COVID-19 Financial Survival Toolkit for New Yorkers

During this difficult time maintaining good physical and mental health is critically important. For guidance and assistance, you can find the latest and most reliable information on the COVID-19 outbreak using the following links:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website | 1-800-232-4636
• Novel Coronavirus (NYS Department of Health) | 1-888-364-3065

New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for free and confidential emotional support.

If you are uninsured or have lost your health coverage due to a job loss related to COVID-19, you can apply for health insurance coverage through either the State or directly to insurers during a special enrollment period that ends May 15, 2020. For more information, please visit: New York State of Health | 1-855-355-5777 or (TTY 1-800-662-1220).

For additional health care related information including COBRA, the CHIP program for children, and Medicaid for those who qualify, please visit: If You Lose Job-Based Health Insurance (Healthcare.gov).
 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides direct economic assistance for American workers and families, and small businesses. For more information, please visit: The CARES Act Works for All Americans (U.S. Department of Treasury).

A guide to COVID-19 economic stimulus relief can be found at: A Guide to COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Relief (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).

Eligible US taxpayers who filed tax returns for years 2018 and 2019 will receive their economic impact payments, also called stimulus payments, without further action. For more information, please visit: Economic Impact Payments (Internal Revenue Service).

The IRS has also created a web-based tool to allow certain non-filers to enter banking and other information to get economic impact payments. For more information, please visit: Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here (Internal Revenue Service).

For more information, or to check the status of your payment, please visit: Internal Revenue Service.

If you are having difficulty receiving your payment, please contact your representative in Congress by visiting:

• U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate

The Payroll Protection Program Flexibility Act makes certain changes to the Payroll Protection Program to provide businesses with time and flexibility to keep their employees on the payroll. For more information, please visit: Enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (U.S. Department of the Treasury).
 

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a devastating effect on many of New York’s working families. If you have been laid off, are ill or taking care of a sick family member, you may be eligible for assistance. Check out the links below to find out about unemployment, sick leave, and family sick leave benefits.

• NYS Department of Labor Website | 1-888-209-8124
  • Important note: For those already receiving unemployment benefits, Federal Law requires submission of a certification every week to receive continued benefits. For more information, please visit: NYS Department of Labor Announces Program to Help Inform Unemployed New Yorkers that Federal Law Requires them to Certify Every Week to Continue Receiving Benefits (NYS Department of Labor) or call 1-888-4NYSDOL (469-7365)
• *Updated* New Paid Leave for COVID-19 (Office of the NYS Governor)
• Unemployment Insurance Relief (NYS Bar Association) - If your unemployment insurance claim has been denied and you need legal assistance, the NYS Bar Association has set up a pro-bono referral service to help.
   

The COVID-19 outbreak has created a financial hardship for many people. Help may be available for those who are having trouble paying their bills at this time. Check the appropriate resources for your particular situation.

• Mortgage Relief - Coronavirus: Information for Consumers and Businesses (NYS Department of Financial Services)
• Rent Relief - The COVID Rent Relief program provides eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy to be sent directly to the household’s landlord. To check your eligibility, visit: COVID Rent Relief Program (NYS Department of Homes and Community Renewal) 
• Evictions -
  • NYS Unified Court System Website or call 1-833-503-0447 (24/7 hotline), press prompt #4 for eviction information
  • NYS PAUSE Executive Order (Office of the NYS Governor)
  • Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency (Office of the NYS Governor) - The Governor has issued certain protections or extended certain rent protections through August 20, 2020, against eviction or foreclosure due to nonpayment of rent or mortgage by someone that is eligible for unemployment insurance or benefits under state or federal law or is otherwise facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Utilities - Department of Public Service Website | 1-800-342-3377
• New York State Income Taxes - Response to Coronavirus (NYS Department of Taxation and Finance)
• Federal Income Taxes -
  • Coronavirus Tax Relief (Internal Revenue Service)
  • Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free (Internal Revenue Service) - Filers must have an income of $69,000 or below.
• Credit Cards, Debt, Mortgages and other bills - Coping with Debt (Federal Trade Commission)
• Student Loans
  • There is broad relief for federal student loan borrowers under the CARES Act. Generally, borrowers may temporarily stop making federal student loan payments from March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2020. For more information, visit: Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents (U.S. Department of Education) or call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or (TTY 1-800-730-8913).
  • *New* New York State has collaborated with many commercial and private student loan lenders to offer help to those facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. For more information, visit: Coronavirus: Information for Student Borrowers (NYS Department of Financial Services). 
• *New* Loan Program - The Hebrew Free Loan Society is offering a COVID-19 Financial Impact Loan Program for those impacted by the pandemic due to job losses, child care or medical costs, and small business losses. This is a non-sectarian program for moderate and lower income residents of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. For more information and to check eligibility, visit: Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan (Hebrew Free Loan Society).
• Debt Collection - For those facing debt collection, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides certain rights and protections. For more information, please visit: Debt Collection FAQs (Federal Trade Commission).
   

Resources for Small Businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of New York’s economy and our nonprofits help countless individuals and families in communities across our State. Both types of entities have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic but financial assistance may be available for those small businesses and nonprofits that qualify. To learn more, please check these links:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources (U.S. Small Business Administration) (or call 1-800-659-2955 for help applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan)
• NYS Directory of Small Business Programs (NYS Department of Economic Development)
• Main Street Lending Program (Federal Reserve) - The Federal Reserve has established the Main Street Lending Program to enhance support for small and mid-sized businesses. The Main Street Lending Program will be operated through three facilities: Main Street New Loan Facility (MSNLF), Main Street Priority Loan Facility (MSPLF) and Main Street Expanded Loan Facility (MSELF). Terms sheets and FAQs are available for each facility.

Resources for Local Governments, including School Districts

The Office of the State Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability has created a resource directory to offer guidance to municipalities in these challenging times. For more information, please see: Updates and Resources Related to COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

Resources for Nonprofits

For nonprofit organizations, these links are useful:

• *New* Main Street Lending Program (Federal Reserve) - The Federal Reserve has announced the extension of the Main Street Lending Program to eligible nonprofits for the Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility (NOELF) and the Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility (NONLF).
• Nonprofits and COVID-19 (Council of Nonprofits)
• General COVID-19 Resources (Robin Hood)
• Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, FY 2020 (U.S. Department of Labor) - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced the availability of $11.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants for nonprofit organizations. The grants are awarded to provide training and education programs for employers and workers on the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of safety and health hazards in their workplaces and to inform workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
• COVID-19 Tools and Resources for Nonprofits (Nonprofit Finance Fund)
   

Now more than ever it’s important for all of us to take greater control of our own personal finances and teach our children about sound financial practices. Except where expressly indicated, none of these materials necessarily represent the views of the Office of the New York State Comptroller. Here are several resources that provide a wide range of personal finance information that could help you now and in the future:

• Protecting your finances during the Coronavirus Pandemic (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) | 1-855-411-2372
• Financial Counseling and Credit Protection (Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
• Saving and Investment Options (USA.gov) | 1-844-872-4681
• Money Smart for Young People (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) | 1-800-877-8339
   

During this time of crisis, it’s important to be on alert for those who would attempt to defraud you or your family. To learn how to protect yourself from scams, refer to the following sites:

• COVID-19 Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips (Federal Communications Commission)
• Avoid Coronavirus Scams (Federal Trade Commission)
• Report Government Fraud (Office of the New York State Comptroller) | 1-888-672-4555 - You can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money on our website.
• Guidance on Coronavirus Resources and Warnings about Consumer Scams (NYS Attorney General)
• Consumer Protection (NYS Department of State)
• Help Fight Medicare Fraud (Medicare) - During the COVID-19 national emergency, stay alert for Medicare fraud.
• National Center for Disaster Fraud (COVID-19) (U.S. Department of Justice) | 1-866-720-5721 - The National Center for Disaster Fraud is a coordinating agency dedicated to the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud schemes related to natural and man-made disasters.
   

Military

• Military OneSource is dedicated to providing timely resources, information and answers to address the health and financial impact of COVID-19 on the military community. For more information, please visit: Military OneSource (U.S. Department of Defense) or call 1-800-342-9647.
• The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which was enacted in 2003, is designed to ease financial burdens on servicemembers during periods of military service. For more information, please visit: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (U.S. Department of Defense)
• The Department of Defense has launched an initiative to assist military spouses with financial readiness. For more information, please visit: MilSpouse Money Mission (U.S. Department of Defense) - Note: the reference to this website does not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation of the Office of the State Comptroller and is provided for informational purposes only.

Veterans

For those Veterans affected by COVID-19, please check with Federal and State resources:

• Federal: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 1-844-698-2311
• State: NYS Division of Veterans' Services | 1-888-838-7697
• New York City: NYC Veterans Alliance

Seniors

• For help in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, seniors can contact the NYS Office for the Aging by visiting: NYS Office of the Aging or calling 1-844-697-6321

People with Disabilities

To find resources for those with disabilities affected by COVID-19, please visit:

• Office for People with Developmental Disabilities or call 1-866-946-9733 or (TTY 1-866-933-4889)
• Social Security & Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) (Social Security Administration) or call 1-800-772-1213 or (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) or call 1-800-232-4636
• For People with Disabilities living in NYC, please visit: COVID-19 Resources for People with Disabilities (NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities) or call 1-212-788-2830 (voice phone) or 1-646-396-5830 (video phone)