March 8, 2022
Dear Community Partner:
Thank you for your partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need. We hope that this communication, as well as the bi-weekly community calls, will continue to serve as an important platform to share information and answer your questions. We will continue our work toward the shared goal of fighting poverty, income inequality, and addressing homelessness in our city with care and compassion for our clients, staff, and provider partners.
As we shared previously, these calls are now occurring on a bi-weekly basis, though this communication will continue to be distributed weekly. As a reminder, please reach out to DSS Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to be added to the list of invitees for the Tuesday call and sign up here be added to the distribution list for this weekly communication.
Throughout the pandemic we have continued to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page. We encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered during the pandemic.
SNAP Scam Alert
HRA has been advised that there is a scam using texting to obtain personal information from individuals. Personal information includes, but is not limited to, their social security number, bank information, or SNAP electronic benefits transfer card or PIN number.
The texting scam message tells people that they were approved to get food stamps or SNAP and to click on a link to start them. Please refer to the end of this communication for a sample image of the text that is sent.
This is not a text from HRA, OTDA, or USDA. Clients should be advised not to respond or click the link. They should not share any personal information.
There are also reports of clients receiving calls from 929-385-3938. Clients should be advised not to give their PIN information even if they are told that their case will close. For more information or assistance call the NYS EBT Customer Service Hotline at 888-328-6399.
Emergency SNAP Allotments
As it has in previous months, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will issue an emergency SNAP supplement to households who are issued SNAP benefits for March 2022. The emergency allotment will be the difference between their budgeted allotment and the maximum allotment for their household size or $95, whichever is greater. Further information is available here. As a reminder, these benefits are not on a regular schedule. If clients want to know when their emergency SNAP allotments are available, they can check their available SNAP balance at https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/ebt/.
Fair Fares
The Fair Fares NYC program continues to offer eligible New York City residents a 50% discount on eligible transportation. In our ongoing efforts to get the word out about this valuable benefit, the City has created Fair Fares outreach materials - including palm cards, brochures, and posters that can be order by community organizations and others. Please use the Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS) website here, after registering on the login page. We have also created this Fair Fares toolkit to help get the word out.
Pandemic Food Reserve Emergency Distribution Program (P-FRED) Updates
The Pandemic Food Reserve Emergency Distribution Program (P-FRED) has been distributing fresh and shelf-stable food to more than 400 COVID-response emergency feeding programs ("EFP") that serve the public. Due to a spike in demand and in food prices in recent months, the P-FRED program has been facing supply challenges which has affected recent orders. As a result, the ordering portal temporarily closed to allow the situation to be remedied. The ordering portal is anticipated to reopen on March 7, 2022 and deliveries are expected to resume during the week of March 14, with a focus on the fresh produce items which was the initial intent of this supplemental pandemic food program.
SNAP Elderly Simplified Application Process
The initial application requirements for households that appear to be ESAP-eligible are the same as for any SNAP applicant household. For recertifications, form LDSS-5166 should be used and can be uploaded using the ACCESS HRA mobile app.
Those who are completing a new application should submit using fax/email/mail in order to ensure timely application registration date:
Fax: 917-639-1111
Households that submit a complete applications with necessary documentation can expect to be evaluated for expedited SNAP (E-SNAP) with 7 days and for recurring SNAP benefits within 30 days. As a reminder we continue to operate under a partial SNAP interview waiver which means that applications are being processed even if a client is not contacted by HRA.
Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) Updates
Referral appointments for Cash Assistance cases have resumed and negative case actions may be taken if the client doesn’t return the form and/or comply with their interview. OCSS staff will make two attempts to reach the client by telephone to conduct the interview. Clients must comply with the child support program or they will be sanctioned.
All clients referred to OCSS will be mailed the following:
- Referral for Child Support Services (LDSS-5145)
- Postage-paid return envelope
- Information for All Potential Child Support Applicants About Getting Child Support Safely (W-280a)
- Notice of Responsibilities and Rights for Support (LDSS-4279)
Clients referred to OCSS prior to 3/6/22 will receive the “Avoid a Reduction in Your Benefits – Complete Your Child Support Application Today” (OCSS-63). Clients who return the LDSS-5145 will be contacted for telephone interview. If OCSS is unable to reach the client, a telephone appointment will be scheduled and an OCSS Mandatory Telephone Interview Notice (OCSS-63b) will be mailed to the client.
Clients referred to OCSS after 3/6/22 receive a scheduled appointment during their Cash Assistance Interview and are mailed the “Avoid a Reduction in Your Benefits – Child Support Appointment Notice” (OCSS-91) for a telephone or in-person interview.
If an in-person appointment was scheduled, the client is required to report to the Borough Office location on the day of the interview.
Returning a completed application:
The completed LDSS-5145 can be returned to OCSS using any option below:
- Online: using the ACCESS HRA Child Support mobile app or the ACCESS HRA mobile doc upload mobile app.
- Mail: using the postage-paid return envelope that was sent with the LDSS-5145.
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Email: dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us - ask the client to type “LDSS-5145” in the subject line.
Cash Assistance Six-Month Mailer
In line with the recent waiver of the requirement to return SNAP Periodic Reports due in January, February, and March, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) approved DSS/HRA’s request to waive the requirement to return the Cash Assistance (CA) Six-Month Mailer for the same period of time. No negative actions were taken for cases due to return their CA Six-Month Mailer in January but failed to do so and no negative actions will be taken for those that do not return the mailers due in February or March until March 14, 2022.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Season Extended
The dates of operation for the Regular and Emergency HEAP benefit components will be extended from March 15, 2022 to April 29, 2022, or until funds allocated to these components are exhausted, whichever comes first.
A second Emergency benefit will be available to applicants from February 22, 2022 through April 29, 2022 when the Emergency component closes. The eligibility criteria for the second Emergency benefit will be the same as the first Emergency benefit. Applicants must have exhausted, or have unavailable to them, both the Regular benefit and the first Emergency benefit to be eligible for the second Emergency benefit. First and second Emergency benefits must not be issued concurrently. For example, those who received a regular HEAP benefit and then applied for an Emergency HEAP allocation in the first round of HEAP Emergency benefits, and have exhausted these benefits, and are again in a heat and/or heat related energy emergency may now be eligible for a second Emergency benefit. They must continue to meet the eligibility criteria (linked above) for Emergency benefit assistance.
Applicants can call 212.331.3126 for HEAP assistance.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Regular Arrears Supplement (RAS)
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 is scheduled to operate through March 15, 2022, or until funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first. Mail-in applications postmarked on or before March 15, 2022 meet the deadline and must be processed.
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. Once a HEAP application is submitted, HRA staff will assess for both regular HEAP and RAS by reaching out to the client to conduct a phone interview. The applicant must be eligible for HEAP to be eligible for RAS. If eligible, the RAS worksheet will be completed by HRA staff at the time of the interview.
Applicants are required to complete the regular HEAP application (and the RAS worksheet which will be completed by HRA staff 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 Eligibility section below);
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Download an application here or call 212-331-3126 to request an application.
- 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.
HEAP applicants will be required to have an interview, which, due to COVID-19 restrictions, will be conducted by telephone. Applicants will receive a call from an HRA worker to conduct the eligibility interview for HEAP and RAS, if also applying for RAS. Existing HEAP recipients (those with an open HEAP, CA or SNAP case, who haven’t moved) applying for RAS do not need to have a telephone interview; they just need an HRA worker to complete an RAS worksheet for them.
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;
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Income is at or below the current income guidelines as posted in this table 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 have 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.
Update to Federal Poverty Guidelines
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published its annual update of the HHS poverty guidelines. The figures on the chart provided here represent 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a given family size, both by monthly and annual income. These revised figures are effective - June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023.
For Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF) the 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines go into effect on April 1, 2022.
The 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines do not go into effect for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on June 1st. Poverty guidelines for SNAP are updated each year on October 1st.
Child Care Payment Waivers Extension
The Office of Children and Family Services has extended two ACS childcare waivers, allowing HRA to provide payment for an unlimited number of absences and program closures. The waivers, which were first set to end on December 31, were then extended through January 2022 and February 2022, and are now further extended through March 31, 2022. The waivers apply to both contract and voucher programs including Day Care Centers, Group Family Day Care, Family Day Care, Legally-exempt Group Programs, and School Age Child Care. Legally exempt family child care and in-home child care providers are not eligible to receive payment for program closures but are eligible for payment for absences.
COVID-19 Related Updates
Second Round of At-Home COVID Tests Delivery
At this time every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Starting March 7, every home in the U.S. will be able to order an additional set of 4 tests. Order Free At-Home Tests. For help placing an order for at-home tests, individuals can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Mask Mandates and Key to NYC Updates
NYC's school mask mandate and the Key to NYC vaccination requirement for patronizing restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters, and other cultural institutions will expire on March 7. Masks will still be required on public transit, in health care settings, correctional facilities, and shelters. All other COVID-19 mandates will remain in effect. Under the rules, employees will still be required to be vaccinated unless they have received a reasonable accommodation from their employer.
Additionally, Mayor Adams released a new color-coded system that tracks COVID-19 alerts and keeps New York City residents apprised of the risks they face in New York City. This new system will better help New Yorkers understand the current level of COVID-19 risk and how they can best protect themselves and others based on the current risk. The system consists of four alert levels that outline precautions and recommended actions for individuals and government based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Burden Indicator.
Home Delivered COVID Antiviral Medication
The City has begun free home delivery -- as long as there is a prescription-- of oral antiviral pills Paxlovid (made by Pfizer), and Molnupiravir (by Merck), via Alto Pharmacy, a medication provider which has partnered with the City. Since supplies of the new drugs are extremely limited, deliveries will be prioritized to those who test positive and considered to be at higher risk for COVID.
Those who have tested positive and are otherwise qualified can visit Virtual ExpressCare for a phone or video visit, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) and press 9.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
Vaccination sites can be found at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX4-NYC. New Yorkers can also text their ZIP code to 438829 to receive information on vaccination sites near them, including what age groups can be served at each site.
For more information about vaccines and the vaccines for children, families can go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine and see this FAQ, or call 212-COVID19 with questions about the vaccine.
Vaccination and Testing Apps
- CDC Vaccination Card. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
- NYC Vaccination Record or other official immunization record, including from a health care provider. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. If you are unable to get this record, call 311.
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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.
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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.
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NYS Excelsior Pass (or Excelsior Pass Plus). Allows an individual to find and store proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. New York residents who were vaccinated out of State can learn more about their options at the Excelsior Pass FAQ. The app, called NYS Excelsior Pass Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
Vaccine Records
Individuals who are fully vaccinated but have lost their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or need verification of their vaccine status can request a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record. Individuals cannot get a replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card at this time but can get an official record noting they have been vaccinated. For more information and to submit a request visit the NYC DOHMH Vaccine Records site.
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Test Scams
There have been reports of scams which claim to provide at-home COVID-19 test kits in exchange for personal or medical information. Individuals should not give out Medicare Numbers for COVID-19 test kits.
As a reminder, each household in the U.S. can access four free COVID-19 at-home tests shipped directly to their home at no cost. Visit COVIDtests.gov to order tests or learn more about testing.
Call 800-MEDICARE to report suspected fraud.
At-home COVID Testing for Immunocompromised Individuals
Testing in NYC
Through NYC Test & Trace Corps, 14 landmark City cultural sites and 27 branches of The New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library will receive at-home COVID-19 test kits to give to New Yorkers free of charge. Weekly walk-up distributions began Monday, February 14. Tests will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to one per person while supplies last. Test & Trace will update its testing website daily with the hours and pick up locations of cultural sites and library branches with tests available. The distribution of tests will not impact other aspects of cultural site or library branch operations. A list of participating cultural sites and their hours is available here.
Free testing continues to be available at City-run sites throughout the five boroughs. The NYC Health and Hospitals COVID-19 Testing Sites page includes detailed information about all City-run mobile, brick-and-mortar, and micro testing sites across the five boroughs, including location, schedule, and types of testing offered. Locations of testing sites can also be accessed by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. These are no cost testing sites open to all New Yorkers.
COVID-19 testing at most City-run sites is walk-in only. All New Yorkers are tested on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sites allow pre-registration through this link, which will streamline check-in upon arrival.
Additional Resources and Information
Emergency Broadband Benefit Updates
The Emergency Broadband Benefit was a program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Affordable Connectivity Program replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit on December 31, 2021, with a 60 day transition period that ends on March 1, 2022. More information is available here.
Most Emergency Broadband Benefit households will not have to take any action to continue receiving the new $30 monthly benefit after the transition period ends on March 1, 2022. By March 1, 2022, most legacy Emergency Broadband Benefit households should have been automatically transitioned to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Households that need to take action to remain enrolled in the ACP will have been contacted by USAC, the program administrator, or their provider.
Households that may need to take action include:
- Consumers for whom the transition from EBB’s $50 per month subsidy to ACP’s $30 per month subsidy will result in additional out-of-pocket costs.
- Action required: Contact your provider. Consumers may have to opt-in to the program to ensure that they are comfortable with assuming additional out-of-pocket costs for their broadband bill.
- Consumers who originally qualified for EBB by suffering job loss as of February 29, 2020 or participating in their carrier’s COVID-19 program.
- Action required: Contact USAC to reapply for the ACP, if eligible. Consumers will have to requalify/reapply for the ACP program.
Child Care Options for Families Experiencing Homelessness
Families living in shelter or temporary housing may be eligible for childcare assistance, including vouchers and contracted care through DOE or ACS. This includes families who may be sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (“double-up” situations).
Families living in shelter or temporary housing may apply for a child care voucher with ACS by:
Shelter Social Work staff are available to assist in the application process. Each shelter has an assigned childcare liaison tasked with ensuring that families are connected to childcare. There are also DOE staff who do enrollment workshops in shelter with families.
Summer Youth Employment Program
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.
Participants have the opportunity to explore their interests and career pathways, develop workplace skills and engage in learning experiences that help in developing their social, civic and leadership skills. By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future.
SYEP for Youth with Disabilities
The Manhattan Transition and College Access Center is now accepting applications for its 2022 Summer Youth Employment Program. NYC youth with disabilities between the ages of 14-21 who meet the eligibility criteria can submit an application by emailing it to MNTCAC@schools.nyc.gov. Click here to view the program application.
Next Steps Advising College and Career Advice Program
Next Steps Advising offers free college and career advice for 11th and 12th grade students, offering virtual support (text messages and videoconferencing) with career training programs, applications for college, and for state and federal financial aid. The service is available 4 - 8 pm M - F, and 10 am - 4 pm on Sat - Sun to students through the rest of the school year, including Midwinter Recess. Learn more here.
Tax Season Information
Important tax season reminders:
For more information and to learn about virtual, drop-off, and in-person tax assistance options, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance.
Available tax credits:
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for families and individuals with low and moderate incomes. This year, for the first time, filers aged 19-24 and over 65 without children can claim up to $1,502. As of 2022, filers can use their 2019 or 2020 tax year to maximize EITC benefits. Additional tax credit information can be found here.
Child Tax Credit for parents with children age 17 and under is a benefit worth between $3,000 – $3,600 depending on the child’s age. Parents don’t need to have had income to claim the credit; those who got some advance payments in 2021 (those payments started in July) must file to get the rest of their money. The children being claimed need to have Social Security Numbers (SSN), but the filer does not.
Child and Dependent Care Credit is for parents who pay for childcare for children under 13 or the care of dependent adults can get back up to $4,000 in care expenses for one qualifying person and up to $8,000 for two or more people.
Increase in Consolidated Edison Electricity Costs
ConEd bills are broken down into two primary categories of charges (in addition to various taxes and fees): supply charges and delivery charges.
“Delivery” charges pay for Con Ed's maintenance and expansion of the infrastructure required to transport electricity from the source of generation to homes. Delivery charges are set by the NYS Public Service Commission (PSC).
In 2020 the Public Service Commission approved an increase in delivery charges that would take effect over three years, increasing bills by an average of about 13% by the end of this year compared to 2019.
"Supply" charges are what Con Ed pays suppliers for the generation of electricity—and by law they do not mark this up. Neither the PSC nor Con Ed set those supply rates; they fluctuate due to market factors. Recently these rates have been fluctuating significantly. Many bills show supply charges have nearly tripled, from something like from 6.6 cents per kilowatt-hour to 19.6 cents. This comes as a result of the rising cost of natural gas on the global market as a substantial percentage of NYC electricity is produced using fossil fuels.
Con Ed filed for a $1.2 billion rate hike for delivery charges with the PSC last month, which would raise bills an estimated 11% for electric customers. The public can offer comments to the Public Service Commission specific rate increases.
Metropolitan Transit Authority – OMNY Unlimited Ride Pilot
The MTA will launch a four-month pilot project to allow unlimited weekly rides using the new OMNY tap-and-go app. Until now, the OMNY tap-and-go app had no equivalent to an unlimited Metrocard.
Starting Feb. 28, from Monday to Sunday during each week of the pilot, any subway or bus rider who uses the OMNY contactless payment system and takes 12 trips within that week, spending $33 in fares, will automatically have free trips for the rest of that week.
The week-long calendar rolls over every Sunday night.
Community-wide Conference Call
We look forward to your continued participation on our bi-weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information shared here and in our bi-weekly calls is being communicated to our shared clients.
The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared on our bi-weekly call as well as new developments and useful information regarding other City benefits and services. All of the information included in each of our prior communications, since March 2020, is available on our website on the COVID-19 Community Updates page.
Thank you for your partnership in serving our fellow New Yorkers in need of our services. If you have any questions or concerns about the issues covered in this communication or on our bi-weekly calls, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
In partnership,
Gary P. Jenkins
DSS Commissioner
New York City Department of Social Services
