New York State has funds available to provide financial help to New Yorkers who lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic and were ineligible for other federal relief programs due to lack of citizenship or other factors. Funds are available through the Excluded Workers Fund (EWF).
o More information is available here: https://dol.ny.gov/EWF
o To be eligible, applicants must show that they:
1. Lived in New York State before March 27, 2020, and continue to live in New York State;
2. 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;
3. Earned less than $26,208 in the 12 months prior to April 2021; and
4. 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.
o Eligible persons can apply here: https://ewf.labor.ny.gov/new