COVID-19 Financial Resources

Members of the Family Economic Resource Management Program Work Team have identified the following resources on how to handle your finances during the current national emergency along with information on how to protect yourself from scams. 

Statewide Family Economics and Resource Management (FERM) Program Work Team Webpage

COVID-19 Financial Wellness Resources

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To support families and help offset the cost of raising children during the coronavirus pandemic recovery effort, Congress expanded the Child Tax Credit through the American Rescue Plan Act to provide additional financial relief to millions of American families.

The Advance Child Tax Credit expansion provides more money to more children through automatic monthly payments distributed by the IRS beginning in July 2021.

While most Americans will automatically receive their Advance Child Tax Credit payments each month, you may need to provide information to the IRS in order to receive your money.

Learn whether you need to take additional steps to receive your credit, and more about this new benefit, including the top 5 things you may not know about the Advance Child Tax Credit

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If you or someone you know or work with is having difficulty paying their rent, financial assistance may be available. The Emergency Rental Assistance program helps renters and landlords by providing money for housing costs through organizations in your community.

Not sure where to start? Our answers to common questions about Emergency Rental Assistance can help you learn:

• How to apply for emergency rental assistance?
• What emergency rental assistance covers?
• If you are eligible for emergency rental assistance?
• How to show that you are eligible?

If you’re having a hard time paying your rent during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone.

Find out what steps to take to get the help you need.

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Additional Resources:

• Working through Financial Difficulty - FDIC Consumer News
• How to transfer money from your EIP debit card to your bank account How to use Economic Impact Payment debit cards
• Is a scammer getting umemployment benefits in your name?
• CARES ACT Mortgage Forbearance: What You Need to Know
  Plus information on student loans, credit and more, from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Information on how to apply electronically for an SBA Economic Disaster Loan to access working capital . https://esd.ny.gov/resource-guide-covid-19-sba-disaster-loans
• The University of Georgia has an excellent series of seven “ When Your Income Drops” fact sheets. Access them here 
  What to Do When your income Drops worksheet
• Blog post about the current COVID-19 crisis 
  Access it here
• Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips (from the FCC) Access it here
• IRS issues warning about Coronavirus-related scams; watch out for schemes tied to economic impact payments
• Online security tips for working from home
  by Lisa Weintraub Schifferle
  Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education
  Teleworking during the Coronavirus outbreak? While working from home can help slow the spread of the virus, it brings new challenges: juggling work while kids are home from school; learning new software and conferencing programs; and managing paper files at home. As you’re getting your work-at-home systems set up, here are some tips for protecting your devices and personal information.  Read more...
  
• Federal Student Loan Temporary Interest Waiver
  

  By Becky Eason FINANCIAL PLANNER
  (compliments of Rooted Planning Group)

• CARES ACT - Part 1  Recovery Rebate
  By Amy Irvine, CFP®, EA, MPAS®, CCFC
  FINANCIAL PLANNER
  (compliments of Rooted Planning Group)
• CARES ACT - Part 2 Small Business Provisions
  By Amy Irvine, CFP®, EA, MPAS®, CCFC
  FINANCIAL PLANNER
  (compliments of Rooted Planning Group)
• CARES ACT - Part 3 Unemployment Benefits
  By Kerrie Beene, CFP® and Amy Irvine,  CFP®, EA, MPAS®, CCFC
• CARES ACT - Part 4 Retirement and HSA Related Provisions
  By Kerrie Beene, CFP® and Amy Irvine,CFP®, EA, MPAS®, CCFC

Last updated June 23, 2021