Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question not answered here? Please email relief@immigrantreliefwa.org

How much can I receive through this fund?

You can apply to receive a one-time direct payment of $1,000 per person, with a maximum of $3,000 per household. You can receive the money as a check or gift card (Visa).

Do I have to pay this money back? Will this impact my taxes?

No, all payments are made as grants and classified as disaster relief under the IRS and should not be included as taxable income.

Can multiple people in my household apply?

Yes, everyone in your household who is eligible for the fund and is over 18 can apply. Each person must complete their own individual application. No more than 3 people per household will receive funding (maximum of $3000 per household).

Is this different from the Seattle relief fund?

Yes. The Seattle COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund for Immigrants is for people living in Seattle. The Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund is for anyone in Washington. If you live in Seattle, you can apply for both funds.

Who can apply?

To apply for the relief fund, you must:

Live in Washington
Be at least 18 years old
Have been been significantly affected by the pandemic (such as losing work, contracting the virus, or caring for a family member who contracted the virus)
Not be eligible to receive federal stimulus funds or unemployment insurance because of immigration status

Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis since the total fund is limited. We will prioritize those in greatest need.

How do I apply?

You can apply in: Chinese, English, French, Garifuna, Hindi, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog/Filipino, or  Vietnamese.

Before you apply, you should:

Gather your required identity and residency documentation. You can review the list of approved materials below.
Calculate your household’s average monthly income.
Click the “Apply” button then navigate to the “Register” button and create a Survey MonkeyApply Account. A few minutes after you sign up you will get an email to verify your account. Please make sure you verify your account.
Complete all of the application questions. This may take some time. You can save your application and come back at any time.
Once you are finished with your application find the large green “SUBMIT” button to send in your application.

After you apply, please make sure to check your email inbox or the junk email folder for your confirmation. You will also get a text message confirmation the day you submit your application. You may log back in and check the status to see if your application is being reviewed and if you are awarded the funding. Please only submit your application one time.

If you don’t want to complete the application online, you can print the application here and mail it to P.O. Box #84327, Seattle WA 98124.

If you get stuck, click here, or call 1-844-724-3737 for help with your application. Support is available in multiple languages.

After you apply, you’ll receive updates about your application by email and text. You’ll be notified if your application is accepted within 3 weeks of applying. If your application is accepted, you’ll receive payment within 2 weeks after that.

Our funds are limited, so not everyone who applies will be able to receive aid at this time.

What documents do I need to apply?

These are the documents that you can use in your application to prove your identity and your residency in Washington State. Please make sure that you have a clear copy of either:

One item from List A, or
One item from both List B and List C

Washington State Identification Card showing full name and Washington state address
Washington State Driver’s License showing full name and Washington state address
Current student identification card from a school located in Washington state
Any utility bill showing your full name and Washington state address
Cell phone bill or internet bill showing your full name and Washington state address
Insurance statement showing your full name and Washington state address
Bank statement showing your full name and Washington state address
2019 tax return showing your full name and Washington state address
Paystub from employer showing your full name and your Washington state residency address
Rent receipt showing your full name and Washington state address

Student identification card from any school
Passport from any country
Consulate card
Birth certificate
International Driver’s License
Metro card with photo

Signed and dated letter* stating the full name and phone number of the person writing the letter from the following entities:

Landlord acknowledging WA residency
A representative from your place of worship acknowledging WA residency

*You may use this letter template for this application.

Is my information safe?

Personal information will never be voluntarily shared with the government, ICE, law enforcement, your landlord, your employer, or anyone else. All information is stored securely in an encrypted format so it can’t be accessed.
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According to our contract with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, the only people with access to an applicant’s personal information are Scholarship Junkies (the community organization that manages the fund), Fair Work Center, and Seattle Credit Union (that distributes money). We will not share your information with anyone else. But if there is a legal subpoena, we may be legally required to release personal information. It’s unlikely that this would happen, but not impossible.

How is the fund run?

The fund is managed by immigrant-led community organizations in Washington—the same people who called for the fund to be created. It is supported and funded by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

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 one-time 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.