UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
Tuesday May 5, 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

During the Artists Roundtable 4/29 meeting, we talked about COA grants, how to make money virtually, and unemployment for artists. You can still  tune in here >  Password: 3o@I$o2o
IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATES
UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED, 1099, GIG
As of yesterday, the procedure for those not normally eligible for CT unemployment (self-employed, independent contractors, gig performers, inadequate work history) to apply for the PUA is as follows:
1. You must go to the unemployment site and file regular unemployment (blue button) at  www.filectui.com
2. After submitting your application you will get an email from CTDOL confirming you submitted and that your claim is being processed and will give you next steps including when to start filing your weekly claims.
3. You will get a second email from CTDOL stating your claim has been processed and you will receive information about it in the mail.
4. You must wait to get your determination letter (Form UC-58) in the mail. You may be eligible for state unemployment benefits and if you are they will give you an amount. If your weekly benefit rate is “0” then you are not eligible for normal unemployment but can apply in the new “ReEmployCT” system (which is not currently available-hopefully next week).
5. You will then be allowed to apply for PUA on the new portal located at  www.filectui.com .
6. You will need your 2019 IRS form, 1099’s, W2’s and schedule C. You will be asked to provide your 2019 earnings broken down by quarters. If you have not filed your 2019 taxes you can self-attest but you will be subject to audit.
7. You will be asked when the COVID impacted your employment. This can go back to Feb 2, 2020. If you are saying your business/employment was impacted before this week then you will need to provide your weekly earnings during that time.
8. You will then select your method of payment (direct deposit or debit card-if you did not already do this when you applied for the normal unemployment) by going back to  www.filectui.com  and selecting the green button.
9. If you filed a claim already DO NOT FILE AGAIN. The DOL has your application.
10. For questions, you can go here:   QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID UNEMPLOYMENT
11. The PUA is a weekly payment like regular unemployment that is based on your earnings.
12. In addition to the PUA, you will automatically be eligible for the FPUC of $600 per week that will go back to March 31. 
13. Once all of this is done, you will receive your first PUA and FPUC payments within a couple of weeks. You will receive your retroactive FPUC about 2 weeks later in a lump sum.
14. This income is taxable. Please remember that when filing your 2020 taxes.
15.  This income is INCOME. It will affect eligibility for any income based assistance programs you may be receiving.
 
IF YOU STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR $1200 PAYMENT...
The IRS has two tools to help millions of taxpayers with their  Economic Impact Payment . The payments are $1,200 per eligible person and up to $500 for each qualifying child.
The first tool,  Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here  is available – in English and Spanish - for certain taxpayers who don’t normally need to file a return. This free tool allows them to enter basic information so the IRS can issue their payment. The second tool,  Get My Payment , allows people to check the status of their payment and provide bank account information if a payment has not been scheduled for delivery.
Who needs to use “Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here” ?
  • Taxpayers with low- or no-income: Those who don’t normally file a tax return include those with little or no income. This includes single filers who made under $12,200 and married couples who made less than 24,400 in 2019.
  • Taxpayers who receive federal benefits: Eligible SSI and veterans’ beneficiaries who usually don’t file a tax return don’t need to provide information to get a $1,200 payment automatically. However, VA and SSI benefit recipients who don’t normally file a tax return and have children should use the free tool by May 5. This will add the $500 per qualifying child under 17 to the automatic payments. If they miss the May 5 deadline, they will have to file a tax return next year for 2020 to receive the $500 per child.
  • Married individuals must provide additional information for their spouse to claim the full $2,400 payment if their spouse didn’t receive SSA, SSDI, RRB, SSI or VA benefits in 2019 and didn’t have to file a tax return in the last two years. They need to provide this information using the Non-Filer tool before the payment is scheduled otherwise, their payment at this time will be $1,200.
Who should NOT use the “Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool” ?
  • Taxpayers who have already filed or who are required to file a 2019 tax return should not use this tool. Using this tool will NOT speed up their Economic Impact Payment and will likely slow down processing of their tax return and receiving any refund.
  • People who already received their payment, even if they did not receive the full amount, should not use this tool.
  • Those who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2019 tax return are not eligible for the Payment and should not use the tool.
How to use “ Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here .”
The process is simple, and it only takes a few minutes to complete and submit the request for their Economic Impact Payment. Go here:   Non-filers Enter Payment Info . This is NOT taxable. It will not affect your taxes in any way. It will not affect eligibility for any other assistance benefits.

FREE VIRTUAL CORPORATE TRAINING AT QVCC
Learn from home while working from home!  As a service to their business partners during these challenging times, QVCC is proud to offer FREE access to the following virtual training programs:
 
Transitioning to Telework & Telecommuting
Virtual Team Building
High Performance Teams (Remote Workforce)
Stress Management
Organizational Skills
Time Management
Self-Leadership
Personal Productivity
Goal Setting & Getting Things Done
Emotional Intelligence
 
These virtual workshops consist of video lectures, animated case studies, and quizzes. They are self-paced and can be completed in multiple sessions at your convenience. Registration is required. To sign up for a virtual workshop, please follow the link below and submit a registration request form here: 
 
For more information, please contact  Andy Morrison, Business & Industry Services Director, (860) 932 4360,  amorrison@qvcc.edu

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS:
1010 Main St. Willimantic Ct 06226
860-423-6389 info@windhamchamber.com