A $2.1 billion fund was made between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York lawmakers to assist people who were excluded from unemployment benefits during the pandemic, including undocumented immigrants.
The fund is part of a broader $212 billion state budget agreement aimed to jumpstart the economy. It will give one-time payments of up to $15,600 to undocumented immigrants who lost their jobs during the pandemic. Those wishing to apply for the fund will need to verify that they were state residents, ineligible for federal unemployment benefits, and lost income as a result of the pandemic. Others who can prove at least their residency and identity, and provide some work documentation, could be eligible for up to $3,200.
The Fiscal Policy Institute, a New York-based policy group, estimated that out of the approximate 725,000 undocumented immigrants live in New York state, 290,000 workers will benefit from the Excluded Worker Fund. They also estimated that about 92,000 workers in New York state will be eligible for the full $15,600 payment.