NYC Wins $131.5M Settlement for 260,000 Delivery Workers
New York City reached a $131.5 million settlement with DoorDash for underpaying nearly 260,000 delivery workers — the largest labor enforcement action in city history. DCWP found the company violated the city's minimum pay law, which protects all delivery workers regardless of immigration status. Affected workers will receive about double what they were originally owed.
New York City announced a $131.5 million settlement with DoorDash on Tuesday for underpaying nearly 260,000 delivery workers — the largest labor enforcement action in city history and the largest food delivery worker settlement ever reached in the United States. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel Levine made the announcement jointly. Over $115 million goes directly to workers, and DoorDash must pay more than $16 million in civil penalties.
What the Investigation Found
DCWP's investigation found that DoorDash failed to pay thousands of workers for all the time they worked, and failed to pay thousands more on time — in some cases, wages arrived weeks late. The city says the violations go back to at least 2022. DoorDash also violated New York City's delivery worker Minimum Pay Rate law, which sets a floor of $22.13 per hour for time spent on active delivery. That rate applies regardless of a worker's immigration status. Even after DoorDash raised hourly pay in December 2023, the company still found ways to exclude some workers from receiving the minimum wage.
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DoorDash spokesperson Samantha Ramirez acknowledged the failures but called them unintentional. "Simply put, we screwed up," she said in a statement. The company says less than 1% of all payments were affected, with about $6.6 million in wages withheld and another $5.7 million paid late. DoorDash says 65% of impacted workers were underpaid by $1 or less. The case was first brought to the city's attention by the Workers' Justice Project (WJP) in 2023, after the group found that 200 DoorDash workers had wages stolen starting in 2022.
Workers who were underpaid between April 22, 2022, and June 28, 2026, can expect to receive approximately 200% of the amount they were originally shorted — meaning double what DoorDash owed them. DCWP will contact affected workers directly. Emails from settlement administrators will begin going out in late October 2026. Workers can choose between an electronic payment or a check mailed to their last known address. Going forward, DoorDash must submit detailed monthly data reports to DCWP for three years so the agency can monitor compliance.
What to Do
- Check the email address linked to your DoorDash account — settlement administrators will begin sending payment notices in late October 2026.
- Make sure your mailing address on file with DoorDash is current, in case you choose payment by check.
- You do not need to be a US citizen or have a specific immigration status to receive payment — the minimum pay law applies to all delivery workers regardless of immigration status.
- If you worked as a DoorDash delivery worker between April 22, 2022, and June 28, 2026, and do not receive an email by November 2026, contact DCWP directly at nyc.gov/dcwp to ask about your eligibility.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Work Permits (EAD)”.
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New York City's minimum pay rate law for delivery workers applies regardless of immigration status — undocumented workers have the same right to claim unpaid wages as anyone else. If you receive a settlement notice, you are not required to provide immigration documents to collect payment, and participating in the settlement does not trigger any immigration enforcement. Workers who believe they were excluded from the settlement or who have additional wage claims should consult an employment or immigration attorney before the payment window closes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a US citizen or have a work permit to receive money from this settlement?
No. New York City's delivery worker Minimum Pay Rate law applies to all delivery workers regardless of immigration status. DCWP has confirmed that affected workers will be contacted and paid regardless of their status.
How will I know if I am eligible for a payment?
DCWP will contact eligible workers directly. Settlement administrators will begin sending emails in late October 2026 to workers who were underpaid between April 22, 2022, and June 28, 2026. Check the email address linked to your DoorDash account.
How much money will I receive?
The city estimates workers will receive approximately 200% of the amount they were originally underpaid — meaning roughly double what DoorDash owed them. The exact amount depends on how much you were shorted.
Could claiming this settlement money cause problems with my immigration case?
Lawyers who work with immigrant workers say that collecting wages you are legally owed is a worker's right and is not considered a public benefit under immigration law. However, every immigration situation is different — if you have concerns about how this could affect your specific case, consult an immigration attorney before responding to the settlement notice.