BernCo to assist low-income residents

Bernalillo County is offering direct payments of up to $500 to low-income residents who suffered financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, but are ineligible for unemployment benefits and did not receive federal stimulus checks.

The county has put a total of $1.4 million toward the program, meaning it could help up to about 2,800 households.

Applications for the assistance open at noon on Feb. 8.

“We need to try and help everybody during this pandemic and find those who are on the edges, scraping by,” County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada said in a statement.

The city of Albuquerque offered a similar program in December and said the nearly $2.5 million it made available was fully tapped within eight hours of opening applications.

Residents anywhere in Bernalillo County — including within Albuquerque city limits — are eligible for the payments.

Applicants will be required to provide documentation proving their identity and that they have income at 150% or less of the federal poverty level, or have qualified for public assistance.

Go to bernco.gov/economicdevelopment/covid-relief-.aspx to learn more or find an application link when the program goes live.