New York State Health Worker Bonus

10/6/2023 - If eligible, resident will receive an attestation to UB secured email

10/12/2023 @ 12 p.m. - Due date for electronically signed attestation

Yes! Vesting periods #1, #2 and #3. Review the schedule for payment dates. 

No. Two separate payments will be generated, one for current payroll (if applicable), and one check for the NYS bonus.

Yes, we follow the NYS guidance below for Vesting period 4:

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 before application to NY state. Failure to submit the form on this date will result in the exclusion of your application. 

Signing the Attestation form indicates you, as the signer, agree all information is true and accurate. Your signature indicates your agreement that all compensation limits and earnings during the vesting period will not exceed the NYS HCWB limits listed on the Attestation.

If you earned other income outside from UMRS and UDRS, you should read the limits on income before signing. Examples of other incomes include moonlighting, part time employment, or anything else that you have earned and reported on your personal income taxes as earnings. If there is any doubt you have other sources of income disqualifying yourself, do not sign. Signing the attestation form indicates your agreement with the limit income statement.

Contact a professional for guidance on your personal income taxes to determine if you are under the $62,500 income limit. The GME office is only aware of your compensation from UMRS and UDRS payroll. If your personal earnings are more than the limit, do not sign the attestation form and notify the GME HR team. All applicants who refuse will not be applied for. All bonus money applied for must be paid to the applicant by NYS.

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 username 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.

Bonus amounts will be paid on the regular pay date, in a separate paycheck:

• VP #1 and #2 - Wednesday, June 7, 2023
• VP #3 - Wednesday, August 16, 2023

If you currently have direct deposit in place, the HCWB will be a deposit. If not, then a live check will be mailed to the last updated address on file.

The GME office encourages any employees 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. Consult your personal tax advisor and we encourage you to visit the NYS Program FAQ regarding NYS and federal taxability. Neither the University nor the GME Office can verify all your earnings.

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 GMEHRADMIN@buffalo.edu with your full name and current address. 

This website will be updated regularly, and email communications will be sent by the 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.

There are numerous reasons why your gross bonus may differ from your colleagues. Such factors include:

• working full time during the vesting period
  
• being on leave during a vesting period
  
• beginning employment in the middle of a vesting period
  

From the gross bonus payment, Medicare/Social Security and federal payroll taxes are taken which will reduce the net payment. Each person’s elected federal tax withholdings will vary; therefore, the net payment may not be identical to your peers.

For the vesting periods #1 and #2 live check payment, the net bonus checks were mailed June 7, 2023 via the United States Postal Service to most recent address on file. Please allow USPS 10 business days to hand deliver the mailed checks before reporting it lost.

For vesting period #3, the bonus check is scheduled for a pay date of August 16, 2023 and will be mailed by August 17, 2023 via the United States Postal Service.

For residents living outside of the United States, the delivery might take longer than a New York State address. Delivery time varies based on personal address.

The GME office mailed the checks on June 7, 2023. Please wait until June 21, 2023 (2 weeks) before requesting a void and reissue. All checks are mailed via United States Postal Service to the last known address on file. Send all replacement requests to ubgmehr@buffalo.edu with your current mailing address from a secured UB email address. This will be the standard for all other bonus payments as well.

In order to receive the soonest assistance, please send all questions to the HR general email address ubgmehr@buffalo.edu. Do not contact individual staff members. We have a coordinated communication system.

Please first look to see if your question might already be answered at the following webpages:

UB HCWB Information & FAQ

General NYS HCWB Guidelines

Watch for daily updates, emails from the HR team and weekly Thrive communications. Your program TPA office will also be notified.

Date updated: 10/4/2023