COVID-19 UPDATE: Community Resources
This week, California has provided a wide range of guidelines to assist communities during the COVID-19 Crisis. From expanding services to California’s aging communities to addressing the increase in unemployment rate, my staff and I are dedicated to continue offering additional guidance to the southern Central Valley. Included in this newsletter are some of the latest updates and resources.
How to Address Unemployment during to Covid-19 Crisis
Disability Insurance Claim: Provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60 – 70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 - $1,300 a week.
Note: The Governor’s Executive Order waives the one-week unpaid waiting period, so you can collect benefits for the first week you are out of work.
Unemployment Insurance Claim: Provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Workers who are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19 and expected to return to work with their employer within a few weeks are not required to actively seek work each week. However, they must remain ready to work during unemployment each week of benefits claimed and meet all other eligibility criterial.
Self-Employed: To be eligible, either you or an employer had to make contributions in the last 5 - 18 months. It is possible these contributions were made at a prior job, or if you were misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee.
Paid Family Leave Claim: If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19, Paid Family Leave provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child.
What Services Are Being Provided for Seniors
COVID-19 has been projected to hit seniors harder than any other population in California. As such, much will be asked of you to avoid infection for yourself and for those you love.
To stay informed, visit the websites below for regular updates:
California Department of Public Health
California Department of Aging
Administration for Community Living
Relief for Small Businesses
California has extensive resources to help businesses maintain their operations during the COVID-19 Crisis.
California Office of the Small Business Advocate: Provides resources and help businesses identify resources and obtain answers to key questions.
Business Resources: Small businesses looking for advice about business operations during the COVID-19 emergency can rely on the 70 business assistance centers operating throughout California. These business assistance centers offer free one-on-one business counseling.
California’s Small Business Finance Center: Small businesses can access a range of financial products, including loan guarantees and direct loans.
Small Business Loan Guarantee Program or Small Business Loss Reserve Program: California maintains two credit enhancement programs to help small business obtain loans from traditional and nontraditional lender.
GO-Biz: Stay connected for resources to the Ibank, Small Business Advocate, State Treasurer, Labor and Workforce Agency, Franchise Tax Board, and Department of Tax and Fee Management.
Stay Connected
Further resources can be found here: