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New York Democrats have announced that families can be reimbursed up to $ 7,000 for funeral expenses, with $ 260 million of those funds going directly to New Yorkers. Eligibility for funds will be retroactive until the onset of the pandemic, January 20, 2020 to December 31, 2020, and Schumer says he and Ocasio-Cortez are working to keep the program in place for the remainder of the pandemic.
This funding is strictly for families who have lost a loved one as a result of Covid-19. Those applying for the funding will need to provide various forms of documents such as receipts and invoices that require reimbursement of funeral expenses and the death certificate.
“A lot of these families because of Covid don’t have the money for a proper funeral and burial. And it’s just awful and inhumane,” Schumer said, describing why the funding is needed.
Ocasio-Cortez made the matter personal, saying, “I lost my father when I was about 18. And the funeral expenses haunted and followed my family, as well as many other families in a similar situation, for. years.”
Later, when asked if these funds would apply to undocumented families, Ocasio-Cortez replied in the affirmative and explained why these communities should not be afraid to ask for these funds.
“I think it’s totally understandable why they fear there, especially over the past four years of targeting our immigrant families. But I think right now our families, especially under an administration Biden, a Democratic Senate and Democratic House that prioritizes the rights of immigrants, including those who are undocumented, not to be afraid and not to allow that fear to further marginalize our community, ”said Ocasio- Cortez.
Schumer said Ocasio-Cortez brought the matter to his attention last April. These disaster relief funds are similar to the program FEMA created for families after Hurricane Sandy.
This story has been updated to include additional details.
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