Money

What statement best describes your situation?

• I lost some or all of my work due to coronavirus

• I'm not sure if I qualify to receive the stimulus check

• I am unable to meet my basic needs

• I want to find a job

"I am unable to meet my basic needs"

How can I pay for my expenses during the pandemic?

Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic by entering your zip code on FindHelp.org.

There are several emergency funds and cash assistance programs that you could be eligible for:

• If you worked in the hospitality industry, you can apply for the Another Round, Another Rally fund. Additionally:

  • If you were a restaurant worker, delivery driver, tipped worker or service worker, you can apply for assistance from the One Fair Wage emergency fund or the Southern Smoke emergency relief program.

  • If you were a bartender out of work, you can apply for the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.

  • Additionally, CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees) has a financial relief fund for food and beverage service employees with children directly affected by COVID-19.

• If you are a home care worker, nanny, or house cleaner who is experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can apply for $400 in emergency assistance from the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

• If you are or someone in your family is an immigrant, check out these resources specific to immigrant families.

• You can request assistance with essentials like gas cards and other items by emailing One Simple Wish.

• You can also apply for Self-Sufficiency Grants from Modest Needs, offered to qualified individuals in need of financial assistance for certain household expenses.

• You can apply for the Humanity Forward Coronavirus Relief Fund, which delivers recurring basic income payments to individuals and families most impacted by the coronavirus crisis. This is a campaign by Andrew Yang, so applying may also sign you up for a political mailing list.

Can I reduce my payroll tax payments?

If you are currently employed, note that the August 8, 2020 Presidential Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster set forth the following:

• Social Security and Medicare taxes will not be withheld from wages starting September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

• Taxes that are not being withheld from wages are expected to be paid on a later date without penalties or interest.

• The Secretary of Treasury will explore options that provide tax forgiveness for amounts deferred.

Do I get financial assistance as a parent or a caregiver?

If you have children, you should check if you're eligible and apply for Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) to get biweekly cash assistance for a limited time. This program is funded by the federal government but administered through your state.

Do I have to keep paying for utilities?

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a program meant to help low income Americans and their families heat and cool their homes. To ask about LIHEAP assistance, you should use the public inquiry telephone number available for your state.

If you need help paying your water bill, you can apply to the Human Utility assistance program for help.

Additionally, know that more and more utility providers are offering to stop cutting people off for nonpayment:

• A number of internet companies have agreed not to terminate residential or small business customers who can’t pay their bills, including AT&T, Comcast, Cox, RCN, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It is not yet clear whether companies want customers to call to invoke this relief and provide proof or whether they will offer it automatically to everyone. If you are in this situation, you should call your internet company and ask.

• A number of water service providers have either suspended shut-offs for nonpayment or don’t shut service off for late payments generally.

• There are additional flexibilities based on where you live:

  • In Washington state, the provider of electric and water service in Seattle is allowing people to self-certify their recent income reductions in order to qualify for at least half off their bills.

  • In California, Pacific Gas and Electric has, until further notice, stopped shutting off its services to consumers and businesses who have not paid.

  • In New York, Con Edison also has temporarily suspended any electric and gas service shut-offs.

  • This is a list of utility companies that will not shut off due to no payment during COVID-19.

If utilities in other areas follow suit, they are likely to publish alerts somewhere on the top of their websites or in the news release section of their pages, so keep checking in your utility providers' websites.

How can I find free or reduced cost services and programs near me?

In these turbulent times, it is extremely important to know what services are available to you in your own community. The array of services may differ depending on your location. More populated cities may have a wide range of services to navigate through, while smaller communities may only have a few. AuntBertha.com is user friendly and makes it extremely easy to access and find services nearest to you for things like like medical care, food, job training, and more. To do so:

1. Enter your zip code.

Once you enter your zip code the website will populate programs and service near you.

2. Use the icons related to your need(s).

Click on the services you are looking for at the top of the page with the icons related to your need.

3. Navigate the site to find the services that meet your need(s).

Once you locate the services you are looking for, you will find links to contact information, website to enroll, and/or location with a map for directions. The site also recognizes the barriers related to COVID-19 and provides further guidance on how to access these services safely.

4. Ask for help.

Navigating resources may be new to some people, and it is always helpful to ask a trusted advisor, case manager, foster parent, or other to support you in accessing these services. Some services also require a referral, which can be done by a case manager or other child welfare professional.

"I want to find a job"

What type of remote jobs are available right now?

If remote jobs work for you, here are some options:

• The 2020 Census is hiring a lot of people at well-paying rates to help make sure the census happens. Much of this work can be done remotely.

• Advocates for Youth is a network of youth activists ages 14-24 who receive training, support, and stipends to organize for reproductive justice in their community.

• The Steady App allows you to search and filter extra income (local, remote, part-time) opportunities that meet your financial needs, availability, and skill-set.

• Real Ways to Earn Money Online is a massive lists of ways to work remotely. It can be overwhelming to dive in, but if you’re looking for the most exhaustive list, this is it.

• There are many remote job boards out there. This article lists 25+ of them to start.

• The Chamber of Commerce has also put together a round up of free job posting sites.

For overall guidance in your job search, this guide does a great job listing lots of great resources and advice for anyone looking for work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are there any resources to help me apply for jobs?

• Resumes and cover letters: Ohio state has a list of resources for writing resumes and cover letters.

• Professional headshots: Headshot Booker provides unemployed Americans nationwide with a free, professional headshot to include in their resumes and post to job sites such as LinkedIn and other social media.

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