COVID-19 Financial Relief – by and for Immigrants
April 21, 2021
As immigrants, we’ve made Washington our home. If you’re an immigrant experiencing hard times because of COVID-19, and you aren’t eligible for federal financial relief or unemployment insurance, this fund is for you.
Apply for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund and receive a $1,000 one-time direct payment. The last day to apply is May 15, 2021 – but the application may close earlier than that if all of the funding runs out.
To apply, visit www.immigrantrelifwa.org, or call 1-844-724-3737.
Who can apply?
To apply for the relief fund, you must:
- Live in Washington State
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have been significantly affected by the pandemic (such as losing work, contracting the virus, or caring for a family member who contracted it)
- Not be eligible to receive federal stimulus funds or unemployment insurance money due to immigration status
- Your household must be low-income. This means that your household has an annual income that is below 250% of the federal poverty line.
How do I apply?
You can apply online or over the phone. Both options are available in multiple languages. The last day to apply is May 15: however, if funding runs out before then, the application may close early – so you should apply now! You should only apply to the fund once: do not submit an application multiple times.
To apply online:
Visit www.immigrantreliefwa.org. You can apply in Spanish, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean. The application is on a program called Submittable. To start the application, you will need to create an account on Submittable. This will require you to put in your email address, and create a password. Be sure to make note of the email address and password that you use to create your account, so you don’t forget.
In the application, you will fill out answers to questions, and will be required to upload some documents to verify your identity and residency. The application will take between 20 minutes and an hour to complete.
To get help applying over the phone:
Call the WAISN hotline at 1-844-724-3737 (open every day, 6AM-9PM). Before you call, please gather the documents needed to verify identity and residency. Interpreters are available in many languages to help you over the phone. Please be aware that there may be delays as we anticipate very high call volume.
Once you are done applying:
After you apply, you’ll receive a confirmation email. This email will include your unique application number: please be sure to write this down. If you need to ask questions about your application later, you will need to know this application number.
You will continue to get updates about your application by email and text. You’ll be notified if your application is accepted by June 15, and your payment will be sent by June 30 (though it may take 2-3 weeks to arrive in the mail).
What documents do I need to apply?
Before you apply, you’ll need to gather some documentation to show your identity and your residency in Washington State. For example, you could show a state ID card, a drivers license, or a utility bill with your name and address. View the full list of acceptable documents in our FAQ.
If I got funding last time, can I apply again?
Yes! If you applied to the WA COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund in October or November of last year, you can apply again for more funding–whether or not you got funding last time. If you received funding before, that doesn’t impact your ability to get funding again now.
Is my information safe?
Personal information will never be voluntarily shared with the government, ICE, law enforcement, your landlord, your employer, or anyone else. The only people with access to an applicant’s personal information are Scholarship Junkies (the community organization that manages the fund), Fair Work Center, and Seattle Credit Union (that distributes money). All information is stored securely in an encrypted format so it can’t be accessed.
Will money from this fund prevent me from getting a visa or green card in the future because of the public charge rule?
No. Assistance from this fund is considered one-time disaster relief assistance and should not be considered under the public charge rule. Receiving assistance from the fund should not impact your ability to obtain a green card.
If you need assistance filling out the application, please contact us at tricitiesimmigrantcoalition@gmail.com.