Some undocumented workers could receive up to $ 15,600 as part of the Workers’ Relief Fund included in New York’s state budget.
The Aid Fund is of 2.1 billion dollars and is destined to help those workers who due to their immigration status have not received any help from the federal government during the pandemic.
On Tuesday afternoon it was learned of the agreement that Governor Cuomo and the leaders of the state legislature had reached on this Fund and on the budget in general.
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Immediately there was great joy and messages that they had succeeded from groups of workers who have been in the forefront of the struggle to get this Fund – some of them on hunger strike for three weeks. Likewise, from organizations that support them and political leaders who also support them.
BREAKING: NYS budget establishes first-in-the-nation Excluded Workers Fund!
This victory comes after one year of statewide organizing efforts from the #FundExcludedWorkers Coalition — led by impacted workers, culminating in two hunger strikes.
History is made today! pic.twitter.com/9SlOPcd5Dy
— #FundExcludedWorkers (@FEWCoalition) April 6, 2021
Depending on the details of how the Fund’s aid will be distributed, an undocumented worker – an ‘excluded worker’ in budget parlance – could receive either a benefit of $ 15,600 or another of $ 3,200.
The $ 15,600 is the sum of $ 300 a week in 52 weeks, in a kind of replacement for the unemployment insurance money that these workers did not receive.
The $ 3,200 is the sum of the three “stimuli” that the federal government has given – the first of $ 1,200, a second of $ 600 and the last just of $ 1,400.
Each worker can only receive one of the two benefits.
Senator Jessica Ramos posted a message on twitter praising what was achieved.
We did it! Thanks to the 200+ organizations in the @FEWCoalition we brought this victory home and will soon be bringing long over due relief to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers statewide. https://t.co/lEtniepKpK
— Jessica Ramos (@jessicaramos) April 6, 2021
The Make The Road NY organization also celebrated what it calls “victory.”
VICTORY! NY budget includes $2.1 billion to #FundExcludedWorkers!
This fund will support immigrants excluded from relief at a level that reflects a year without income.
THANK YOU @FEWCoalition allies & the fierce hunger strikers who put their bodies on the line for 23 days! pic.twitter.com/W4rqqF33UR
— Make the Road NY #FundExcludedWorkers ???? (@MaketheRoadNY) April 6, 2021
The delicate point if you want this Fund is that potential beneficiaries must meet certain requirements to obtain the aid.
Among the requirements for the aid is to have filed with the IRS your tax return for 2018, 2019 or 2020 using a valid Tax Identification number – the so-called ITIN.
In addition, it will be necessary to verify with a letter from the employer or some check stub or some other form such as the W2, that the person worked for at least six weeks during the previous period of six months before the applicant says he was eligible for the benefit.
The Labor Commissioner will then determine what other documents may be presented.
Those who cannot provide the documents to receive the benefit of $ 15,600 will have the opportunity to certify their identity and residency and then proof of work to at least receive the benefit of $ 3,200.
Officially, the details of the Fund were not known late Tuesday night, however, State Senator Ramos – who has been one of the main supporters of the workers in the fight for the approval of the Fund – pointed out in a message on Twitter that these were the details, citing a twitter from a Pix11 reporter. The journalist, for his part, cited the senator herself as the source of the information.
NY1 Noticias later confirmed with sources in the state legislature the accuracy of these details.
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