Upcoming Events to Claim COVID-19 Relief Payments for Farmworkers
Beginning March 1, 2023, frontline farm workers who incurred expenses preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a one-time $600 relief payment through this website, which is administered by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. This program is likely to end this winter, so time is running out for workers who are returning home and who have not yet applied for the funds to access the program.
On October 25th at the Washington County Fairgrounds from 9-4 and on October 26th at the CCE Ulster County Office from 9-4, PASA staff will be on-hand to enroll eligible workers who have not yet received their federal payments. At these events, workers will receive a payment card, so it will be beneficial for workers who do not maintain US bank accounts.
This is the link to a preregistration form to give us an idea of how many workers are likely to be at the event(s). https://forms.office.com/r/65r3SBHZyz
I have also included a place to let me know if they need additional assistance with this program. If you have any questions, contact Liz Higgins (emh56@cornell.edu)
ELIGIBLE WORK TYPES
Applicants must have been employed as a frontline field worker, livestock worker, or meatpacker worker.
Hired workers are defined as anyone, other than an agricultural service worker, who was paid for at least one hour of agricultural work on a farm or ranch, or in a meat processing facility. Worker type is determined by what the employee was primarily hired to do, not necessarily what work was done during the pandemic.
The relief payment is not intended for farm or meatpacking managers, however an applicant can meet eligibility criteria with sufficient proof as a frontline worker in eligible activities as described.
Eligible frontline workers include those who performed any of the following jobs at some point between January 27, 2020 and May 11, 2023. (Eligible applicants across these worker types should be frontline workers, and not those working in management positions.)
Field Workers, including
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (Field Workers – 45-2041)
- Working directly with produce (sorting, washing, merchandising, etc.) at a farmstand or farmers market
Agricultural Equipment Operators (Field Workers – 45-2091)
- Operating agricultural equipment to prepare soil, water, or spray plants and produce
- Operating equipment to move produce and goods for storage and/or shipping on a farm or within a warehouse
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse (Field Workers – 45-2092)
- Planting, tending, and harvesting crops
- Working in a greenhouse to prepare plants for orders and/or shipping
- Harvesting christmas trees, balsam/fir branches for wreaths
- Growing sod or peat moss
Agricultural Workers, All Other (Field Workers – 45-2099)
- Preparing or loading mushroom compost/substrate into mushroom boxes or houses
Packers and Packagers, Hand (Field Workers – 53-7064)
- Working in a warehouse to wash, pack, process, or prepare produce for shipping
- Processing fresh produce into value-added goods (washing, chopping, mixing, etc.)
- Making, packaging, or inspecting value-added agricultural products (packed produce, mixed salads, wreaths, etc.)
A list of qualifying crops for field activities can be found here.
Please note, most landscaping work is not eligible. Some applicants may be approved if they also grow plants and are consistently returning to tend to the same plants.
Livestock workers, including
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (Livestock Workers – 45-2041)
- Processing or washing eggs
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals (Livestock Workers – 45-2093)
- Raising fish, working in aquaculture, or catching fish/seafood (must not be owner or contractor)
- Tending livestock, including milking/caring for cows, and caring for poultry
- Performing livestock insemination (must not be owner or contractor)
Agricultural Workers, All Other (Livestock Workers – 45-2099)
- Loading or unloading livestock from trucks
- Cleaning or maintaining livestock barns/facilities
- Processing or producing dairy products at dairy farms
Packers and Packagers, Hand (Livestock Workers – 53-7064)
- Processing or producing dairy products at dairy farms
Meatpacking workers, including
Slaughterers and Meat Packers (Meatpacking Workers – 51-3023)
- Slaughtering, butchering, processing, packing, or inspecting meat, fish, or poultry (including cooked meat products such as chicken nuggets and hot dogs)
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (Meatpacking Workers – 51-3022)
- Slaughtering, butchering, processing, packing, or inspecting meat, fish, or poultry (including cooked meat products such as chicken nuggets and hot dogs)
Food Processing Workers, All Other (Meatpacking Workers – 51-3099)
- Operating a forklift to transport meat in meat packing facilities
- Cleaning or maintaining meatpacking facilities