The New York State Assembly and Senate both support creating a fund to provide unemployment insurance to workers who are excluded from the unemployment insurance system, primarily undocumented immigrants and people leaving incarceration during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both houses included $2.1 billion in their one-house budgets this week, the starting points for negotiating the final state budget.

This is an impressive commitment to a critical priority. However, matching the minimum level of benefits that other unemployed New Yorkers receive and extending the aid through the end of 2021 would require $3.5 billion: $3.4 billion in aid, and $110 million for administration and outreach.

Read the full report: Unemployment Compensation for Excluded Workers: $3.5 Billion Needed for 2020 and 2021