Excluded Workers Fund
Undocumented individuals were excluded from any federal and state aid in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Millions of people and families were provided with thousands of dollars of unemployment and stimulus checks. However, immigrant workers, the majority of whom continued to hold essential worker jobs through the duration of the pandemic, were excluded from any unemployment benefits or stimulus money.
People were forced to find and maintain work during a global pandemic, risking their lives and the lives of their families and children. Thousands of people died of COVID-19 or are still feeling the effects of the sickness because of this forced decision. The option to stay home or work from home did not exist.
Many organization fought for resources to become available for people in this situation. This month the state has opened up the application for the Excluded Worker’s Fund.
Below you will find information on what the Excluded Workers Fund is and how to apply if you are eligible.
What is the Excluded Worker’s Fund?
In April 2021, the NYS passed the Excluded Worker’s Fund. A $2.1B relief fund intended to provide aid to undocumented, immigrant communities who have been disproportionately effected by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
This fund is intended to bring cash assistance to individuals based on their proof of residency and worker eligibility.
Applicants may qualify for benefits in one of two amounts.
To qualify for the Tier 1 amount of $15,600 (minus taxes), applicants need to establish a minimum of 5 points.
To qualify for the Tier 2 amount of $3,200 (minus taxes), applicants need to establish a minimum of 3 points.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible to receive benefits from the EWF program, applicants must show they:
Lived in New York State before March 27, 2020, and continue to live in New York State;
Are not eligible for and did not receive unemployment insurance or any other COVID-19 income relief or other specified benefits from the state or federal government;
Earned less than $26,208 in the 12 months prior to April 2021; and
Lost at least 50% of weekly work-related earnings or household income at any point in time between February 23, 2020 and April 1, 2021 due to total or partial unemployment, or inability or unavailability to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic or, became responsible for a majority of their household income due to death or disability of the head of household.
Proof of who you are:
Each document has a point value. Applicants must provide 4 points worth of documentation.
Most common available documents include:
NYS Driver License (4 points)
NYS Non-Driver ID Card (4 points)
NYCID Card (4 points) - (Cards that expired in 2020 are valid until the end of 2021. Cards that expire in2021 are valid during the one-year renewal period following the expiration date.)
Foreign-Issued Passport (3 points)
Photo ID card issued by a local government in NYS, NYS government agency, or the federal government (3 points)
NYS In-Patient Photo ID Issued by Office of Mental Health (2 points)
Expired U.S or Foreign-Issued Passport (expired by not more than two years) (2 points)
Expired Foreign-Issued Driver License (expired by not more than two years) (2 points)
Documents issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Arrival/DeparturevRecord (I-94) or Notice of Action (I-797; I-797A; I-797D) (2 points) U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Assignment Letter (2 points)
Marriage Certificate (1 point)
Divorce Judgement (1 point)
NYC Parks and Recreation Membership Card (1 point)
Birth Certificate Issued by a Foreign Country (1 point)
Foreign-Issued Photo ID Card (1 point)
Diploma or Transcript from a U.S. high school, college, or university (1 point)
Non-Photo ID card issued by a local government in NYS, NYS government agency, or the federal government (1 point)
Employer Photo ID Card (1 point)
Written Employment Offer, Pay Stubs, or Notice of Pay from an employer (1 point)
Proof of work eligibility:
In order to be considered for Tier 1 ($15,600), you must show 5 points of work eligibility. This proof MUST include one document from either the 5-point or 3-point list and then can be supported by documentation from the 1-point list below.
In order to be considered for Tier 2 ($3,200), you must show one 3-point document.
You may not provide documentation with only 1-point documents.
NOTE: Each applicant is eligible for only one benefit payment.
5-point documents
Proof of filing New York State taxes, which must include (A) proof of filing a New York State tax return for either tax years 2018, 2019, or 2020 with the Department of Taxation and Finance through submission of an electronic confirmation of e-filing, Department of Taxation and Finance issued “TF assignment letter”, or a bank statement reflecting payments to or from the Department of Taxation and Finance; AND (B) proof of a valid United States individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) OR a W-7 application for an ITIN with proof of submission or filing (5 points)
Minimum of 6 weeks of pay stubs in the 6-month period prior to the date the applicant certifies the applicant became eligible for benefits (5 points)
Minimum of 6 weeks of wage statements from the 6-month period prior to the date the applicant certifies the applicant became eligible for benefits (5 points)
IRS W-2 or 1099 from tax year 2019 or 2020 showing wages or income (5 points)
Wage Notice from employer documenting employment for a period of time within 6 months prior to the date the applicant certifies the applicant became eligible for benefits (5 points)
Letter from an employer (can be self-employed) showing applicant’s dates of work and the reason for loss of income (i.e. pandemic related) that includes: (A) employer’s mailing address and address of the site within NYS where applicant worked AND (B) either the employer’s NYS Unemployment Insurance account number OR Federal Employment Identification Number (FEIN) OR contact information (including phone number) of an employer representative who can verify the contents of the letter. (5 points)
3-point documents
Complaint filed with and acknowledged by a local, state, or federal agency or court regarding wages owed for work performed in NYS for a period greater than 6 weeks in the 6-month period prior to the date the applicant certifies the applicant became eligible for benefits (3 points)
Record of regular direct deposits, deposits, or transfers from an employer (3 points)
1-point documents**
**1-point documents can only be used with one of the above 3-point documents above.
Employer Issued ID Card (1 point)
Written communication relating to delivery order sheets, work invoices, sales receipts, or instructions from employers (1 point)
Written communication, including texts or social media messages or posts, between the applicant and an employer or hiring party showing a work relationship (1 point)
Record of regular cashing of paychecks or transfer of funds from income or earnings (1 point)
Documents issued to the applicant by the applicant’s employer showing the employer’s mailing address, NYS Unemployment Insurance Account Number or Federal Employment Identification Number (FEIN), and contact information of an employer representative (including phone number) (1 point)
Receipts or records showing a consecutive pattern of commuting to and from a work location, such as toll records, parking receipts, or public transportation records (1 point)
Letter from a charitable organization registered with the NYS Attorney General confirming the applicant’s work history, based on direct knowledge that the applicant worked for the required duration, acquired in the course of conducting intake, interviews, or other standard processes related to direct job-related services to the applicant prior to April 19, 2021 (1 point)
NOTE: Applicants must establish that they worked and received compensation for at least 15 hours per week for a period of greater than 6 weeks in the 6-month period prior to the date they certify that they became eligible for benefits.
Applicants must also be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
How to Apply?
Applications are accepted through the NYS Dept. Of Labor.
To apply for the Excluded Worker’s Fund, please gather all of your requested documents and go to https://ewf.labor.ny.gov/dashboard
Find out more about eligibility & how it works HERE.
- We at Connected Chef want to be clear -
This attempt to provide resources is NOT enough. It is pennies in comparison what is deserved and the eligibility documentation required is burdensome for most individuals in this community.
Many undocumented individuals working in industries like food & service, construction, house cleaning, and childcare are unable to provide the above documentation because it simply does not exist. Therefore, hundreds and thousands of individuals will likely be further excluded from this funding.
We feel obligated to remind our fellow neighbors, elected officials and community leaders that documented or not, neighbors are neighbors. People in our communities have been working long and hard for years. These neighbors woke up every day during a pandemic and went into work at grocery stores, bodegas, restaurants and more to be of service. And they continue to do so today.
They continue to risk their lives and the lives of their family and children, not because they always want to, but because they have no choice in the matter. The income threshold of $26,208 alone is problematic, let alone the requirements for documentation.
Connected Chef will continue to put pressure on our elected officials and fight for the rights and dignity of all NYC workers. If you would like to find out more about how to support, please follow us on Instagram and reach out with questions at Lifeline@theconnectedchef.com