Governor Cuomo Announces $26.6 Million Available to Support Essential Workers and First Responders Through the Empire Pandemic Grant Program
Program Was Designed to Assist Essential Workers and First Responders with Urgent Economic Needs Amidst Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic
Up to $1,000 Available per Household from Funding Made Possible Through Private Donations
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $26.6 million is available to support essential workers and first responders through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund program coordinated by the Office of Children and Family Services. The program is designed to reimburse out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging and other qualifying expenses that enabled workers to perform their duties. The funding comes from private donations from individuals, charitable trusts and businesses made during the COVID crisis.
Qualifying applicants include first responders, health care, and many multi-industry workers. Up to $1,000 is available per household. Workers should be referred by employers, unions or social service providers who can verify employment during the COVID emergency. Families who earn up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level – or $125,470 for a family of four – are eligible to apply for the funds to cover expenses.
Important Update to Applicants!
Due to the overwhelming response for the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund and the limited funding available, OCFS is providing the following updates:
- Individuals who have begun but only partially completed their online application or have not started but want to submit an application are strongly encouraged to complete the application and submit it immediately as remaining funding is limited.
- Online applicants whose submissions have been fully reviewed and approved should expect to receive an email beginning in mid-May from HyperWallet, notifying them that they will be receiving funds and asking them to select their preferred form of payment. As a reminder, online applicants may check their application status at any time by logging in to the application portal. Applicants will be notified by email if additional tax information is needed or when a final decision is made.
- The application submission date for paper applications is currently June 15, 2021 at 5PM Eastern Time.
It is our honor to disburse these funds to first responders and essential workers. We thank you for your dedicated service to the people of New York State.
¡Actualización Importante para Solicitantes!
Debido a la abrumadora respuesta a la subvención disponible del Fondo de Reembolso de Empire en Respuesta a la Pandemia y la limitación de los fondos disponibles, la Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias (Office of Children and Family Services, OCFS) está proporcionando las siguientes actualizaciones:
- Se recomienda encarecidamente a las personas que ya han comenzado su solicitud en línea pero solo la completaron parcialmente, al igual que a las personas que aún no han comenzado su solicitud pero desean presentarla, que la completen y la envíen de inmediato, ya que los fondos disponibles son limitados.
- Los solicitantes en línea cuyas presentaciones ya han sido revisadas y aprobadas por completo deberían recibir un correo electrónico a partir de mediados de mayo de HyperWallet notificándoles que recibirán fondos y pidiéndoles que seleccionen su forma de pago preferida. Como recordatorio, los solicitantes en línea pueden verificar el estado de su solicitud en cualquier momento iniciando sesión en el portal de solicitudes. Los solicitantes serán notificados por correo electrónico si se necesita información fiscal adicional o cuando se tome una decisión final.
- La fecha tope de envío de la solicitud en papel es actualmente el 15 de junio de 2021 a las 5 p.m., hora del este.
Es un honor para nosotros desembolsar estos fondos a los primeros intervinientes o socorristas y trabajadores esenciales. Le agradecemos su dedicado servicio a la gente del estado de Nueva York.
About the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund
The Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund is a non-competitive application. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria set forth below and who submit the required supporting documentation for eligible expenses will be awarded funds to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses they incurred to respond to COVID-19 that have not been reimbursed by another source. Awards will be made to eligible applicants for eligible expenditures on a first come, first served basis until funding is exhausted. The maximum reimbursement amount is $1,000 per household.
Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund Grant Opportunity Announcement
English: Grant AnnouncementWord | Grant AnnouncementPDF
Spanish / Español: Grant AnnouncementWord | Grant AnnouncementPDF
The Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund Hotline:
Phone: 844-679-3369
Hours: 8:30 – 4:30, Monday – Friday
Additional Directions and Help
- How to Prepare Your Application
English: Prepare Your ApplicationWord | Prepare Your ApplicationPDF
Spanish / Español: Prepare Your Application – SpanishWord | Prepare Your Application – SpanishPDF - Scanning Documents and Creating PDFs
English: Preparing PDFsWord | Preparing PDFsPDF
Spanish / Español: Preparing PDFs – SpanishWord | Preparing PDFs – SpanishPDF - Tax Return/Document Upload FAQ
English: Tax Doc UploadWord | Tax Doc UploadPDF
Spanish / Español: Tax Doc Upload – SpanishWord | Tax Doc Upload – SpanishPDF - How to Delete Uploaded Application Documents
English: Deleting Uploaded DcoumentsWord | TDeleting Uploaded DcoumentsPDF
Spanish / Español: Deleting Uploaded Dcouments – SpanishWord | Deleting Uploaded Dcouments- SpanishPDF
