Food and Farmworker Relief Program
Migrant Equity Southeast has partnered with the Hispanic Federation to issue relief payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to eligible farm and food workers that worked during the pandemic.
Migrant Equity Southeast is no longer registering applicants for the Food and Farmworker Relief Program. Due to the high volume of applications, we are processing, we will not be able to respond to calls or emails until after September 16th. For frequently asked questions, please scroll down.
What is it?
The Farm and Food Worker Relief (FFWR) Program provides one-time $600 relief payments to eligible farm & food workers who incurred expenses preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Agricultural & meatpacking workers, may receive one relief payment per person if they worked in an eligible front-line job in the U.S. during the pandemic (between January 20, 2020, - May 11, 2023).
Who qualifies?
Field Workers: planting, tending, harvesting crops and post harvest activities including packing, grading and sorting, and operation of farm machinery on crop farms.
Live Stock Workers: tending livestock, milking cows, or caring for poultry, including operation of farm machinery on livestock or poultry operations
Meatpacking Workers: livestock slaughtering, and meat or poultry processing, including meat or poultry packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
I recently applied for the FFWR program, why is my card not yet active even though other people I know have received their funds?: Each applicant will take a different amount of time to process and have the assigned card activated. Some applications will require us to submit additional documentation and follow up with the Hispanic Federation or USDA. We will contact you directly if we need additional information to process your application. Our small team is working hard to process hundreds of applications, thank you for your patience!
I received a notice that my funds will be expiring soon even though my card is not yet active/my application has not yet been processed. What do I do? This was a program wide notification that applies to those who have their card active/application has been processed. Please be sure to use the funds on your card within a month of it being activated. You should receive a notification text at the phone number you provided at registration once your application has been processed.
How can I use my card? The card acts a regular debit card for any sort of transaction in stores. The only limits are that you cannot use it to withdraw cash, pay for subscriptions (such as Netflix) or use in a different country.
How many times can I apply? This is a one-time only program. If you have already registered with another organization for the Food and Farm Worker Relief Program, your application will be denied.
Will this program return in the future? No. Although we will continue to look out for programs and opportunities that help out community, the FFWR program is funding meant to help with relief from COVID 19.
I was not able to attend a registration event with Migrant Equity Southeast, where else can I apply?: Please see the flyer below for other organizations registering applicants in the State of Georgia. You can also check out the USDA’s website here for other potential organizations that may be able to register you before the USDA deadline of September 30th.
For questions about the program, please call or text our FFWR line at 912-346-4686 after September 16th.
Helpful links and additional information
For more information and details about the program please check out the following resources:
USDA Website: Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program | Agricultural Marketing Service (usda.gov)
The Hispanic Federation Website: Farm and Food Workers Relief Program - A one-time, $600 payment for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic (hispanicfederation.org)