City of Taunton Unemployment Information & Financial services COVID 19/Coronavirus

City of Taunton
                        Unemployment Information & Financial services
                                  COVID 19/Coronavirus

Unemployment claims:

 • All requirements regarding attending seminars at the MassHire career centers have been suspended.
 • Missing deadlines due to effects of COVID-19 will be considered good cause, and lateness will be
   excused.
 • All appeal hearings will be held by telephone only. Call Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
   Telecert @ 617-626-6338 or 1-877-626-6800 or go onto website @ www.mass.gov/dua and log into
   your UI Online Account.

In order to better meet the needs of customers whose employment has been affected by the coronavirus,
DUA will be hosting daily town hall meetings where we will take our constituents through a step by step
process of achieving a successful unemployment claim and taking questions from claimants across the
Commonwealth. Please find information here: https://www.mass.gov/forms/massachusetts-department-of-
unemployment-assistance-dua-virtual-town-
halls?fbclid=IwAR11ukvcsv9vHuQObE11fdJA1lZr3iliYg_xFZtp7vtZAYTeYPZwsd-GaRA

Please visit the following links for additional unemployment information:
       https://www.mass.gov/alerts/important-unemployment-information#undefined
       https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-guidance-and-directives#businesses-&-employment-
       https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/covid-19-and-unemployment-insurance-ui

Additional Unemployment Information:
Under the Department of Labor guidance, DUA may now pay unemployment benefits if a worker is
quarantined due to an order by a civil authority or medical professional or leaves employment due to
reasonable risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member and does not intend to or is not
allowed to return to work. The worker need not provide medical documentation and need only be available
for work when and as able.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): For Individuals Not Covered Under Traditional
Unemployment Insurance (Self-Employed, Gig Economy Workers, Others):

Overview: A benefit will be available for individuals not covered under traditional unemployment
insurance like the self-employed or gig workers or those who do not qualify for lack of wages. DUA is now

working with a vendor to build a new platform to disburse those benefits. This platform is expected to begin
processing claims on or about April 30, 2020.

PUA will provide up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are not working as a result
of COVID-19 and are self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and others who
otherwise would not qualify for regular UC or EB under state or federal law or PEUC. These individuals
will not be able to claim benefits directly through the UI Online System in Massachusetts, as of this time.
The Department of Unemployment Assistance has engaged a vendor to build a new platform to disburse
PUA benefits. The platform is expected to begin accepting PUA claims by April 30, 2020. Eligible
claimants under PUA will be retroactively compensated with this benefit beginning February 2, 2020, or the
first week a claimant was unable to work as a result of COVID-19, whichever date is later. The last week
this benefit is payable is the week ending December 26, 2020.

     Next Steps For Claimants: Eligible claimants should continue to check for updates
      at www.mass.gov/unemployment/covid-19 on the new platform, which will be ready this month.
      Once the system is up and running, eligible claimants will receive this benefit backdated to February
      2, 2020, or the first week a claimant was unable to work as a result of COVID-19.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): For Individuals Who Exhausted Previous
UI Benefits:

Overview: A 13-week extension of benefits for individuals who exhausted their previous benefits – is not
yet available as DUA continues to await federal implementation guidance.

The PEUC program provides up to 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who have
exhausted their previous unemployment benefits. The first week a claimant can be compensated on this
benefit is the week beginning March 29, 2020, and the last payable week is the week ending December 26,
2020. The Department of Unemployment Assistance is awaiting additional federal guidance on how to
implement and administer this program and the extended weeks of PEUC benefits are not yet available.

      Next Steps For Claimants: No action at this time. Eligible claimants should continue to check for
       updates, which will be made available as soon as the state receives information from the federal
       government.
DUA is committed to moving as quickly as possible to get workers the benefits they deserve during these
unprecedented times and will continue to communicate with the public about the status of these benefit
programs.

Questions and Answers: $600 weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Q. What is the $600 payment called?
A. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Q. Where is my $600 payment?
A. Individuals determined eligible for FPUC may receive a $600 payment for weeks ending April 4, 2020 to July
25, 2020. Payments have started issuing and will be retroactive, where applicable.

Q. Am I going to get just a one-time payment of $600?

A. No, the $600 will be added to eligible weeks of benefits on a weekly basis, retroactive to beginning date
March 29, 2020 and continuing until week ending July 25, 2020.

Q. I certified for the week and reported my part-time earnings, but I made too much money to receive any
benefits. Will I still get the $600?
A. No, you will not. In order to be eligible for the $600, you must be entitled to at least $1 of regular UI benefits.

Q. Staff cannot see the off-line payment. Where do we refer claimants so they can see if a payment was made?
A. For the first several weeks, you will have to check your own bank records for the deposit. The payment is
being made to you by your selected method, but for now, you cannot view it in UI Online. In a few weeks, you
should be able to see the extra $600 payment in UI Online. DUA may issue a separate FPUC ($600) payment for
each eligible week or combine the FPUC ($600) payment with other benefit payments.

Q. What date does the payment start?
A. The first week a claimant may be eligible for FPUC is the week ending April 4, 2020. Payments have started
being issued and will be retroactive, where applicable.

Q. Is it taxable? Can I have taxes taken out?
A. Yes, payments are subject to Massachusetts and federal taxes. Although we do not currently have the ability
to withhold taxes from payments, we expect to do so in the near future. Once payments are made through UI
Online, payments will be subject to claimants’ specified tax withholding preferences.

Q. What day of the week will it be deposited?
A. We are still determining.

Q. How come someone else got it and I did not?
A. DUA has just begun issuing the $600 payments of FPUC, so not all claimants receiving regular
Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits and Work Share have received their first $600 payment. Ultimately,
claimants who are collecting regular Unemployment Compensation (UC), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment
Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Extended Benefits (EB), Trade
Readjustment Act (TRA), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DA), and Short-time Compensation (STC), also
known as Work Share, will receive an additional $600 per week in FPUC. FPUC payments will begin
immediately in Massachusetts for those who are currently collecting benefits on regular UC claims and Work
Share. Those receiving benefits from the other specified programs will receive the additional $600 payments
retroactive to March 29, 2020 as soon as their claims are processed and determined eligible.

Q. Will people on extensions get it?
A. Recipients of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) (for claimants with a benefit year
that expired on or after July 1, 2019 and claimants who have exhausted regular benefits in an existing benefit
year) and Extended Benefits (EB) will receive an additional $600 per week in FPUC.

Q. Will self-employed people (1099) get it?
A. Self-employed individuals qualifying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) will receive an
additional $600 per week in FPUC.

Q. Is this for 13 weeks? Will I get all 13 payments?
A. The $600 will be added to all eligible weeks of benefits in the programs specified above retroactive to the
week beginning March 29, 2020 and through the week ending July 25, 2020. FPUC payments will begin
immediately in Massachusetts for those who are currently collecting regular UC benefits and Work Share. Those
qualifying for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance (PUA), Extended Benefits (EB), Trade Readjustment Act (TRA), and Disaster Unemployment

Assistance (DA) will receive the additional $600 payments retroactive to the week beginning March 29, 2020 as
soon as their claims are processed and determined eligible.

Q. I thought the $600 weekly payments lasted through July 31, 2020. Why does DUA say it is through the week
ending July 25, 2020?
A. The last week claimants can receive the $600 weekly payment is the benefit week ending on or before July
31, 2020. In Massachusetts, the benefit week ends on Saturday. The last Saturday before July 31, 2020 is
Saturday, July 25, 2020.

Financial Assistance through the CARES Act

On March 27, 2020, President Trump has signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES), a bipartisan $2 trillion economic relief plan, to offer assistance to tens of millions of American
households affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Its components include stimulus payments to individuals,
expanded unemployment coverage, student loan changes, different retirement account rules and more. Here
are the answers to common questions about what’s in the plan.
     Unemployment Insurance: ($260 billion)
           o Full Paycheck Replacement: $600 increase for every American, which equates to 100
               percent of wages for the average American.
             o Waiving Waiting Weeks: Gets money in people’s pockets sooner by providing federal
             incentives for states to eliminate waiting weeks.
             o Extension of Benefits: An additional 13 weeks of federally-funded unemployment insurance
             benefits are immediately be made available.
             o Expanding Access: Allow part-time, self-employed, and gig economy workers to access UI
             benefits.

      Direct payments: Americans who pay taxes will receive a one-time direct deposit of up to $1,200,
       and married couples will receive $2,400, plus an additional $500 per child. The payments will be
       available for incomes up to $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples.

      Payroll taxes: The measure allows employers to delay the payment of their portion of 2020 payroll
       taxes until 2021 and 2022.

      Use of retirement funds: The bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty for distributions up to
       $100,000 for coronavirus-related purposes, retroactive to Jan. 1. Withdrawals are still taxed, but
       taxes are spread over three years, or the taxpayer has the three-year period to roll it back over.

      401(k) Loans: The loan limit is increased from $50,000 to $100,000

      RMDs suspended: Required Minimum Distributions from IRAs and 401(k) plans (at age 72) are
       suspended.

      Charity. There is a new provision that provides an above-the-line deduction for charitable
       contributions, plus, the limits on charitable contributions are changed.

      Small business relief: $350 billion is being dedicated to preventing layoffs and business closures
       while workers have to stay home during the outbreak. Companies with 500 employees or fewer that
       maintain their payroll during coronavirus can receive up to 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance. If
       employers maintain payroll, the portion of the loans used for covered payroll costs, interest on
       mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven.

   Net Operating Losses: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) net operating loss rules are modified.
       The 80% rule is lifted, and losses can now be carried back five years.

      Excess Loss Limitations: The excess loss limitation (ELL) rules for pass-through entities are
       suspended.

      Interest Expense Limitation: The interest expense limitations are increased to 50% from 30% for
       tax years beginning in 2019 or 2020. Taxpayers can also elect to calculate the interest limitation for
       2020 using their 2019 adjusted taxable income as the relevant base, which often will be significantly
       higher.

      Large corporations: $500 billion will be allotted to provide loans, loan guarantees, and other
       investments, these will be overseen by a Treasury Department inspector general. These loans will
       not exceed five years and cannot be forgiven. Airlines will receive $50 billion (of the $500 billion)
       for passenger air carriers, and $8 billion for cargo air carriers.

      Hospitals and health care: The deal provides over $140 billion in appropriations to support the
       U.S. health system, $100 billion of which will be injected directly into hospitals. The rest will be
       dedicated to providing personal and protective equipment for health care workers, testing supplies,
       increased workforce and training, accelerated Medicare payments, and supporting the CDC, among
       other health investments.

      Coronavirus testing: All testing and potential vaccines for COVID-19 will be covered at no cost to
       patients.

      States and local governments: State, local and tribal governments will receive $150 billion. $30
       billion is set aside for states, and educational institutions. $45 billion is for disaster relief, and $25
       billion for transit programs.

      Agriculture: The deal would increase the amount the Agriculture Department can spend on its
       bailout program from $30 billion to $50 billion.

For more information, you can see the full Bill here:
https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rSVHQuPeCB_g/v0

 RENTAL AND MORTAGE ASSISTANCE
 Catholic Social Service (CSS) - 508-674-4681- The Call” Homeless Families &
 Individuals 1-800-HOMELESS (1-800-466-3537) and other services for rental and
 mortgage assistance (RAFT).

 Department of Transitional Assistance Homeless Families- 1-866-584-0653
 Neighborworks Housing Solutions (previously Housing Solutions of Southeastern
 MA) – 781-422-4200 Residential Assistance to Families in Transition (RAFT) rental and
 mortgage assistance, HomeBASE for families and other services.
 http://housingsolutionssema.org/assistance
 Tenancy Preservation Program – 781-267-3594
 Veterans Inc. – 1-800-482-2565 - Homeless Veterans and their Families

FORECLOSURE COUNSELING
ProHome- 508-821-2514
Neighborworks Housing Solutions (formerly Housing Solutions of Southeastern
MA) – 781-422-4200