New York State Health Worker Bonus

The NYS HWB program  is a state initiative launched by Gov. Kathy Hochul and managed by NYS Department of Health, to acknowledge front-line workers for their efforts during the COVID pandemic and with the aim to increase the state’s health care workforce by 20% over the next five years. The program is an investment in health care to help retain, rebuild and grow the state’s health care workforce to ensure delivery of the highest quality care for New Yorkers. 

You can find all information on the program here.

You can find those here. 

You can find the full vesting period schedule here. As well, please find a downloadable PDF of the schedule below. 

A NYS Employee Attestation document must be completed and signed by the applicant as evidence of  agreement with the compensation limitations and bonus guidelines.

Each eligible employee will receive the Employee Attestation sent securely  to their buffalo.edu email address. The Employee Attestation will be sent as an electronic form, once reviewed and electronically signed by the employee the attestation will be available for GME review and tracking. Once this form is received it will allow GME to apply on your behalf. The employee Attestation must be received by the GME office no later than the day of application to NY State. Failure to submit the form on this date will result in the exclusion of your application. 

The buffalo.edu email is an official communication channel. UB expects faculty, staff, and students to use, read, and respond to their email regularly. The buffalo.edu email was issued to you upon the start of employment. The use of company provided email is the employment standard for employer–employee communications. UB email and your personal email systems are not “secure” methods of email communication. However, the link provided to you in the specific email is secure. Using the secure link embedded within the UB email maintains security of your information. 

For information about UB's policy on email please visit this link.  

You can contact the UB IT Help Desk for assistance:https://www.buffalo.edu/ubit/get-help.html

For vesting periods three through five, GME will only be accepting electronic attestations. The electronic attestation method will ensure that receipt of duplicate documents is avoided.  

If you are eligible for a vesting period, below please find a sample of the email you will receive.

Dear Doctor,

Read this message fully before proceeding.

You must use your UB email account to complete this process. Click on the link below to complete your NYS Healthcare Workers Bonus (HCWB) Vesting Period 3 Employee Attestation:

Attestation for Period 3

This link should not be shared. This document is mandatory and necessary to complete the bonus award application on your behalf as a resident or fellow employed by University Medical Resident or University Dental Resident Services companies.

• Action: Click the link then electronically sign and date the attestation
• Do not enter Social Security Numbers, this information will be automatically entered for you after completion of form
• Deadline: Monday, April 10, 2023 11:59 PM
• Complete only once, electronically, using the method above. Do not submit any duplicates such as by paper, fax or secure email

If the form is not electronically signed by the deadline, we cannot apply for your bonus.

Click cancel, if you receive a pop-up dialogue box asking for a user name and password.

*In no instance does GME guarantee the bonus amount awarded by NYS DOL. All resident and fellow rotations will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure that you meet the criteria set out by NYS. If you are not eligible for the bonus after submitting a signed attestation, you will be notified.

Kind regards,

UB GME Team

No, the electronic method is the only method necessary and ensures that receipt of duplicate documents is avoided.  

Yes. Upon completion, a notice will be sent to the buffalo.edu email address. Save this receipt of confirmation for your records. A signed attestation does not guarantee a bonus payout from NYS HWB program.

Yes. NYS HWB is limiting (2) applications per employee, per employer with a maximum payout of $3,000 to each eligible employee.

The number of your Employee Attestations included within a submission will be referenced for eligibility.

No. The maximum allowable is (2) applications for a maximum of $3,000. The $3,000 is not guaranteed.

UMRS  and UDRS are private companies. Preparation and approval of the application process itself was difficult and challenging. The collaborative efforts involved UB GME, UB Central Finance, SUNY, NYS Department of Health, NYS Governor’s Office and other sources of UB support which required months of work beyond vesting period #1 and #2 deadlines. On 3/3/2023, the NYS DOH finalized a successful path for the bonus application on behalf of UMRS’ and UDRS’ residents and fellows.

UMRS and UDRS, P.C. will receive the HCWB bonus payout from NYS in approximately 8-12 weeks after each application.

No, as our hospital affiliates are not your employers, and therefore have no application responsibilities for residents and fellows in this process. They are excluded from applying on your behalf.  

If you have been entered on multiple applications from various employers, NYS will deny your eligibility resulting in reduced or denied payment to you.

Yes! On May 11, 2023, the Vesting period #1 and #2 aggregate payment was received by the University via check from NYS. 

The bonuses for vesting periods #1 and #2 will be paid on your regular pay date, in a separate check, on Wednesday June 7, 2023. 

No. On June 7, two separate payments will be generated, one for current payroll and one for the NYS bonus.

If you currently have direct deposit in place, the HCWB will be a deposit. If not, then a live check.

The GME office encourages all employee, who receive live checks, to cash/deposit at your earliest convenience. Uncashed and expired checks may be reported to NYS unclaimed funds.

Yes. Employee Federal Withholding and FICA will be deducted from the gross bonus. The GME office may not advise on tax implications. We encourage you to visit the NYS Program FAQ regarding NYS and Federal taxability.

For the first two vesting periods, prior/terminated employees were allowed to apply. If the terminated employee signed the attestation applications, and they were applied for, they will receive a live bonus check, subject to applicable taxes, mailed to the current address on file.

The last known address on file.

Please email ubgmehr@buffalo.edu with your full name and current address. 

This website will be updated regularly, and email communications will be sent by GME department. These messages will come from Dr Gregory Cherr or Human Resources. You can also find updates in the Thrive! newsletter. The GME office will also notify Program Directors, Training Program Administrators and our hospital partners.

The GME office applied for the vesting period # 3 in April 2023. There has not been a notice of processing by NYS as of yet.

Date updated: 5/18/2023