COVID 19 Resources and Information
Mar 11, 2020
- Unemployment – There is no downside to applying for unemployment. No one really knows what is going on right now since everything is so new. The rules are being written and rewritten daily. You lose nothing by applying and independent contractors are now supposed to be eligible. It takes two to three weeks to get your EBT card so the sooner you apply, the better. Unemployment Application for California
- SBA Loans – There is no downside to applying. You don’t have to take the money if you don’t like the terms. It is good to know every option. Unless you have a lot of payroll, you are probably going to have to pay the money back at some point. SBA Loan Info
- Eviction Relief – There is a moratorium on evictions right now but you still have an affirmative duty to let your landlord know. Communication is your friend and you are required to inform your landlord within seven (7) days of rent being due. You will need to pay your rent at some point. How and when you repay depends on your city but generally you need to catch up within six months. If you can pay rent, I probably would.
California Eviction Moratorium - Food Stamps and Medi-Cal – Again, no downside to applying. You are always allowed to apply for health insurance outside of open enrollment with qualifying life events. This includes losing and starting new jobs. Food stamps in California are fairly generous. There is no shame in public programs. Every time you have paid taxes, you have paid for these services. Even if you don’t pay taxes, these services exist for a reason. Do not hesitate to use them. Food Stamp Application Covered California Application
- Tax Filing – Stimulus checks start being limited at 75,000 for individuals and 150,000 for married couples. The IRS will use 2018 tax info if you have not filed 2019. If you made less in 2019 and it matters for this cutoff, you need to file your taxes ASAP. If you made more in 2019, hold off on filing taxes until you get a check.
