Excluded NJ Fund Still Open; Undocumented, Ex-Inmates Eligible

NEW JERSEY — Are you one of the thousands of New Jersey residents who haven’t been able to get federal stimulus checks or unemployment benefits? There’s still time left to apply for the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund, advocates say.

The program gives a one-time, direct cash benefit to people who have suffered an economic hardship due to COVID-19, and have been excluded from federal stimulus checks and COVID-related unemployment assistance. Eligible households receive a benefit of up to $2,000 per eligible individual, up to a max of $4,000 per household.

Those who qualify include undocumented immigrants and those re-entering from the criminal justice system, along with any other people who have been “excluded” from pandemic aid. Households with incomes up to $55,000 a year can apply for assistance.

The program is open until Feb. 28, but may close sooner if funds run out. Learn more or apply for aid here.

The fund was put in the spotlight after state officials “re-appropriated” millions of dollars for other COVID-related expenses, such as payroll. Despite only reaching a small percentage of those in need of relief – only about $6 million out of an initial $40 million had been distributed – the program was set to expire on Jan. 31.

If the state didn't use the $34 million in federal funds it diverted by the end of 2021, it would have had to return them, officials said. Read More: Immigrant Rights Activists Blast NJ For 'Raiding' COVID Fund

Advocates have been blasting the program since it launched, alleging that it's needlessly overcomplicated and plagued with red tape and delays. Others have said the program is vastly underfunded and doesn't nearly address the need among the state's estimated 500,000 undocumented residents, 300,000 of whom are in the labor force. Read More: NJ 'Excluded Immigrant' Fund Was Set Up To Fail, Advocates Say

After immigration advocates raised an outcry, Gov. Phil Murphy recently announced that the state is restoring the full $40 million to the fund, as well as extending the application deadline by a month. Read More: NJ Will Restore 'Raided' COVID Fund; Immigration Activists Cheer

Undocumented immigrants in New Jersey paid an estimated $1.1 billion in federal taxes and $604.3 million in state and local taxes in 2018. Read More: Deporting NJ's Undocumented Immigrants Would Cost State Millions In Taxes

FREE CLINICS

Make the Road New Jersey is launching a series of free clinics to help people apply to the fund.

According to the group, the application process has been “streamlined.” People will need to provide proof of the following items:

• Identity
• Address
• Income
• “Exclusion from COVID-19 relief”

Clinics will take place on the following dates:

Elizabeth

• Wednesdays in February from 4 to 7 p.m., 42 Broad Street
• Saturday, Feb. 12 - Cristo Te Llama Church, 205 East Jersey Street

Newark

• Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Ironbound Community Corporation, 432 Lafayette Street

Perth Amboy

• Saturdays in February from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1 Olive Street

Passaic

• Saturdays in February from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 77 Third Sreet

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