UNEMPLOYMENT FOR SELF-EMPLOYED, 1099 & GIG PERFORMERS OPENS APRIL 30
Those people who are self-employed, 1099 independent contractors, gig performers, those who have exhausted benefits, those with insufficient work history will now be able to file for the Federally funded “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” or PUA on the CT Unemployment site here starting on Thursday, April 30:
www.filectui.com
PPP LOAN/GRANT CLARIFICATION
Again, a clarification for those of you who received this loan. If you want it forgiven, you must:
1. Put the same number of full time equivalents on your payroll that you had on February 15.
2. Spend at least 75% of the loan on payroll related expenses.
You can use any portion of the remaining 25% of the loan on ONLY THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES: additional payroll related expenses, mortgage interest or rent, utilities. No other operating expenses are allowed. If you have any questions please contact Greg Lewis at
[email protected]
.
FREE FACE MASKS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
State officials in partnership with two of Connecticut's largest business groups launched a program to supply essential small businesses with free face masks in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Ned Lamont on Saturday said the initiative between the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) and its affiliate CONNSTEP will distribute up to two free face coverings per employee for essential businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
The state defines eligible essential small businesses here
. The offer follows the governor’s recent executive order
requiring face coverings to be worn in essential businesses
, or whenever social distancing is not possible. Raytheon Technologies Corp. donated $3 million to the state to buy and transport PPE for medical personnel and first responders. THANK YOU!!! Requested masks will be distributed sometime this week through the town or city in which the business is located. The local municipality will then contact businesses with information about where and when to receive the requested masks. Distribution will continue while supplies last.
NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS FUND
The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut welcome applications for the
Neighbors for Neighbors Fund
. Grants from this Fund are available to organizations serving the basic needs of residents of the Foundation’s 42-town region. The Fund is designed to be flexible and nimble in supporting the work of nonprofits and others in meeting the basic needs of residents of Eastern Connecticut. It is intended to complement federal, state, and municipal government relief efforts to identify and fill gaps, and to expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as effectively and efficiently as possible.
The Fund’s resources initially will be directed to organizations providing direct assistance to high need, vulnerable populations -- including low-income individuals, residents without health insurance and/or access to sick days, communities of color, and individuals with disabilities, among others -- to address immediate
basic needs
such as healthcare, food, shelter, childcare and other supports to ensure stability and well-being.
WHO CAN APPLY:
· Eligible entities (listed below) that serve the needs of residents impacted by COVID-19 in these communities in Eastern Connecticut:
Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham and Woodstock
· 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
· Community organizations using a fiscal agent
· Faith-based institutions serving the broader community
· Schools, municipal agencies and other public institutions
Application deadline is 5 pm on Friday May 8
DEADLINE FOR VA, SSI WITH CHILDRENWHO DON’T FILE TAXES IS MAY 5
The Internal Revenue Service today issued a special alert for Supplemental Security Income and Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries to act by May 5 if they didn’t file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have dependents so they can quickly receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payment.
Their $1,200 payments will be issued soon and, in order to add the $500 per eligible child amount to these payments, the IRS needs the dependent information before the payments are issued. Otherwise, their payment at this time will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount will be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.
Following extensive work by the IRS and partner government agencies, $1,200 automatic payments will be starting soon for those receiving Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) beneficiaries who didn’t file a tax return in the last two years. No action is needed by these groups; they will automatically receive their $1,200 payment. For VA and SSI recipients who have a qualifying child and didn’t file a 2018 or 2019 tax return, they have a limited window to register to have $500 per eligible child added automatically to their soon-to-be-received $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. A quick trip to a
special Non-Filers tool
on IRS.gov by May 5 for these groups may help put all of their eligible Economic Income Payment into a single payment. The Non-Filers tool is available in English and Spanish.
