Applying for SNAP Benefits if You’re Newly Unemployed
If you’ve lost work or earnings, you may be curious about programs that you can use during this difficult time. Your first move should be to apply for unemployment insurance. This is likely the most valuable benefit, especially while the additional $600/week is available through late July 2020. Unemployment insurance often replaces only a portion…
Read MoreWho qualifies for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Unemployment insurance can provide a temporary but vital replacement of earnings during the COVID-19 crisis. Unemployment insurance (UI) is a joint federal-state program. It’s administered by states and provides cash benefits to eligible unemployed workers. In response to COVID-19, qualifying for unemployment has become more flexible. Even if you didn’t qualify for UI in the…
Read More5 Things To Do With Your COVID-19 Stimulus Check
The COVID-19 stimulus checks are starting to arrive in bank accounts and mailboxes. If you’re getting one, you may be wondering what to do with this money. First, I will say that the government is issuing this money to families to help with basic living essentials. We don’t know how long our nation will be…
Read MoreShould I defer payments on my bills?
The pros and cons of deferring payments during the COVID-19 crisis As you look for help to make ends meet, you may be looking at the increasing amount of creditors offering the ability to delay payments. It’s great companies are taking quick action to help with the financial impact of COVID-19. But proceed with caution…
Read MoreCan I get a stimulus check without filing taxes?
The U.S. government has just started disbursing the stimulus checks it promised to millions of Americans. Questions still linger for many, including whether they need to submit new information in order to get that money. Will I get stimulus if I haven’t filed 2019 yet? The government will calculate the amount of money you receive…
Read MoreWhat to do if you’ve been laid off due to COVID-19
It’s no secret that Americans are worried about having enough money to pay the bills. Employees have been laid off or furloughed in record numbers. The Department of Labor is reporting 17 million layoffs as of April 9, 2020. If you are one of these people, I am so sorry to hear that. It’s hard…
Read MoreHow the CARES Act Impacts Your Student Loans
Times are uncertain right now. Budgets are tightening and people are losing work. On March 27, 2020 President Trump signed the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. Now people are trying to understand how the CARES Act will affect their lives. If you have student loans, you may wonder how the CARES Act…
Read More10 Tips for Grocery Shopping on a Budget during COVID-19
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in all of our lives, disrupting our normal way of living. Many of you may have been laid off, or have severely reduced work hours as a result, yet you still have to maintain your homes and feed your families. One of the basic necessities that will continue is food. I…
Read MoreWill I receive a stimulus check?
Note: This article is about the first stimulus payments as part of the CARES Act from March 2020. Learn more about the second and third rounds of stimulus payments. How does the stimulus check work? The coronavirus stimulus check is an advance on a 2020 tax credit. This means if you do not get a…
Read MoreHelp if You’re Struggling to Pay Bills During the COVID-19 Crisis
A few months ago, I didn’t even know how to pronounce coronavirus (COVID-19), and couldn’t have imagined how quickly our world would change. Now it’s part of our daily vocabulary and has impacted every area of our economy. If you are affected by the crisis, first, I am so sorry. Although it may feel like…
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