Income Replacement Help
Please note that all unemployment bendfits are considered taxable income. In addition if your employer is complying with the Executive Order that allows them to stop taking certain payroll taxes out of your paycheck, you may be obligated to pay those taxes in 2021. Put a portion of either your unemployment benefits or the additional money in your paycheck away for these taxes now to avoid trying to find the money when you file your tax return in 2021.
The Maryland Comptroller's Office has information on the MD Relief Act which was passed in February 2021 to provide direct stimulus payments to qualifying Marylanders, unemployment insurance grants to qualifying Marylanders, and grants and loans to qualifying small businesses.
The IRS has information on the Stimulus Checks being sent to eligible individuals.
Governor Hogan issued an Executive Order prohibiting debt collectors and creditors from garnishing this financial assistance, except as related to child support.
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued rules to implement new paid sick and family leave requirements for many employers and employees due to COVID 19.
U.S. Department of Labor has information on how to file for unemployment.
USGOV has information onhow to apply for unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, welfare or temporary assistance, and other programs and services that can help if you lose your job. Click here for this information.
To apply for Maryland unemployment benefits and learn about unemployment benefit questions due to COVID 19, click here. On Sept 9th, Maryland Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson announced the Lost Wage Assistance (LWA) program, offering claimants an extra $300 per week in retroactive federal benefits to the weeks ending Aug.1 through Sept. 5. Claimants will receive in total 6 weeks of benefits. To qualify for the $300 in federal benefits, the program requires that claimants be eligible for a weekly benefit amount of at least $100. Claimants will not need to file a separate application and will be notified of their eligibility for the LWA program in their BEACON portal and by email. Upon logging into the BEACON portal, eligible claimants will be prompted to self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. For more information visit the Department of Division of Unemployment Insurance website.
If you have a license under the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, all expirations are hereby extended to the 30th day after the date by which the state of emergency is terminated and the catastrophic health emergency is rescinded. For more information, click here.
The Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, has posted FAQ's regarding the local American Job Centers and their employment assistance programs.
Empower Work offers free and confidential support for critical work moments through connection with trained peer counselors via SMS or live web chat from 11:30am to 11:00pm EST.
For Restaurant Workers https://ofwemergencyfund.org/help. In addition, the National Restaurant Association has created the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (“Fund”) to help restaurant industry employees experiencing extraordinary hardship in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Through this Fund, grants will be made to restaurant industry employees who have been impacted by COVID-19, including a decrease in wages or loss of employment.
College Students may be eligible for Federal Relief Funds. Contact your school to see what the process is to apply.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2020/04/16/how-college-students-can-get-stimulus-cash/#6b8338d37485
VOX article on employers who are hiring as a result of the COVID 19 crisis, according to data from LinkedIn.