May 3, 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. 
 
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates
 
As of Wednesday, April 28, you can schedule an appointment at a mobile NYC Vax Bus through the Vax4NYC website. The buses will continue to provide walkup vaccinations for all New Yorkers 18 and up.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance on use of masks among fully vaccinated individuals. On April 28, 2021 the CDC updated guidance for fully vaccinated individuals indicating that they can gather outdoors without wearing a mask except in certain crowded settings or venues. Fully vaccinated, as defined by the CDC, is two weeks after having had both vaccine doses (or a single dose in the case of Johnson and Johnson vaccine).
 
New Yorkers ages 16 years and older can now get their COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment at select sites across NYC. Sites can be found here. New Yorkers are required to provide proof of age and residency in order to receive the vaccine. Additional information can be found here.
 
The in-home vaccination program is continuing. Homebound New Yorkers interested in receiving an in-home vaccination can sign up at nyc.gov/homebound or by calling 1-877-VAX-4-NYC.

Assistance for New Yorkers Who Test Positive for COVID
 
NYC Health & Hospitals' Test & Trace Corps is providing special services for New Yorkers who test positive and their close contacts:
 
  • “Take Care” packages which include enough personal protective equipment for a household of three to quarantine for 10-14 days. Learn more here.
  • A free hotel room for up to 14 days if quarantining at home is impossible. Click here to learn more or call (212) 268-4319 to book a room.
  • Free dog walking and other pet drop-in services to ensure New Yorkers can remain safely separated in a hotel or at home. Learn more here.
 
NYC Health Post-COVID Clinics
 
Post-COVID care clinics bring together multidisciplinary teams (including pulmonology, cardiology, rehabilitation, neurology and mental health) to provide a comprehensive treatment approach to those suffering the long-term effects of COVID-19. Click here to find out more information.
 
COVID-19 Testing
 
Free testing continues to be available throughout the five boroughs. A schedule of mobile testing locations throughout the City as well as detailed information on locations and types of testing offered at regular testing sites (including rapid testing and antibody tests) can be found here. Locations of testing sites can also be accessed by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. These are no cost testing sites open to all New Yorkers.
 
The Test-and-Trace corps offers the COVID 19 Wait Times Dashboard, which displays estimated wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. This wait time information is updated by site staff every two hours.

Home Energy Assistance (HEAP)
 
As we reported last week, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced an additional $12M in funding to help eligible New Yorkers facing home heating emergencies. Households can now apply for a third emergency HEAP benefit, even if they have already received a HEAP benefit this season. The deadline for HEAP applications has been extended from April 30 until August 31, 2021, or until funds allocated to this program have been exhausted. The State announcement can be found here. Additional information can be found here.
 
In response to questions received on our weekly community phone call, below is a re-cap of HEAP information shared in prior communications:
 
HEAP Emergency Benefit
 
The application period for Emergency HEAP benefits opened on Monday, January 4, 2021. The utility shut-off moratorium will not affect eligibility for Emergency benefits.
 
Emergency benefits are available to assist eligible households with a heating emergency or a heat-related domestic emergency. Only one Emergency benefit of each type is available per HEAP household for the 2020-2021 season. Temporary relocation for housing emergencies and propane tank deposits to obtain new propane vendors are also available under the Emergency benefit component. Regular HEAP benefits, if available, must be utilized first to resolve heating emergencies for eligible households before an Emergency HEAP grant can be obtained.
 
To be eligible for an Emergency benefit, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • A Regular HEAP benefit must not be available or any credit remaining on an account is insufficient to resolve the applicant’s emergency.
  • The applicant must be facing a heating emergency or heat-related domestic emergency:
  • The applicant’s utility service is terminated or scheduled for termination;
  • The applicant’s electric utility service necessary to operate the primary heating equipment is terminated or scheduled for termination; and/or
  • The applicant is without heating fuel or has less than one quarter tank of oil, kerosene, or propane, or less than a ten-day supply of other heating fuels.
  • The applicant must be the customer of record for the utility or deliverable fuel account.
  • The applicant households must not have more than $2,000 (or $3,000 if the household contains a member age 60 or older) in available liquid resources.
  • Applicants in receipt of ongoing Temporary Assistance (TA) have already been resource tested.

2020-2021 HEAP Emergency Benefit Amounts:
 
Oil, Kerosene and Propane 
$675

Wood, Wood Pellets, Corn, Coal or other deliverables 
$525

Natural Gas, Heat Only 
$350

Natural Gas Heat with Domestic Electric 
$490

Electric Heat 
$490

Heat-Related Electric 
$140

Temporary Relocation 
Maximum of $500 per program year

Propane Tank Deposit 
Maximum of $500 per program year
 
Regular HEAP Benefit
 
As a reminder, the 2020-2021 Regular HEAP benefit season opened on November 2, 2020. Recipients of HEAP benefits may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help pay for heating costs. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, is age 60 or older or has a permanent disability. Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat. HEAP recipients can use HEAP approval letters as documentation to support Con Ed reduced rate programs and Verizon Lifeline.  
 
A household may be eligible for a regular benefit if:
  • Clients and/or household members are United States Citizens or qualified immigrants;
  • The household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides; or
  • The applicant is in receipt of:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or
  • Temporary Assistance or
  • Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone)
 
To apply, please contact 212-331-3126 or visit the ACCESS HRA website for instructions here. HEAP applications are available for download here. Please note, the HEAP application cannot be submitted through ACCESS HRA at this time. All HEAP applications need to be completed, signed by the applicant or their authorized representative and returned by mail or dropped off at a designated HEAP assistance location. There is no need to come in to a Center. The completed application can be mailed back to HRA at:
 
NYC DSS/HRA/HEAP
PO Box 1401
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
 
Information can be found here.
 
Applicants can check on the status of a HEAP application by calling the State OTDA Helpline at 800-342-3009.
 
Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) Cooling Assistance Component
 
Applications for the 2021 HEAP Cooling Assistance Component (CAC) are being accepted as of Monday, May 3, 2021. Benefits will be provided on a first come, first served basis to eligible applicants through Tuesday, August 31, 2021, or until funding allocated to this component by the State is exhausted.
 
As a reminder, to be eligible for a CAC benefit, the applicant or a household member must have a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat. Requirements for medical documentation for a CAC benefit may be waived for applicants who are unable to obtain such documentation due to COVID-19. Additionally, the applicant household must not have a working air conditioner newer than five years old, or must not have received a HEAP-funded air conditioner within the past five years.
 
Income Savings Plan
 
The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has granted our request to further postpone implementation of the Income Savings Plan (ISP) through July 20, 2021, which is the date of the current extension of the public health emergency. The implementation was previously set to resume in April 2021.
 
Cash Assistance Recertification Notice – phone numbers
 
We have updated the 908T, notice of recertification for Cash Assistance, to include a note on the notice indicating that the interview call may be received from an unknown number. On this form we provide a list of the possible numbers. The new notice reads: We will CALL YOU from a number you may not know within 7 days. The numbers you may see are: 347-227-3301, 718-269-3231, 929-267-5002.
 
One Shot Deal (OSD) – Client Identifier
 
In response to concerns raised by community partners, as of April 21 we are now printing the names of clients on the check stub for One Shot Deal rental payments so that housing advocates are able to link the check with the client. This was done previously on checks for recurring payments and is now available for OSD checks as well. 
 
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) 2020-21 School Year
 
As we have reported previously, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 school year. OTDA has confirmed that the State’s P-EBT implementation plan for the 2020-2021 school year has been approved by the federal government. For students in schools in NYC the benefit amount will be based on counts of in-person and virtual learning days for each month, provided by the NYC Department of Education. The benefit amount for each child in a household is calculated based on the cost of breakfast, lunch, and snack for days the child was not in the school building during the 2020-21 school year (September 2020 – June 2021). The State expects to issue benefits in one payment for September through March. This payment will likely be issued in June 2021. The remaining benefit covering the period from April – June 2021 is projected to be issued during the months of July – September 2021. We will share additional information about the State’s plan to roll-out the benefit as it becomes available. 
 
As a reminder, the State OTDA has distributed all P-EBT benefits for the March – June 2020 portion of the school year. The State OTDA is providing a P-EBT helpline at 833-452-0096 for questions concerning the disbursement of these benefits (for the months of March – June 2020). The helpline is available from 8:30am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. Translation services are available. Questions can also be submitted through the State’s contact form regarding P-EBT food benefits.
 
Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund
 
Through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund, $26.6 million is available to support essential workers and first responders in New York by providing reimbursement for out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging and other qualifying expenses that enabled workers to perform their duties during the COVID crisis. Qualifying applicants include first responders, health care, and many multi-industry workers, and up to $1,000 is available per household. Families who earn up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level – or $125,470 for a family of four –- are eligible to apply for the funds to cover expenses. 
 
Applications are open from April 16 through June 15, 2021. Learn more and access the application here.
 
NYS Eviction Protections for Tenants – Hardship Declarations
 
A New York State law enacted in December of 2020 has allowed tenants and occupants who have suffered financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and were unable to pay some or all of their rent, or for whom moving from their home during the pandemic would pose a hardship to submit a Hardship Declaration and be protected from eviction. Although these protections expired on May 1, NYS Assemblymember Dinowitz and State Senator Kavanaugh have advanced a bill that would extend these eviction protections through August 31, 2021, and it is expected to be passed by the Legislature and then sent to the Governor for signature. We will provide additional information here and on our weekly calls as soon as it is available.
 
If this bill becomes law, then tenants and occupants who complete and return a hardship declaration would be able to prevent a landlord from filing or continuing an eviction proceeding until at least August 31, 2021.
 
Hardship declaration forms are available to download in 20 languages on the New York Courts website. The Hardship Declaration permits a tenant to declare hardship for:

  • loss of significant household income; or
  • increased expenses related to health impacts or essential work; or
  • increased child care or other family care expenses during the pandemic; or
  • inability to obtain meaningful employment because of circumstances relating to COVID-19; or
  • inability to afford to move or difficulty securing alternative housing making it a hardship to relocate to another home during the COVID-19 pandemic; or
  • vacating and moving would pose a significant health risk if the tenant or a member of the household is over 65 years of age or has a disability or underlying medical condition.

Tenants may proactively complete the Hardship Declaration and return it to the landlord whether or not a case is pending. Tenants may also submit completed Hardship Declaration forms to the Housing Court by email to the account associated with the county in which the tenant’s eviction proceeding is taking place:
 
Bronx

Kings (Brooklyn)

New York (Manhattan)

Queens

Richmond (Staten Island)
 
The exception to this protection is in the event that the landlord is seeking eviction for causing an ongoing nuisance condition or presenting a substantial danger to the safety of other tenants. Tenants who are protected under this law are still responsible for all required rent, fees, penalties or interest under their lease.
 
Tenants with questions about their protections from eviction under New York State law can get free legal advice and other assistance through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice. For more information on how to access free legal services for tenants in NYC, you may contact the Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline, or visit HRA’s Office of Civil Justice at www.nyc.gov/civiljustice.
 
Right to Counsel, Housing Justice for All, and JustFix.nyc have launched a new website to help tenants submit their hardship declaration forms online. EvictionFreeNY.org provides an accessible, easy to use format that ensures tenants can take full advantage of the temporary protections provided by the State law. The provision of this information about these efforts is for informational purposes only and does not represent an endorsement by the City of New York.
 
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Reimbursement
 
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance to individuals with COVID-related funeral expenses. Beginning April 12, 2021, applications will be accepted through a dedicated COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585).
 
In order to be eligible for funeral assistance, the following conditions must be met:
 
  • The death of the individual must have occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
  • The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
  • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national, or have a qualified immigration status that meets the federal definition for “qualified alien.”
  • The citizenship status of the deceased person is not taken into consideration.
 
Certain eligibility documents will be required, including an official death certification and documents related to funeral expenses. Also, individuals who think they may be eligible for an HRA burial allowance can apply for an HRA burial allowance even if they got FEMA funeral assistance.
 
FEMA has created flyers to help spread the word about this important benefit. Please access the flyer here.
 
 
IMPORTANT: FEMA has reported reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA will not contact anyone until they have called FEMA or have applied for assistance. If you receive an unsolicited telephone call or email, do not disclose information such as the name, birth date, or social security number of any deceased family member or other individual. If you doubt that someone who says they are a FEMA representative is legitimate, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or the National Center for Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 to report suspected fraud.
 
There have been several reports that people are unable to connect to the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance hotline. FEMA is aware of the issue, which is due to an overwhelming call volume. They have posted information on their website asking individuals to call back and with a reminder that there is no deadline to apply for the program. More information can be found here.
 
A Call to Action: Eliminating Compounded Disparities for People with Disabilities in a Year of COVID-19 (Friday, May 14th from 8:30am-1:30pm)
 
Join AHRC NYC, Pace University, and Georgetown University, along with DSS and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for an online Symposium, featuring presentations and workshops that explore the intersectionality of disability, race, ethnicity, gender identity, culture and the political determinants of health. Featured speakers include, among many others: Daniel E. Dawes, noted author and Executive Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine; Judy Heumann, international disability advocate, founder of Disabled in Action and star of the 2021 Academy Award nominated film Crip Camp; Lydia X. Z. Brown, disability justice advocate, organizer, educator, attorney, strategist, and writer; Britney Wilson, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Rights and Disability Justice Clinic, New York Law School.
 
Learn more and register here.
 
Paying Family Caregivers through Medicaid Programs – Webinar May 21, 2021
 
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is hosting a webinar about Paying Family Caregivers through Medicaid. Programs that can pay family members for providing care can help support home- and community-based care for Medicaid enrollees and help states address the demand for long-term services and supports. The webinar is on Friday, May 21 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm. Register and learn more here.
 
NYC Unity Works – Workforce Development Project
 
NYC Unity Works is a new initiative launched through a partnership between the NYC Unity Project, the Administration’s citywide LGBTQI policy and programming initiative, and the Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest LGBTQI homeless youth service provider. The program will be a comprehensive workforce development program for LGBTQI communities, and will specifically focus on supporting homeless and runaway LGBTQI youth by connecting them to a full suite of services including basic and higher educational opportunities; paid internships and training, work credentials, and job placements; career coaching, and comprehensive, LGBTQI affirming case management that incorporates full wraparound supports and mental health counseling. Click here for more information.
 
COVID-19 Financial Resources – Grants
 
Candid is a non-profit resource website that has been compiling a list of grant funds that are available for individuals and organizations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 financial crisis. Please note that this is an informational source – Candid does not issue grant funds.Visit the Candid website to view the list of grants.

Summer Rising Grades K-8

Summer Rising is New York City’s free summer program for any City child in grades K–8, including students with disabilities, who wants to participate. Families can sign up through the Discover DYCD website. Schools will also reach out to families to encourage them to sign up and help them do so.
 
Pet Owner Eviction Project
 
Animal Haven's Pet Owner Eviction Project, in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare and NYC Emergency Management's Animal Planning Task Force, is seeking to connect vulnerable tenants at risk of losing their pets while facing a potential eviction with free and low-cost resources. For more information and assistance individuals can call the COVID-19 Pet Hotline: 877-204-8821

Community-wide Conference Call

We appreciate your continued participation in 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. 

If you were not able to join our weekly call (usually on Tuesdays), 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 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