Certain care workers Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls "the backbone of our economy" are eligible for one-time $500 relief payments, according to a news release recently issued by the city.

Domestic workers and undocumented residents now are eligible to apply for Chicago Resiliency Fund 2.0 relief payments aimed at people who had difficulties accessing and qualifying for federal COVID-19 relief payments, according to the news release. 

"Care workers are the backbone of our economy – they make all other work possible," Lightfoot said in the release. "As a daughter of a domestic worker, I know the challenges they face day in and day out to support other families while trying to keep their own afloat."

The one-time payments will be paid from by a second round, $14.68 million allocation from the Chicago Resiliency Fund.

"This fund represents the continued commitment from my administration to ensure that our hardest-hit residents, including domestic workers and undocumented residents, get access to recovery funds," Lightfoot said.

Up to 7,000 domestic workers and 10,000 undocumented residents can expect to receive the one-time relief payments from the city, according to the news release.

"While the COVID stimulus payments were a great help for so many during the pandemic, many hard-working residents were left out of this critical resource," Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Brandie Knazze said, according to the release. "The Resiliency Fund 2.0 is designed to help those who had to navigate the pandemic without such resources. We are grateful to our nonprofit partners for their support in helping our residents to access this financial assistance and to promote an equitable recovery from COVID-19."

Eligible applicants are domestic workers or undocumented residents 18 years and older living in Chicago with household incomes at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $69,090 for a household of 3. 

Domestic or care workers are those who in the past year were paid for household services, including child care and housekeeping, in a private home or residence. Undocumented residents are those living in the U.S. without immigration status or Social Security numbers. DACA recipients and new humanitarian parole arrivals are not eligible to receive payments, according to the news release.

"No questions will be asked regarding citizenship or immigration status in the application or verification process," the news release said. "COVID-19 cash assistance is not considered under public charge analysis."

Applications must be submitted online. The application is available in English and Spanish but plans are in the works for applications in Chinese, Arabic and Polish.