Apply Now: Direct Cash Relief For Undocumented New Yorkers

New York State is offering one-time payments of up to $15,600 to undocumented immigrants who lost work during the pandemic and were unable to collect unemployment or federal stimulus money. As part of the 2021-2022 New York State budget, the state created the “Excluded Workers Fund” and set aside a total of $2.1 billion to provide direct cash payments to the hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers in the state.

The New York State Department of Labor will be responsible for handling applications and administering payments from the “Excluded Workers Fund”. To receive up to $15,600, you must verify your identity, residency, ineligibility for federal unemployment, and loss of income. Additionally, applicants must prove they meet the state’s definition of an excluded worker and that they did not earn more than $26,800 in the last year. If an applicant cannot provide all the documentation required to qualify for the $15,600 benefit, they may still qualify for a smaller $3,200 direct payment.

Applications are now open. Visit the Department of Labor’s website to apply: https://dol.ny.gov/EWF.