new HEAP application and be found HEAP eligible in order to receive the RAS benefit. 
 
Clients who need to submit an application for HEAP can do so as follows:

  • Apply in-person at one of the 6 designated HRA Job Centers or 4 community assistance sites (please see HEAP Application Assistance section below);
  • Mail a completed LDSS-3421 to NYC DSS/HRA/HEAP; PO Box 1401, Church Street Station, New York, NY 10008
  • Drop off a completed LDSS-3421 at any HRA Job Center.
 
Clients can call 212-331-3126 to request an application. 
 
Applicants will be required to have a telephone interview and will receive a call from an HRA worker. Interviews are not being conducted in person due to COVID 19 restrictions.
 
The one-time benefit is based on the actual amount of current utility arrears, up to a maximum of $10,000 per applicant household. Benefits are paid directly to the household’s gas and/or electric utility vendor(s), and only one RAS benefit per current electricity and/or gas account is permitted.
 
Households may be eligible if:

  • Heat is natural gas or electricity;
  • Income is at or below the current income guidelines as posted in the table found here or the applicant receives Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or Code A Supplemental Security Income;
  • All of the eligibility criteria to receive a Regular HEAP benefit in the current program year has been met;
  • The applicant must be the customer of record for the electricity and/or gas account(s), or must document that they pay the utility vendor(s) directly for the bill(s);
  • The vendor is paid directly for gas and/or electricity usage; and
  • The current gas and/or electricity account(s) is/are in active collection, or otherwise facing disconnection or termination due to unpaid arrears.
 
Note that there is no resource test for the RAS benefit and arrears for domestic electricity do not have to be heat related. When and why the arrears accrued will not impact eligibility. The RAS can be awarded for both an electricity and a gas account for a single household. 
 
HEAP Application Assistance
 
While there is no need to come into an HRA Center to apply for HEAP, HRA has representatives providing HEAP application assistance to potential clients in six designated HRA Job Centers and in four community sites. These representatives provide assistance with completing applications and will forward applications to the HEAP central office for processing. Individuals applying for benefits can also drop off applications and documents at these locations.

The designated HRA sites are listed below (open Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm, with the exception of City holidays):

Waverly Job Center
12 W. 14th Street
4th floor
New York, NY 10011
 
Coney Island Job Center
3050 West 21st Street
Brooklyn, NY 11214
 
Rider Job Center
300 Canal Place
Bronx, NY 10451
 
Crotona Job Center
1910 Monterey Avenue
5th floor
Bronx, NY 10457
 
Queens Job Center
32-20 Northern Boulevard
(enter on Honeywell Street)
2nd floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
 
Richmond Job Center
201 Bay Street
2nd floor
Staten Island, NY 10301

HRA representatives are also located in the following community locations:

Boro Park Jewish Community Council (Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 am – 5 pm)
1310 46th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11219
 
Margert Community Council (Mondays 9 am – 5 pm)
325 Beach 37th
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
 
Assemblyman Ron Kim's Office (Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 am – 5 pm)
136-20 38th Avenue, Suite 10A
Queens, NY 11354
 
State Senator Leroy Comrie's Office (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 am – 5 pm)
113-14 Farmer's Boulevard
Queens, NY 11412
 
NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Program Updates
 
We continue to encourage all tenants and landlords who may be eligible to apply for State OTDA’s ERAP. Help continues to be available for landlords and tenants across the city through a network of DSS contracted community-based organizations: https://nyc.gov/erap. Questions can also be answered via the State’s ERAP call center: 844-NY1RENT (844-691-7368); or the hearing-impaired TTY phone number: 1-833-843-8829.
 
Additional resources are available for download to help clients access this benefit:


All are available in additional languages here.
 
ERAP Denial/Partial Acceptance Information for One-Shot Deal Applicants
 
In accordance with OTDA’s directive, clients who have received a denial or partial acceptance of an ERAP application from the State may now apply for a One-Shot Deal/Special Grant. Confirmation of the ERAP application denial or partial acceptance from OTDA can be provided in hard copy or email format.
 
NYS Excluded Workers Fund Update
 
As we reported previously, the application process for the NYS Excluded Workers Fund closed as of October 8, 2021. Applicants who already submitted a complete application may still access their account to view the status or respond to requests for information. Accounts can be accessed at ewf.labor.ny.gov. Funds for the program are limited and are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are processed in the order they were received. There is no guarantee of available funding for any claims that were submitted after September 24, 2021. Additional information can be found on the EWF FAQ page here.

Excluded Workers Funds are considered a one-time lump sum payment and are therefore excluded from consideration as income for SNAP benefits in the month of receipt of benefit and as a resource for 12 months following receipt of benefit. Any remaining balance from these payments could affect a household’s eligibility after 12 months if a household subject to a resource test were to have a remaining balance from the payments and the remaining balance caused the household to exceed the resource limit for the benefit for which they were applying. 
 
We will provide information on the impact of funds received under the EWF on Cash Assistance and HEAP benefits as soon as that information is available.
 
GetFood NYC
 
Clients who have been receiving meals through GetFoodNYC and are over the age of 60 have been contacted to determine their need for ongoing meal service and are being transitioned over to a temporary meal delivery program as of November 1, 2021.
 
Recovery Meals Service is open to former GetFood participants who meet all of the below criteria:

  • Individuals over the age of 60 who were enrolled in GetFood during the period of August 16, 2021 through the October 1, 2021, the final registration deadline for GetFood service
  • Still have an outstanding need for meals (participants have been contacted to assess ongoing need and the most appropriate meal service option)
  • Cannot otherwise access meals using existing City services
 
This temporary meal service will continue through June 2022.
 
Public Hearing on NYC Tenant Right-to-Counsel Legal Services
 
HRA's Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) administers New York City’s Right-to-Counsel initiative (also known as the Universal Access to Legal Services program) which provides access to legal services for tenants facing eviction, and will hold its annual public hearing on:
 
Thursday November 18, 2021

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Due to COVID-19, the hearing will be held remotely by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89142666567

Meeting ID: 891 4266 6567

One tap mobile +16468769923,,89142666567# US (New York)
 
In 2017, New York City became the first city in the United States to commit to making free legal services available to all tenants facing eviction in housing court and public housing authority termination of tenancy proceedings. OCJ holds this public hearing to provide an opportunity for tenants, attorneys, advocates and other stakeholders to be heard on the initiative's progress to date, as well as to inform future plans for implementation.
 
Enhancements to IDNYC Online Portal
 
We have made the following enhancements to the Online IDNYC Portal to improve the user experience by providing clients with the ability to renew IDNYC cards and update some of their information online without having to visit an enrollment center. This new functionality allows users to:

  • Check their application status online
  • Create and manage in-center appointments
  • Submit applications online for renewal and/or update applications
  • Upload documents for online applications

Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 2022
 
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 5.9 percent increase in benefits for 2022, amounting to an additional $92 per month for the average retired worker. The Social Security Administration will mail COLA notices throughout December 2021 to retirement, survivors and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. Individuals who prefer to access their COLA notice online instead of the mailed notice can log in to their personal my Social Security account to opt out of a mailed COLA notice. Social Security beneficiaries who don’t have an account yet must create one by November 17, 2021 in order to receive the 2022 COLA notice online. The Social Security Administration has published a fact sheet with more information, accessible here.
 
New York City Common Pantry (NYCP) Mobile Pantry
 
FreshDirect and its charitable partner, NY Common Pantry (NYCP), announced the launch of a new mobile pantry that will distribute food to people across New York City. The NYCP Mobile Pantry will also host social services staff, who will arrange enrollment in New York Common Pantry's program for distributing free food to eligible people, provide emergency food assistance and help people apply for programs like SNAP. Additional information on this new program will be provided as it becomes available.
 
Department of Education 3-K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten Admissions
 
All NYC families with children born in 2017, 2018, and 2019 are invited to virtual information sessions hosted by the Department of Education covering 3-K, pre-K, and kindergarten admissions. 
 
These online sessions will cover:

  •  How to learn about schools and programs.
  •  How to navigate MySchools.nyc, the online school directory and application system. 
  • How to get ready now to apply later. 
 
Information about accelerated learning for all through Brilliant NYC will be shared during separate public engagement events. 
 
The content of each event is the same, but different interpretation services will be provided for different events, as follows:

  • November 16, 2pm to 3pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Spanish, Bangla, Korean
  • November 18, 6pm to 7pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Chinese (Mandarin), Urdu, Haitian Creole
  • November 30, 2pm to 3pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Russian, Arabic, French
  • December 9, 6pm to 7pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Spanish, Bangla, Korean 
  • December 14, 2pm to 3pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Chínese (Cantonese), Urdu, Haitian Creole 
  • January 10, 6pm to 7pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Russian, Arabic, French
  • February 2, 6pm to 7pm | Event held in English. Interpretation provided in: Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
 
How to join:  
 
  • Each event will be hosted live online. Links to each event can be found at schools.nyc.gov/ESEvents. Please check the website 48 hours before the event to find the password and any other information needed to join, as well as how to receive interpretation.
 
A recording of these online sessions will be posted on the DOE website in December.
 
To learn more about available program options and apply online parents can create a MySchools.nyc account.
 
Department of Education (DOE) High School Applications
 
In New York City, students apply to high school during their 8th grade year. Current 9th grade students (who are not repeating 9th grade) also have the option to apply to programs with 10th grade seats.

The applications for high school are not yet open, but families should be preparing now for the application process which opens soon. The Department of Education will be holding virtual information sessions to help families prepare for the application process and answer questions. The first sessions were held on November 3rd and 4th, and the last session is on November 9th. Information and the link to Zoom for the last session can be found here.

Upcoming information sessions to provide families with information on applying to high schools will be announced soon.

Welcome letters are in the mail to families of current 8th grade public DOE and charter school students. All 8th grade students (and first-time 9th grade students, if interested) can also get their welcome letter from their current school. This letter includes an overview of high school and Specialized High Schools admissions, including how to access a student’s MySchools account. Learn more here.
 
Measuring Food Insecurity Panel
 
The Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center hosted a panel titled Measuring Food Insecurity on October 26, 2021. The panel hosted experts in food policy from around the country to discuss the ways we measure hunger and food insecurity and how to improve current systems and collect accurate data. The virtual panel was recorded and is available online at Measuring Food Insecurity - YouTube.
 
NYC Ban on Plastic Straws and Stirrers
 
As part of the effort to reduce waste, legislation limiting the use of plastic straws in the city officially went into effect on November 1, 2021. Restaurants, bars and other establishments can now only provide plastic straws upon request. Businesses can continue to offer customers straws made of compost-friendly materials like paper, bamboo and agave.

Community-wide Conference Call

We appreciate your continued participation on our weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information and details about changes we are making in response to the pandemic are being communicated to our clients. Your active engagement is appreciated, and your questions and suggestions help us better understand the needs of those we serve and respond accordingly. 

The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared as well as new developments. 

Each week, we will provide all of the information included in each of our prior communications on our website on the COVID-19 Community Updates page. If you would like to reference a specific prior communication, links to each of the prior communications can be found on the community updates page.
 
As a reminder, we have a standing informational call on Tuesdays at 4:00PM. In the event that the date or time of the weekly call needs to change due to extenuating circumstances, a notification is sent out from DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov, in addition to an updated calendar invitation to those who have signed up to join the calls. To be added to this list, please reach out to DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
 
Please note that there are several hundred participants on these weekly calls, and as a result they may start a few minutes late to allow as many people to join as possible and hear all the information. In addition, the large number of participants does not allow us to have individual conversations efficiently, which is why we respond to individual inquiries through the chat box. If you have additional questions after the call, please reach out to DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov or the appropriate contact area listed on our COVID 19 Community Updates page.
 
CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is available during these calls as an accommodation for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Please contact oria@dss.nyc.gov at least four hours prior to the call to enable this service.
 
As always, thank you for your continued partnership in serving New Yorkers in need, particularly now when our clients need us more than ever. If you have any questions or concerns about the changes we have made and are continuing to develop to address the COVID pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
 
Sincerely,
 

Steven Banks
DSS Commissioner
New York City Department of Social Services