News & Communications

Recent HRA Headlines

• The 2021-2022 HEAP Emergency benefit program will close on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 5:00pm. Applications for Emergency HEAP received or postmarked on or before July 20, 2022 will be processed. After this date, if you need help with utility related emergencies you can apply for Emergency Assistance online using ACCESS HRA.

• The 2021-2022 HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit is closing earlier than anticipated because funding has run out. The new closing date is Friday, July 8, 2022 at 5:00pm. All applications received or postmarked on or before this date, will be considered and processed.

• As of January 11, 2022 the State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will again be accepting applications. Applying for State ERAP will provide tenants with certain protections while the State makes a decision on their application. Clients may apply by going to http://www.otda.ny.gov/erap or by calling 1-844-NY1-RENT (1-844-691-7368). HRA will not require clients to apply for ERAP before processing an application for rental assistance. For more info on ERAP call: 1-844-NY1-RENT (1-844-691-7368) or click: ERAP FAQs.

• New Yorkers can now apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program for up to $30 off their monthly internet bill. Many New Yorkers qualify. Find out if you qualify at: ACPBenefit.org

• Older adults can get help organizing bills and making sure they are paid on time. The NYC Department for the Aging’s Bill Payer Program can partner you with someone to help you manage your household bills if you qualify. Find out if you qualify by clicking here.

• Starting in June 2021, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) began the process of issuing Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food benefits for the 2020-2021 school year to students who had a reduction in in-person learning during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19. Any questions or issues should be directed to OTDA’s P-EBT Food Benefits Helpline at 1-833-452-0096 or to the P-EBT Information Form at otda.ny.gov/PEBT-Info to submit questions in writing. Click here for OTDA’s SNAP COVID-19 webpage: https://otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/

• NYC Dedicated Sick Leave for Child Vaccination Workers in NYC can get 4 additional hours of sick leave for EACH child; AND each COVID-19 vaccine injection. Dedicated sick leave for child vaccination is IN ADDITION to accrued leave under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. Under NYC’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member and to seek legal and social services assistance or take other safety measures if the employee or a family member may be the victim of any act or threat of domestic violence or unwanted sexual contact, stalking, or human trafficking. Employers CANNOT retaliate against workers for requesting or using safe and sick leave. Click here to learn more.

• Do you need help paying for overdue water and wastewater bills? The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) can help. LIHWAP is a drinking water and wastewater emergency assistance program funded through new federal resources. Benefits are based on the amount of unpaid water and wastewater bills owed by applicants. This assistance is targeted at low income households and income guidelines will mirror that of the Home Energy Assistance Program. Click here for more information.

• The USCIS is no longer applying the August 2019 Public Charge Final Rule. For more information on Public Charge, please visit the USCIS webpage on Public Charge.

• Child Tax Credit: Starting July 15, 2021, eligible working families can start getting advance Child Tax Credit payments. You can get advance payments for each child or dependent that you have under age 18. Click here to learn more.

• In need of child care for an approved HRA activity or while you work? Click here for enrollment forms the child care provider must submit. If you are active for Cash Assistance, take these steps: Select a child care provider, complete the provider enrollment form, upload via AHRA mobile document upload.

• For SNAP and Cash Assistance clients: if you receive a recertification notice by mail or an ACCESS HRA alert that you need to recertify, you must submit your recertification using a method provided on your notice or your benefits will stop. Please make sure that we have your correct phone number. You can check it and update it by logging in to ACCESS HRA.

• COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised People. Immunocompromised individuals are eligible to get a fourth vaccine dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are eligible for their first booster shot 28 days after their second primary shot, and their second booster shot (their fourth overall) five months after that.

• Federal Emergency Relief Act – SNAP Student Eligibility: The SNAP student eligibility work rules have been changed in two ways: (1) A student is eligible if they are eligible to participate in state or federal work-study, regardless if the student is actively employed or participating in work-study; and (2) Any student that has an “expected family contribution” of $0 may participate in SNAP if otherwise eligible

• Stimulus Funds Impact on Benefits Eligibility: The$300/week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) and the $600 Economic Impact Payment will not be counted in determining benefit amounts for SNAP, Cash Assistance, HEAP, and Medicaid. Also, any one-time FPUC payment for previous weeks is not used in determining eligibility or benefit amounts.

• The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act includes a provision to increase SNAP benefits by 15% for a limited time (through September 30, 2021). The temporary increase is included as part of the regular SNAP issuance. For more information regarding the emergency supplemental allotment of SNAP benefits, click here.

• EBT cards will be mailed to all applicants that are approved for SNAP and Cash Assistance. If your EBT card has not yet arrived, you can go your nearest Job Center (call 311 for the location nearest you) for a temporary card.

• EBT card: If your benefit card was lost, stolen, or has incorrect information, you can get a replacement. Go to www.connectebt.com or call (888) 328-6399. Cards will be mailed to the address on file. If you need a card right away, you can go your nearest Job Center (call 311 for the location nearest you) for a temporary card.

• The 2022-2023 Temporary Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment Plan for the City of New York is Available. The plan, for the period January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023, is available for review and comment until the close of business on January 3, 2022. Read More.

• Utility turn-offs are stopped until December 31, 2021, but fees and bills are still due and will continue to add up. You can request help now. If you already get Cash Assistance and want to see if HRA can help with your utility or rent arrears, request a special grant in ACCESS HRA. If you do not get Cash Assistance now you need to submit an application.

• Families with children between the ages of 3 and 18 receiving Medicaid benefits, and who are eligible for the P-EBT food benefit for students should have received a letter from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. A pin number must be created for your Medicaid CBIC card to access the P-EBT food benefit. Click here to learn more! If you are unable to set up a PIN because you are unsure of what zip code is on record, please contact the Medicaid Helpline at 1-888-692-6116 to confirm the information.

• If you receive SNAP benefits and have lost your job or had a change in your income, please log into your ACCESS HRA account, or create a new one, to submit a Case Change. You do not need to submit a new application. You will need to submit documents to prove the change you report. Click here for information about the documents you can use and the ways to submit your documents.

• Do you need help with applying or recertifying for SNAP? Click here to find a Community Organization that can help!

• The USDA has advised that there is a scam using texting to obtain your personal information. The text might say you were chosen to receive food stamps or SNAP. If you are an NYC resident and do not know if a request for information about SNAP is real or not, contact HRA at 718-557-1399. 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.

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• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 is providing funding for a supplement to all SNAP households that did not receive the maximum SNAP benefit amount allowed for their household size from March 2020 through March 2021. To learn more, click here!

• During the COVID-19 public health crisis, New York City is taking steps to make sure every New Yorker has access to the food they need. Click here for more information.

• NYC Family Justice Centers are available by phone to offer guidance on immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, legal consultations, counseling sessions, case management sessions, community resources, and more. Call an FJC now! Click here for more info.

• Be safe, skip the trip to the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) Customer Service Walk-In Center. For child support assistance, you can email us at dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us or call the New York State Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485. OCSS remains committed to replying to your inquiry as soon as possible. For other changes in child support services, go to nyc.gov/hra/ocss.

• Skip the Trip. Contact HASA ServiceLine (212) 971-0626 should you have any questions regarding your case.

• Stop the spread of Coronavirus! Learn more about what you can do.

• With the Fair Fares NYC MetroCard, you could receive a 50% discount on eligible subway and bus fares. Pay-per-ride, weekly-unlimited, and monthly-unlimited options are all available. You can now check your eligibility status on ACCESS HRA.

• You can get food and hot meals from NYC’s food pantries and community kitchens. Check the list of locations with days and hours of service, and find a location near you at maps.nyc.gov/foodhelp/. You do NOT need to receive SNAP in order to get food from these locations.

• Download the ACCESS HRA Mobile App Now!

• Now you can use your SNAP benefits at certain online retailers.

• Citi Bike Membership: SNAP and NYCHA recipients are eligible for discounted Citi Bike memberships, for just $5/month! Go to http://bit.ly/2V9ONBo to learn more.

• Know Your Rights: Do you receive housing assistance?

• What is the NYC Rent Freeze Program?