​​​Debt Collection

• The New York State Attorney General's office is taking applications for the suspension of debt collection activity. Apply here. The Attorney General has already temporarily halted medical and student debt collection, no application necessary.

• Student Loans Relief Extended through at least Sept. 30, 2021

  • Suspend loan payments

  • Stop collections on defaulted loans

  • Set interest rates to 0%

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Employment

• Unemployment

  • Starting January, 2021 Unemployed New Yorkers Will Receive an Additional $300 Weekly Supplement and Extended Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

  • Unemployment information

    • Unemployment is taxable income

    • Contact NYS unemployment office to have taxes withheld from ongoing unemployment payments

    • If taxes aren't withheld from unemployment payments, there are ways to pay on those taxes before the year ends      

    • Use the withholding calculator to determine what is owed

  • Unemployment Insurance

    • Call (888) 209-8124

    • Certify for Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits

    • Do You Need Assistance with Claiming Unemployment Insurance Benefits? - NYSBA

    • How to File Your Unemployment Insurance Claim Online

    • New York State DOL Unemployment Insurance Benefits FAQ

• Special Funds​

• Excluded Workers Fund

• Restaurant/Hospitality Workers-One Fair Wage Emergency Fund

• Sick Leave

  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

    • If you are out with COVID-19, caring for ill family members, or caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19 you qualify for FFCRA leave.

    • New Paid Leave for COVID-19

    • Who Qualifies for Paid Leave Under the New Coronavirus Law

  • Paid Family Leave (PFL) Program provides workers with job-protected, paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a loved one with a serious health condition or to help relieve family pressures when someone is deployed abroad on active military service. 

  • New York State Short Term Disability Coverage

  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reason

• Job Seekers

  • Resource Navigators

  • NYC Health + Hospitals is hiring Resource Navigators at community-based organizations for remote and field positions helping New Yorkers find the resources they need

  • New employment opportunities - Small Business Administration (SBA) and Workforce1.

  • Guidance for Jobseekers Impacted Due to COVID-19 - SBS

  • Access Training - SBS

  • Job Board – Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation

  • Find a Job - SBS

• Workers’ Rights

  • Worker Benefits guide from Legal Aid NYC: COVID-19 - NEW YORK SCENARIOS & BENEFITS

  • Immigrant Eligibility for Public Programs During COVID-19

  • Catholic Migration provides critical legal services to low wage and immigrant workers. Provides advice and legal representation on general employment matters and advice to workers with workplace health and safety concerns and those who have recently lost their jobs. (877) 52-LABOR (52267) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ¡Hablamos Español! 

  • Make the Road New York (Bushwick office) (718) 418-7690

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Small Business Assistance

• If you have questions about any of these programs or need assistance, please contact Hugo Espinal at hugoe@cypresshills.org or (929) 333-5825

• NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Program

• Businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen sales decreases of 25% or more will be eligible for zero interest loans of up to $75,000 to help mitigate losses in profit.  Eligibility Criteria for the NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Fund Businesses must:

  • ​Be located within the five boroughs of New York City

  • Demonstrate that the COVID-19 outbreak caused at least a 25% decrease in revenue

  • Employ 99 employees or fewer in total across all locations

  • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan

  • Have no outstanding tax liens or legal judgements

  • As part of the applications, you will be required to demonstrate a revenue decrease by providing documentation such as: point-of-sales reports, bank statements, quarterly sales tax filings, 2019 tax returns, or CPA-certified profit & loss statements.

• U.S. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for Small Businesses in New York

• SBA’s Customer Service Center: (800) 659-2955, disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

• Applying through SBA is the first step in the process for getting grants and the large loans with loan forgiveness in the new Act.  If your business is in need further assistance in the process, local Small Business Development Centers are here to help:

• Brooklyn - SBDC at City Tech: 718.797.0187  sbdc@citytech.cuny.edu

• Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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