COVID Rent Relief Program Available

COVID RENT RELIEF PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE FOR NEW YORK TENANTS

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 30, 2020

New York State has directed $100 million of federal stimulus funds toward rent relief. Tenants can now apply for these funds to offset the loss of income during the COVID-19 crisis.

The COVID Rent Relief Program will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord.  Tenants will not need to repay this assistance.  

Applications are being accepted through July 30, 2020. The State Division of Homes and Community Renewal] will prioritize eligible households with “greatest economic and social need”

accounting for income, rent burden, percent of income lost and risk of homelessness.

Tenants may apply online at  https://hcr.ny.gov/RRP

Applicants must provide the following

1.    A copy of a lease or other proof of monthly rental amount; and

2.    Proof of the household’s gross income, both prior to March 1, 2020 and at present (including paystubs, employer letters, and federal/state tax returns).

The COVID Rent Relief Program Call Center-833-499-0381 is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Email enquires may be directed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Income Eligibility Requirements

Income Limits for tenants in New York City:

1 Person   2 Person   3 Person   4 Person   5 Person   6 Person   7 Person     8+ Person

$63,700     $72,800    $81,900     $90,950    $98,250    $105,550  $112,800    $120,100

Income Limits for tenants in Nassau and Suffolk Counties:

1 Person   2 Person   3 Person   4 Person   5 Person    6 Person    7 Person   8+ Person

$65,050    $74,350     $83,650    $92,900     $100,350   $107,800   $115,200   $122,650

Income Limits for tenants in Westchester County:

1 Person   2 Person   3 Person   4 Person   5 Person    6 Person    7 Person   8+ Person

$62,550   $71,500      $80,450    $89,350     $96,500     $103,650   $110,800    $117,950

● All income must be included when determining your household income. Eligibility for this program is based on gross income, rather than take-home pay.

This includes benefits for all members of a household. This also includes Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PAC).

Who Is Eligible

● To be eligible for the COVID Rent Relief Program, applicants must have lost income during the period of April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.

● To be eligible for the COVID Rent Relief Program, before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, the household must have been paying more than 30% of its gross monthly income towards rent.  

● Tenants receiving Section 8 or living in public housing are not eligible for this subsidy because their rent burden is already capped at 30% of gross household income.

● Households with at least one household member with U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status are qualified to receive the subsidy.

● Renters in apartment buildings or private homes are eligible for the subsidy.

● Renters do not have to be behind in rent to be eligible for relief. If a household has paid all or some of their rent during the period of April 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020 they may choose to have their

landlord treat the relief as pre-payment of rent for one or more months beginning August 2020. The household may also choose to have the landlord apply the payment to a security deposit if it was used to pay rent.

How The Subsidy Works

● Subsidy payment will be made directly to the landlord. The State anticipates issuing payment the end of the summer.

● Eligible households will receive a one-time rental subsidy that covers the DIFFERENCE between their “rent burden” on March 1, 2020 and their “rent burden” for the months they are applying for assistance.

 Households may apply for one month or up to four months of assistance during this period.  This one-time subsidy is paid directly to the resident’s landlord. For example, prior to the coronavirus pandemic,

your monthly household income was $2,000 and your monthly rent is $700. This means that on March 1, 2020, your rent burden was 35%. Today, due to a reduction in hours, your monthly income has

decreased to $1,400 and your rent remains the same. You are now paying 50% of your monthly income toward rent. You would be eligible for a subsidy that covers the 15% (50% - 35%) increase in

your rent burden, or $210. This subsidy would get you back to your pre-March 1, 2020 rent burden of 35%.

● There is a cap on the subsidy amount you can receive. For the purposes of calculating your assistance, your monthly contractual rent may not exceed 125% of the fair market rent per month for

each month’s assistance that you request. Fair market rents are calculated by HUD. For example: A resident living in a one-bedroom in Nassau County and pays $2,100 a month in rent.

The fair market rent for a one-bedroom in this county is $1,624.  This household is still eligible for the subsidy, however, when their subsidy is calculated it will reflect a rent cap

of $2,030, which is 125% of the fair market rent.

125% of the fair market rent in New York City:

Studio             1 Bedroom                2 Bedroom                3 Bedroom                4+ Bedroom

$2,081            $2,143                        $2,439                        $3,090                        $3,304

125% of the fair market rent in Nassau and Suffolk Counties::

Studio             1 Bedroom                2 Bedroom                3 Bedroom                4+ Bedroom

$1,623            $2,030                        $2,490                        $3,204                        $3,573

125% of the fair market rent in Westchester County:

Studio             1 Bedroom                2 Bedroom                3 Bedroom                4+ Bedroom

$1,749            $2,051                        $2,469                        $3,179                        $3,569

The law prohibits landlords from discriminating against tenants based on what funds they use to pay their rent. This means that landlords and other housing providers

are legally required to accept COVID Rent Relief Program. If a landlord refuses to accept this payment, residents can file a SOI discrimination complaint with the

NYC Commission on Human Rights. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/help/residents.page

IF YOU RECEIVE COURT PAPERS OR A NOTICE OF EVICTION OR HAVE QUESTIONS CALL THE MELS SCREENING UNIT AT

(212) 815-1111 OR EMAIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

OUR LAWYERS AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS ARE STANDING BY TO HELP.

Online Leadership Academy

As AFSCME leaders, stewards, activists and members, we are facing unprecedented challenges – a global pandemic, a national fight for racial justice and equality, and looming budget shortfalls. As we stand up to this historic moment, we need to be stronger than ever as a union.

That’s why we are offering a series of webinars to AFSCME members to support your leadership development, strengthen your union-building skills and offer you innovative strategies to increase union activism during these unprecedented times.

The Online Leadership Academy will cover topics ranging from facilitating effective virtual trainings and local union meetings to exploring how to identify and recruit members and activate communication structures within your locals.

Tuesday and Thursdays in July
3 PM ET / 12 PM PT

REGISTER>> 

The Academy will include:

• Five 60-minute webinar sessions Tuesdays and Thursdays during the month of July; 3PM ET / 12PM PT.
• A digital certificate upon completing exit surveys following each session.
• Recorded videos of the sessions available for playback following the live webinar.

The next two sessions in the series are Stewarding in a Crisis: Representing Workers Through Uncertain Times and Virtual Member Action Team (MAT) Structures: Executing Your MAT Under Crisis.

When registering, there is a two-part process to complete registration for the classes:

1. Verify your membership number, and
2. Register for the class

If you don't know your membership number, there is a process built in to help.

If you are not an AFSCME member, join today.

Yolanda Medina DeJesus
Director, Education and Leadership Training

TIME OFF to VOTE JUNE 23

TIME OFF to VOTE JUNE 23

Primary Day is just days away, Tuesday June 23. New York State law and a DCAS Personnel Services Bulletin allow municipal employees up to three hours time off for voting. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dcas/downloads/pdf/reports/440_3.pdf

Employees, including essential workers, must notify their employer in advance that they need time to vote. It may not be the entire three hours, just what is reasonable.

This is very important for essential employees who may still have long shifts, or employeees who work from home and have to account for time away from the computer.

We urge you to please support the progressive, labor-friendly candidates DC37 has endorsed. Here's the list of endorsements.

Early Voting at specified sites is under way and ends June 21. This is the best way to continue social distancing and avoid long lines on Primary Day.  Click here to find a location near you. https://vote.nyc/page/early-voting-information

Also, absentee ballots must be returned by June 22.

It's time to Get Out The Vote! Please volunteer with the Political Action’s Get Out The Vote efforts. Sign up here for details. Can we count on you to spend a few hours each week helping us elected strong candidates?

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MELS Update

MELS UPDATE:

Replacing Lost Income: Short Term Disability, Public Assistance, Food Stamps, Workers' Comp and Unemployment Insurance  

DC37 Municipal Employees Legal Services, MELS, provides information on benefits members can access to replace lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

DC 37 HEALTH AND SECURITY PLAN SHORT TERM DISABILITY

Members who are unable to continue working because of illness or disability may be eligible for short term disability, public assistance and food stamps.

The weekly disability benefit available through H&S for Full Time workers is 66.2/3 of their salary, up to a maximum of $200 per week for a maximum period of 26 weeks, but no longer than a member remains totally disabled.

The weekly disability benefit available through H&S for Part Time workers is 66 2/3 of their salary, up to a maximum of $98 per week for a maximum period of 13 weeks, but no longer than a member remains totally disabled.

Members may apply for short term disability benefits by completing the online application available on the DC 37 website.[Disability Claim Form & Cover Letter] https://www.dc37.net/wp-content/uploads/benefits/health/pdf/Disability_ClaimForm.pdf

Additional information on H&S short term disability is available on the DC 37 website at https://www.dc37.net/benefits/health/disability

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE & FOOD STAMPS

Members may also apply for public assistance benefits and food stamps to provide them with income pending the determination of their short term disability claim and/or to supplement short term disability benefits they may receive.

Public assistance offers semi-monthly cash payments and a shelter allowance based on household size and the amount of other household income. Food stamps, now known as SNAP, is also based on household size and income.

Members may apply for public assistance and food stamps online by following the links on the HRA website: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/#/selectnewapps

NYCHA RESIDENTS

Members living in NYCHA public housing who receive public assistance are eligible to have their monthly rent reduced to the shelter allowance they receive.

This rent reduction remains in place for one year after public assistance benefits end. A partial increase is then phased in during the second year. This rent reduction benefit is available only once.

Members may contact MELS by calling 212-815-1111 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

DC 37 urges its members, especially those classified as essential workers, frontline workers, and healthcare workers, who have contracted and are diagnosed with novel coronavirus, COVID-19, to apply for Workers' Compensation to secure partial wage replacement and medical care.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York State Workers' Compensation Board has extended the window to file a claim by an additional 30 days from the date of your injury or illness. The Workers' Compensation Board has not changed its rules or application process.

Any DC 37 member seeking to file a Workers' Comp claim must notify their agency within 30 days of testing Positive for COVID-19 and provide medical documentation to substantiate their claim. Members must also file a C-3 form with the NYS Worker’s Compensation Board by telephone or electronically.

DC 37 does not provide legal representation in Workers' Compensation matters. However, we are advising members to file Workers' Compensation paperwork if you contracted COVID-19 on the job or in the line of duty. The maximum Workers’ Comp benefit is $934.11 per week.

To file a Workers’ Compensation claim, follow the directions at this link: http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/onthejob/howto.jsp

H&S short-term disability benefits may be available for members who have filed Workers’ Compensation claims. To determine eligibility, see the DC 37 website: https://www.dc37.net/benefits/health/disability

DC 37 does not provide legal representation in Workers’ Comp claims. Members are free to choose any attorney you wish to represent you in a Workers' Comp claim. Members should contact their DC 37 union representative before selecting an attorney. A list of attorneys is available here: https://dc37blog.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/nys-workers_comp_att.pdf

UNEMPLOYMENT

New York State Unemployment Insurance Benefits provide a partial wage replacement of up to $504 per week for a 26-week period. Under the CARES Act, the benefit period has temporarily been extended an additional 13 weeks and recipients receive an additional $600 per week. Applicants who have worked in New York must apply for UIB in New York regardless of the state in which they reside.

Under the CARES Act, Pandemic Unemployment Insurance benefits are available for self-employed independent contractors and gig-economy workers even if they are denied regular New York State unemployment benefits.
Follow the directions at this link to apply: https://labor.ny.gov/ui/how_to_file_claim.sht

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