지역 사회 봉사 활동
Applications are now closed!
Payments for $3,075 went out in the mail in February to all approved applicants.
If your application was approved but you haven’t gotten your money yet, or you’re having a problem with the check or card, don’t worry! We’re still here to help. It may take a few weeks, but we will work to fix the problem and get you your money.
Call our helpline at (844) 620-1999 and leave a message.
This is what the helpline can help you with:
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If you haven’t received your payment, we may be able to send it again
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If you have moved, we may be able to send your payment to a new address
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If you want to know whether your application has been approved, you can find out
When you call, you will be connected to an automated system, NOT a live person. You can leave a message, and someone will call you back within 10 days.
Use the links below for more information:
How to access the money
If your application is approved, the money will be sent as either a check or prepaid card, depending on which one you picked when you applied. It will be sent to the mailing address you provided when you applied. There are a few important things to know about how to use these:
Prepaid bank card
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The prepaid bank card can be used anywhere that accepts debit cards.
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It cannot be used to withdraw cash from an ATM.
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You must activate your card within 90 days
If your card is lost or stolen, report it right away to 844-620-1999 to get a replacement card with no fee. You can only do this before June 30, 2023. -
If you don’t spend all the money on the card in 12 months, there is an inactivity fee of $3.95 per month.
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The card will have the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund logo in the top left corner
Check
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You must cash your check within 90 days of the date written on the check.
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The check will have the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund logo in the top left corner
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If you have a bank account in your name, you can cash the check at your bank free of charge
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You can also cash your check at a check-cashing facility like Moneytree, but they will charge a fee
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If you don’t have a bank account, you can cash your check at a Chase Bank. They will charge a $10 fee, and they require you to present ID. You must show one Primary ID and one Secondary ID from the list below:
Primary ID
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Driver’s license with photo
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State ID with photo
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Canadian driver’s license or ID card with photo
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Chase ATM/debit card with PIN
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Matricula consular card (Mexico)
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Mexican voter’s registration card with photo
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Passport with photo
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Human Services ID with photo
Secondary ID
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Additional primary ID
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Other US federal or state-issued ID with photo
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Employer ID with photo
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Student ID with photo
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Employer pay stub, paycheck, or letter with your name and address
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Foreign National ID
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Bank statement (from the last 60 days)
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Utility bill with name and address (from the last 60 days)
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Bank-issued ATM / debit / credit card with signature
Get help with your questions
Call the WIRF helpline at (844) 620-1999 and leave a message. When you call, you will be connected to an automated system, NOT a live person. You can leave a message, and someone will call you back within 10 days.
This is how the helpline works:
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Before you call, please make sure you know your unique application number. The application number is between 5-7 numbers long, and was provided to you when you submitted your application. It’s also included in all of the text and email updates about your application.
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If you call from a phone number that is different from the phone number on your application, you will be asked to provide the phone number used on your application.
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Select the language you want.
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If you want to know about whether your application has been approved, press 1 to enter your application ID and the phone number from your application, and then you will get an update on your application status.
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If your application was approved but you haven’t received your payment, or are having a problem with it, press 2. Follow the instructions on the phone, and leave a message. You will receive a call back within 10 days.
If you are having any problems with your prepaid card (like if it was stolen or arrived with less than $3,075 on it), call Blackhawk at (833) 209-9228, and they may be able to send your card again.
There are several other funds that are different from this one. Please do not call the helpline with questions about these other funds. They are run by other organizations, and we do not have information about them.
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If you have questions about the Working Families Tax Credit, please go to workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov. It’s not too late to apply for this tax credit!
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If you have questions about the Family Relief Fund for low-income families in Washington, please go to www.wafamilyrelief.org. This fund closes on March 31st.
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If you have questions about the King County Immigrant Relief Fund for immigrants in King County, please go to www.kingcountyrelief.org. This fund is not taking any new applications.
Other places to get support
If you want to stay updated on future immigrant support funds, immigrant enforcement in your area, and immigrant advocacy, follow Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network on Facebook (facebook.com/WAISNorg) or text the word WAISN to 509-300-4959.
Someone in your family may be eligible for the following resources, offered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS):
You can apply to these DSHS programs online via Washington Connections, by phone at (877) 501-2233, or in person at your local Community Services Office.
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If you applied online, your next step would be completing an interview either via phone at 877-501-2233, or in person at your local Community Services Office.
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To get help in a language other than English, you should call (800) 797-0617, Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM to get language assistance. If you get a recording, please leave a message with your phone number and the language you speak and they will call you back with an interpreter.
Starting in April 2023, people who filed taxes can apply for Washington’s new Working Families Tax Credit. Eligible people could get as much as $1200 back from their taxes.
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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 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 or citizenship in the future.
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Will I have to pay this money back? Will it affect my taxes?No, the money is FREE. It is not a loan. All payments are classified as disaster relief under the IRS and should not be included as taxable income.
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When will I get the money?If your application is approved, you will receive at least $1,000 through a check or prepaid card between December 2022 and January 2023.
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Who is eligible for the WA COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund?According to the WA State Refugee Coordinator at the Department of Social and Health Services, the WA COVID-19 Immigrant relief fund is a program that is intended to serve immigrants in Washington State who did not receive the federal stimulus fund and/or are not eligible to apply to the unemployment program because of their immigration status. Refugees, people granted asylum, COFA Migrants, DACA recipients, and other people who have legal authorization to work in the United States are not eligible for the WA COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund. Having the ability to work legally in the United States means that their immigration status would not prohibit them from applying for unemployment. Afghans and Ukrainians that have been granted access to refugee assistance and public benefits programs are not eligible for the WA COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund.
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Is my information protected?The application is run by a private company called LiveStories, not the government. They will never voluntarily share your personal information with the government, ICE, police, your landlord, your employer, or anyone else. All information is stored securely in an encrypted format so it can’t be accessed by anyone.
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What is the history behind the WA COVID-19 Relief Fund?Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund - previous rounds There have been several rounds of the fund from 2020 until now. “WIRF 1” (late 2020): This was the first round of funding ($40 million). In this round, over 94,000 people applied, and 40,000 of the highest need applicants were approved for funding of $1,000 each. “WIRF 2” (early 2021): An extra $22.6 million that was added to provide funding of $1,000 each to people who had already applied to WIRF 1 and met eligibility criteria, but had not received funding. “WIRF 3” (mid-2021): This was another round of funding ($65 million). In this round, a new application opened in April-May 2021. Recipients got $1,000 each, and the money was sent in summer of 2021. The application period had to close earlier than expected, because of the large volume of applications. “WIRF 340” (current fund): This round of funding is for $340 million. This time, there should be enough money for most or all eligible applicants to receive money. All approved applicants will get at least $1,000, and the final amount will depend on how many people apply.
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How is the fund run?The fund is managed by immigrant-led community organizations across Washington State—the same people who advocated for the fund to be created. All of the organizations involved in the fund have worked for years with immigrant communities, including underserved farmworkers, low-wage workers, and immigrants who are Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2+, living with disabilities, and many others. Many of them are immigrant-led and they are all committed to the well-being and privacy of immigrant communities. You can see the list of community organizations at immigrantreliefwa.org/gethelp. These organizations are partnering with the Governor’s Office, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, and an application company called LiveStories to create this fund. While the Washington State government is providing the money and oversight, they do not handle any personal information.
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What is LiveStories?LiveStories is an organization that built the application platform called Forward. They review the applications, and work with payment providers to send out money. They hold all personal information in a secure, encrypted format, and will never voluntarily share personal information with the government.