New York State To Pay Death Benefits To Families Of Essential Workers Who Died During The Pandemic

When the U.S. became the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, it was the state of New York that was the hardest-hit by the outbreak. To date, the New York State Department of Health has reported more than 362,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 23,488 death in the state.

In these tragic deaths, many were essential workers, like doctors, nurses and firefighters -- who worked even during the pandemic. Recognizing their sacrifice, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that their families will be paid death benefits.

He made the announcement on May 25, during a Memorial Day news briefing on board the U.S.S. Intrepid at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in Manhattan. He shared that the death benefits will be provided by the New York state and local governments as frontline workers, who continued to work during the pandemic, have proved that they are equal to those who go into battle during wartime.

"I feel a grave responsibility to our frontline workers, our essential workers, who understood the dangers of this COVID-19 virus but went to work anyway because we needed them," the governor said. "I bare heavy the responsibility of explaining to the people of this state and beyond what we were dealing with when we were dealing with the COVID-19 virus and how dangerous it was -- and then, in the same breath, asking people to please show up tomorrow."

The benefits, to be paid by the local, county, and state pension funds, will be available for families wherein a deceased family member was classified as an essential worker -- health care workers, grocery store workers, police officers, firefighters and EMS employees among others. The said family member contracted the virus while fulfilling their duties and succumbed to its life-threatening symptoms.

"Many of those people who showed up and did their duty and served with honor lost their lives to keep others safe," Cuomo said. "We're saying we honor that service and we're going to make sure that every government in the state of New York provides death benefits to those public heroes who died from COVID-19 during this emergency."