Individual Relief

Spotify Podcasts:

(22 min) What can I expect to get from the federal government in the federal recovery rebate? This podcast breaks down Direct payments to individuals (recovery rebates: when you can expect it, who can expect it, and how you will get it), unemployment expansion (gig workers, freelancers, and self-employed individuals are eligible for pandemic unemployment assistance), student loan relief, small business owner and employee payroll help, Coronavirus related distributions – retirement extras like minimum distribution changes and early withdrawal without penalty details, $300 above the line deduction for qualified charitable deductions, increasing ability to deduct cash donations. 3/28/2020
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Gd9tFJHNwXyacE9B2YUnN?si=fDJFJJwzT9is2Shd4hlmqA
(7 min) Wall Street Journal – Your Money Briefing. 3/30/2020

Will My Health Insurance Cover Testing?

According to the Governor’s Office, individuals with fully-insured health group plans will not be charged any co-payments or deductibles for testing for COVID-19 at an in-network provider, urgent care, or ER. These individuals will also not be charged for immunization when it becomes available.

If you have questions about your coverage or what your particular health insurance covers, contact your health insurance provider about your plan. If you aren’t certain what clinics, urgent cares, and ERs are in your network, contact your health insurance provider. This is helpful information to have on-hand if the need arises.

Though the open enrollment period for coverage through the Affordable Care Act is over, you may qualify to enroll if you have lost other coverage (like employer-provided insurance) or have experienced another life event. Click here to see if you can still get 2020 coverage.

You can apply for coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time. Click here to see if you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.

You can apply for the Oregon Health Plan any time of year. Click here to apply for OHP.

Filing Taxes (Deadline Moved):

Tax deadlines for both federal and state taxes have been extended to July 15th. The newly passed stimulus package bases its rebate relief (cash given directly to Americans) will be based off your most recent tax filings.

Rebate Relief (based on most recent tax return; paid one time):

  • Single adults with Social Security numbers who are United States residents and have an adjusted gross income of that make up to $75,000/year  or $150,000/year for married couples. That averages to being up to $36/hour wage. (People that make below $99,000/year would get a lower amount, and people that make over that do not get this relief check)
    • $1,200 per single adult
    • $2,400 per married couple
    • $500 per qualifying child under 16
  • Some individuals who are claimed by others as dependents yet are 17 or older will receive no relief check. This may include college students, adults with some disabilities, and some others.
  • Senator Jeff Merkley has a page of amazing resources, including this FAQ on the rebate checks.

Food Access:

Many Oregonians are now feeling the strain of food insecurity. Job loss, larger expenditures on food and other services, and our extraordinary context puts an increased financial strain on many Oregonians. The recent CARES Act provided additional emergency funding to nutrition assistance programs which is explained well in Senator Jeff Merkley’s one pager on Coronavirus Resources for Nutrition Assistance his office put together. If you rely on assistance to buy food now or think you might rely on it in the future, here is what you need to know:

  • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits will continue on a regular schedule.
    • Click here to apply online or call or email the Oregon Department of Human Services. For more information on where and how to apply for food stamps, call the Oregon SafeNet at 1-800-723-3638.
  • EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) now offers online food ordering through Amazon and Walmart.
  • WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) benefits will continue without in-person appointments.
    • Some offices offer drive-by services; reach out to your local office to find out if drive-by services are offered.
  • Food Banks in Oregon are still open and available.
  • Meals on Wheels will be continuing delivery services uninterrupted using a no-contact method.
    • If you want more information on services or the no-contact delivery methods, call the Meals on Wheels COVID-19 hotline at (503) 953 8158.
    • For questions on other meal-delivery and food assistance for seniors, contact your local ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Connection). Please do not send sensitive or confidential information over email.
  • School districts must carry on nutritional services during school closures. Other programs, non-profits, and groups of volunteers are offering food assistance to food-insecure families.
    • Call your school district about their meal plan. Plans will vary from district to district.
    • Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon compiled a district-by-district list of where families can find school meals for children during school closures. Click here to find school meals in your child’s school district. Their Summer Meals program is also operating now to provide free meals to children during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Click here for a map of where you can find a Summer Meals site.
      • Free meals are available to all children ages 1-18. Sites are offering a “grab and go” pick up method.
      • Your child does not have to attend the specific school district where you are picking up meals and your children do not have to be with you to get their free meals. Districts will need to verify parent or guardian status at pick up.

Information for Families with Children:

Schools will be closed at least through April 28th. Many schools are transitioning to online learning. Call your school district to learn more about their plans for supporting homeschooling or virtual learning tools during closures. For more information, please click here to check out Education Support resources.

School districts have been instructed to continue providing nutritional services to children during closures; please refer to “Food Access” to learn more about food assistance and free meal programs for children.

  • Emergency child care is available for certain families.
    • Essential workers have been prioritized to receive emergency child care. Essential workers have been identified as first responders, healthcare professionals, emergency workers, and others.
    • Certain school districts, licensed child care providers, and other emergency child care sponsored by employers or other entities have begun reserving spots for the children of essential workers. Oregon has also begun to approve the creation of emergency child care facilities with experienced child care providers.
      • All facilities and staff will be thoroughly vetted and previously trained before the creation of emergency child care facilities.
    • To receive a customized referral for emergency childcare:
      • Call 211 and wait for the “Child Care” prompt. Press the specified number.
      • Text “children” or “niños” to 898211.

Renters:

Most – but not all – evictions have been temporarily prevented or stopped from moving forward for 90 days. It is always against the law for landlords to physically remove tenants or otherwise coerce tenants to leave by shutting off utilities or changing locks to the home. If your eviction was based on nonpayment or termination without cause, the Sheriff now cannot use force to remove you, either. To read what was done at the federal level in detail read the housing white paper from Senator Jeff Merkley.

  • Evictions are not allowed if:
    • There is already an eviction judgement based on nonpayment of rent or termination without cause.
    • Some rules differ by county.
  • Evictions are still for other reasons (such as violation of a rental agreement).
    • Some rules differ by county.

If you have not gone to court yet for your eviction case: all court appearances have been postponed. You do not need to appear in court on or after March 19th, 2020. The court should send more information about rescheduling and your appearance should be rescheduled automatically.

If you have already gone to court and you have a trial scheduled for your eviction: your trial will be postponed. If you have a trial scheduled on or after March 19th, do not go.

If you have already gone to court and there a judgement has been issued that says you must move out: Sheriffs CANNOT enforce eviction judgments in cases where the eviction was due to nonpayment or termination without cause.

If your landlord got and eviction judgement against you either after a trial or because you did not comply with a stipulated agreement:

  • If your eviction case was about nonpayment of rent – which typically is given in the form of a 72-hour notice – the sheriff cannot evict you until the COVID-19 emergency is over. After the COVID-19 emergency is over, the sheriff will once again be able to evict you unless you come to a written agreement with your landlord or unless the landlord accepts your rent.
  • If your eviction case was about termination without cause, the sheriff cannot evict you until the COVID-19 emergency is over. After the COVID-19 emergency is over, the sheriff will once again be able to evict you unless you come to a written agreement with your landlord or unless the landlord accepts your rent.
  • If your eviction case was about something else – for instance, termination for cause – then the sheriff may still be able to evict you. Some counties are suspending all evictions until the COVID-19 emergency is over.
    • Contact your local sheriff’s department to find out whether and how your county is enforcing eviction judgments.

Utilities & Services:

Northwest Natural Gas has suspended service disconnects and/or will temporarily extend services without late fees.

  • Some internet and broadband companies have offered temporary deals on services during the public health crisis.
    • Internet First is a program offered during the COVID-19 emergency to certain qualifying individuals. It offers up to 25 Mbps Internet to low-income households who are in the service area of RCN, Grande, and Wave. Click here to learn more.
      • Households who qualify utilize some public assistance programs like SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and/or SSI, and must not have subscribed do their services 60 days before applying for Internet First.
      • You do not have to be a documented person for this service as long as you can provide alternate forms of ID.
      • Click here to apply.
    • Internet Essentials from Comcast is offering new customers up to two months of free internet service in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Click here to apply for free service from Internet Essentials. Internet Essentials offers low-income families internet connection for lower prices.
      • Comcast has also waived late fees and has committed to not the services of any residential or small business customer for the next 60 days.
    • Households with a K-12 or college student can get free Spectrum broadband and WIFI for 60 days if they do not already have Spectrum broadband. Call 1-844-488-8395 to ask about getting free broadband and WIFI.
    • CenturyLink has suspended limits on data usage, will waive late fees, and will not terminate the services of any residential or small business customer for the next 60 days.
    • Many companies including CenturyLink and Frontier have agreed to:
      • Not terminate services to any residential or small business customers for the next 60 days due to inability to pay bills.
      • Waive any late fees due to economic circumstances incurred by the Coronavirus emergency.
      • Open their WIFI hotspots to any American who needs them.

Job Insecurity/Loss:

Please check the Employee/Employer Relief section for more information on what to do if you lost your job due to COVID-19.

Domestic Violence Concerns:

Even during COVID-19, if you are in an emergency, call 911. Quarantine and isolation procedures could make victims of domestic violence and abuse more vulnerable to violent partners. Some services available to persons vulnerable to domestic violence and abuse may be disrupted by COVID-19.

Mental Health Services:

Even during COVID-19, if you are in an emergency, call 911. Quarantine and social distancing are difficult for most people. For those with mental health issues, accessing necessary services and medications can be negatively impacted by temporary social isolation protocols. Some providers are offering telehealth mental health services. Call your healthcare provider to ask if this is an option for you.

You are not alone. Crisis lines, crisis centers, emergency rooms, and 911 respondents are still available to help you in a mental health crisis.

  • Call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255
  • Text HOME to 741741
  • Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room

Transportation:

Many transportation-related services have or will change drastically to be more mindful of public health concerns. Here’s what commuters need to know:

  • Oregon drivers’ reality looks different now.
    • Oregon drivers can pump their own gas until April 11th.
    • DMV offices are closed except for appointment-only commercial driver licensing.
      • The deadline to apply for the new Real ID has been extended; however, a new deadline has not been announced yet.
      • The DMV has asked law enforcement to show “discretion” and “flexibility” when enforcing identification and other credentials like trip permits, vehicle registration, driver licenses, disabled parking permits, and more. Click here to read the official press release from ODOT.
  • Oregon public transit users can expect new rules.
    • Different public transit authorities and localities have taken different steps. However, the CDC offers recommendations that public transit vehicles like buses, MAX rails, and streetcars should follow:
      • Increased sanitation and disinfecting of interior surfaces
      • Posting health directives from the CDC inside public transportation
      • Implementing six feet of separation between passengers
        • Lowering the amount of people allowed on public transportation
      • Install hand sanitizer stations for employees and passengers
      • Minimize shared trips for medical appointments

Stayton-Specific Resources:

Please refer to this letter from myself, Mayor Porter, and my fellow Stayton City Councilors for city-specific resources:

Articles of Interest:

OPB: Stimulus checks may take up to 20 weeks to reach Americans that don’t have direct deposit (4/2/2020, NPR)