Economic aid program for agricultural and food workers

Economic aid program for agricultural and food workers

US farm workers can now apply for a $600 COVID-19 pandemic grant through the UFW Foundation

The UFW Foundation has worked tirelessly to advance legislation that empowers USDA to support farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food and Agriculture Workers Financial Relief Program (FFWR) provides much-needed relief to farm workers affected by the pandemic. Farm workers don’t generally receive paid sick leave, but they were classified as “essential workers” during the pandemic, which meant they were expected to be exposed to the virus in the workplace. Many employers failed to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing and, in the following days, vaccinations to prevent the spread of the virus, forcing farm workers to take time off for self-quarantine, losing several days of work. pay. Additionally, Congressional COVID-19 relief packages have failed to deliver pandemic relief to millions of undocumented people, many of whom pay taxes through individual tax identification numbers. Also, unlike other workers, at the federal level, farm laborers are not eligible for overtime pay, often receive low wages, and experience precarious working conditions. The USDA’s FFWR program provides unique relief that will help farm workers and their families recover from these lost wages.

Starting January 9, 2023, applications will be open for the The Food and Agriculture Workers Financial Relief Program (FFWR) through the UFW Foundation. The UFW Foundation will distribute a one-time $600 grant to skilled agricultural workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no fees to apply to the program. This is a two-year program and is a one-time payment. You can apply only once; further requests will be rejected.

The UFW Foundation will have nine sub-beneficiary organizations that will provide critical care and application support to workers. The organizations are CIERTO, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Farmworker Legal Services, Bienestar Oregon, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), United Farm Workers (UFW), Farmworker Association of Florida, North Carolina Focus on Increasing Education Leadership and Dignity (NC FIELD), Service Center for Farmers. Potential applicants are reminded not to provide personal documents or identification to unauthorized organizations.

Who to qualify

The subsidies will be available to eligible frontline farm workers who:

• You worked during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States or its territories from January 27, 2020 until the end of the pandemic was declared.
• There is no age requirement.
• Workers will have to self-certify when applying that they have incurred expenses due to the pandemic, such as:
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, hand sanitizers, face shields or goggles, gloves, and/or child care
    covid test
• Applicants must self-certify that they have not received this benefit from another beneficiary.
• The UFW Foundation will help workers in the 50 states and territories of the United States: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

documentation Of Eligibility

Applicants will need to provide proof of identification and proof of employment:

• Examples of acceptable identification documents:
  • State identification or driver’s license
  • Consular or government ID (foreign or domestic)
  • UFW Foundation ID
  • Identification issued by your employer
  • OR Two forms of identification with the individual’s name (if individual does not have photo ID
    • Examples: vehicle registration cards, insurance cards and telephone bills

• Examples of work documentation:
  • payroll
  • Tax Form W-2
  • Employer letter/contract
  • Photo Evidence (Workplace)
  • Written attestation (handwriting required; notarization not required)

How to apply

• Call the UFW Foundation Call Center Hotline at (877) 881-8281.
  • The service providers speak English, Spanish and other indigenous languages, such as Mixtec.
  • The UFW Foundation will also have a language line available to provide translations to individuals in other languages ​​as needed.
• Beginning January 9, the UFW Foundation Call Center hours will be:
  • Mondays through June: 9am to 7pm PST
  • Friday & Sunday: 9am – 5pm PST
• Call center service providers will ask you questions to determine eligibility and complete your application.
• While on the phone with a UFW Foundation service provider, you will receive a text or email link to upload your documents directly to the UFW Foundation platform, Alivio.

after application

• Once you have completed your application and submitted the required documents, a member of the UFW Foundation team will review your application and the documents you have provided.
• If your application is approved, you will be contacted and notified of your approval.
  • You will be contacted via your preferred method of communication (SMS or email).
• Your information will be processed and a $600 prepaid card sent to you within 10-15 business days of your application being approved.
  • Note: 10-15 days may differ for those recipients we will be serving in the territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
• Once you receive your card, you can activate it by phone or online. Consult the activation instructions enclosed with your prepaid card.