Our DOL February 2022

Governor Hochul unveiled her progressive $216 billion budget plan for Fiscal Year 2023, an agenda that advances New York’s COVID-19 response, enacts bold reforms, and embraces opportunity. Commissioner Roberta Reardon has been helping to get the word out by hosting a series of virtual budget presentations. From Long Island to Western New York and everywhere in between, Commissioner Reardon has been outlining the proposed budget and key initiatives, and highlighting Our DOL’s efforts to serve New Yorkers. Read more about Governor Hochul’s proposed budget highlights at https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-highlights-fy-2023-budget.

During Black History Month, as we celebrate the accomplishments of civil rights leaders in New York and beyond, we are reminded of how the labor movement and the civil rights movement have always been intrinsically intertwined. 

This month, we honor the sacrifices of those civil rights leaders who revealed the bond between the civil rights movement and the labor movement, reminding us why the work we do on behalf of New York’s workers is so important. 

Every New Yorker deserves an equal opportunity to pursue a career where they feel valued and where they are paid a fair wage. Every New Yorker is entitled to a workplace free of discrimination and full of promise. That’s our mission, every day.

From his time working with Giants players, to coaching fourth grade basketball, to being a valued member of the Labor Standards Division’s “Boy Team,” Mike Bouchard understands the value of teamwork and leadership, and brings those values to every interaction he has with the employers he meets in his role as an investigator.

As part of a continued focus on the importance of professional development and growth through training and education, DOL has assembled a brand-new training unit to support the entire agency - the Employee Development & Growth through Education (EDGE) office.

EDGE is set to oversee training programs and services that support our organizational strategy and performance. The unit will work with all program areas in DOL to identify, address, and support a wide variety of training needs. As part of the Administrative Services Division, EDGE will focus on providing excellent customer service and help all areas provide customer service that exceeds expectations.  

“We are striving to implement quality training products and services, develop a prepared and competent workforce, and promote and support an organizational-wide culture of learning and service,” said new EDGE Director Katlin McKeever. “It’s an exciting time to lead this department and integrate EDGE into our work plans. This will take our agency to the next level of professional growth.”

Be sure to check the intranet for upcoming training announcements as EDGE plans a new round of technology training to support the rollout of new equipment to staff. Please reach out to [email protected] to find out how EDGE can support your training needs!

It’s tax season time and the NYS Tax Department has some tips to help make the filing process easier for New York State employees. This includes information about programs that may provide some helpful financial relief.

Free File. If your 2021 income is $73,000 or less, you may qualify to use the Free File software available at the Tax Department’s Free File your income tax return webpage to electronically prepare and file your federal and state personal income tax returns for free. If you earned more than $73,000, see Other e-file options.

Savings. Free File can save you the cost of buying tax software or hiring a tax preparer. It also offers the convenience of filing from home.

You may also qualify for the free Facilitated Self-Assistance program, which runs from now through April 15.

And check out the IRS’s Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers webpage for information about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

For related information, please see Get ready to e-file your income tax return.

The deadline to file and pay your NYS and federal tax returns is April 18, 2022.

Filing extension. You may request more time to file. However, you must make full payment of the properly estimated amount you owe when you apply for the extension of time to file.

To file for an extension, use your tax filing software, or see:

• The Tax Department’s webpage Apply for an extension of time to file an income tax return, and
• The IRS’s Extension of Time to File to File Your Tax Return webpage

E-file and use direct deposit for faster refunds. If you e-file and use direct deposit, you’ll receive any refund owed faster and without the worry of a lost or undelivered check.

More filing guidance
Filing season resource center
Filing tips
Income tax credits
Earned income tax credit (pdf)
More return preparation information
1099-G, Statement for Recipients of State Income Tax Refunds
Check your refund status
Subscribe to receive tax updates and alerts

In honor of International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, we’re profiling Emma Rocco, a research assistant at SUNY Poly in Albany. Emma designs photodetectors for NASA and hopes to someday become a professor to inspire the next generation of scientists. This is also part of our ongoing video series highlighting high-demand careers in New York State.

With more than $2 billion paid to over 128,000 New Yorkers, the first-of-its-kind Excluded Workers Fund (EWF) proved to be a critical lifeline for many of the state’s most vulnerable workers during the pandemic.

DOL reviewed more than 350,000 applications for the fund, which was created to support New Yorkers who could not get unemployment, pandemic, or other federal relief benefits. Our EWF team recently published an exhaustive report (https://dol.ny.gov/nys-ewf-whitepaper) that details how advocates, community organizations, government agencies, legislators, and the private sector came together to efficiently deliver on a shared goal of granting financial relief to these individuals.

As you may recall, our DOL family was tasked with having the EWF up and running in a matter of a few months. Not only did our team meet that goal, but payments were sent ahead of schedule to New Yorkers in need. The program is now serving as a model for local and state governments throughout the country.

Congratulations to everyone who had a role in making the historic Excluded Workers Fund a reality!

Full-time employees of New York State may have federal Direct loans forgiven after 10 years of qualifying loan payments and public service.

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a limited waiver to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that runs through October 31, 2022. Ordinarily, payments on Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Perkins, or other non-Direct federal loans did not qualify towards the 120 loan payments required for loan forgiveness under the PSLF program. However, under the temporary waiver program, your payments on non-Direct loans (e.g., FFEL loans) may count toward the 10 years of loan payments required for loan forgiveness. The waiver program will also count certain payments on non-Direct loans that were late, for less than the full amount due, or made in the wrong payment plan.

If you have FFEL, Perkins, or other non-Direct federal loans, you will need to consolidate them into a federal Direct Consolidation Loan to take advantage of the current limited PSLF waiver, and for loan forgiveness to be granted.

Borrowers with non-Direct federal loans need to take the following two affirmative steps prior to October 31, 2022 to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program waiver:

1. Apply online to consolidate your federal loans (https://studentaid.gov/app/launchConsolidation.action) into a Direct Consolidation Loan or call your student loan servicer.
2. After your loans are consolidated, complete the PSLF form (https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/public-service-application-for-forgiveness.pdf). You may use the PSLF Help Tool (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/) to assist you in starting the PSLF form.

After filling out Sections 1 and 2, you will need to have your employer complete Section 3 and 4. The completed form must then be submitted to the address identified in Section 7 of the form.

It could take a few months to obtain a Direct Consolidated Loan once you have applied, so those interested are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible.

Take a moment to give our new Spanish-language Twitter account a boost by following us at @NYSDOLenEspanol!

The account provides Spanish-speaking residents the latest on NYS DOL services and resources, as well as other important information, assistance, and services to help families across New York State.