The New York Democrats have announced that families can be reimbursed up to $ 7,000 for funeral expenses, with $ 260 million of the funds being allocated directly to New Yorkers. Eligibility for the funds will be retroactive from the start 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 rest of the pandemic.
This funding is strictly targeted at families who have lost a loved one due to Covid-19. Those applying for the funding must provide various forms of documentation, such as the receipts and invoices that must reimburse compensation costs and the death certificate.
“Many of these families because of Covid do not have money for a proper funeral and a proper funeral. And it’s just awful and inhuman,” Schumer said when describing why the funding was needed.
Ocasio-Cortez took the issue personally and said, “I lost my father when I was about 18. And the funeral expenses haunted my family for years and followed many other families in a similar position.”
When Ocasio-Cortez was later asked if these funds apply to undocumented families, he said yes and explained why the communities should not be afraid to apply for these funds.
“I think it’s completely understandable why they’re fearing for our immigrant families there, especially for the last four years. But I think our families, especially under a Biden government, a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House that gives priority to immigrants rights, including those that are undocumented, not to be afraid, and not to allow that fear to further marginalize our community, “Ocasio-Cortez said.
Schumer said Ocasio-Cortez brought the issue to his attention last April. These disaster relief funds are similar to the program that FEMA created for families after Hurricane Sandy.
This story has been updated to include additional details.