Protecting your finances during the coronavirus pandemic: Info from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on mortgage/housing assistance, student loans, avoiding scams, etc.

 

CDC Temporary Halt on Evictions: EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2021

Our Legal Aid CARES Hotline expanded to include questions about unemployment benefits. Please call if you have questions regarding unemployment benefits or if you have been denied unemployment and you need to appeal your case.

Call our Legal Aid CARES Hotline
1-800-990-2907 | M-F 9 am-4 pm

 

Education during COVID:

Do you have questions about your child’s rights at school? The Missouri EdRights App from answers! The App can be used on a web browser or downloaded to a phone or tablet home screen for easy reference. Learn more and install the EdRights App today.

Turn the Page KC has some great resources LEARNING TOGETHER EVERY DAY: DOWNLOADABLE FLYERS AND TIPS

 

Essential Services:

Missourians in need can find essential services, such as nearly 240 food pantries, food banks, school meal programs for students, diaper banks, and more through the online Missouri Services Navigator system. The Services Navigator offers instant access to programs and services available in Missouri.  There are currently over 2,000 services listed, with new services added daily. Searches can be keywords, location, and/or services. Every program and service contains a map of the location as well as contact information.

 

CARES Act Stimulus Checks:

Do you have questions about your stimulus check from the CARES Act? We’ve got answers!

Call our Legal Aid CARES Hotline
1-800-990-2907 | M-F 9 am-4 pm

 

Health Insurance:

Health Insurance FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

 

Mental Health Help:

Kansas City: A list of resources all Kansas Citians can access for help with psychological distress

 

Employee Rights:

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 

Tax-Related COVID-19 Updates:

1. 1. Free filing is available online at www.irs.gov. More general info at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
   2. For any questions and concerns, contact the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at Legal Aid @ 816-474-6750.

 

MO Dept. of Social Services COVID-19 Updates (SNAP, MOHealthNet, etc)

Family Support Division Updates re: COVID-19  (Updated 9/1/2020)

SPANISH: Family Support Division Updates re: COVID-19  (Updated 9/22/20)

The Department of Social Services will continue to make sure you get the services you need while protecting your health and the health of our team members.  Please check this website frequently for the most recent information.

FOOD STAMPS:  Starting in July, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will again require Missourians to complete a periodic recertification form to verify that they still qualify for Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits. The Family Support Division will mail a recertification form that will need to be completed and returned. To make sure there is no delay in benefits, it’s important that the form is completed and sent back before the deadline on the letter. Recertification forms are required every year, or every two years if the individual is aged, blind or disabled.

The Family Support Division received approval to extend food stamp benefits for individuals up for recertification in March, April, and May. Those benefits will be extended by 6 months and recipients do not need to call in or submit any verification.

 

Consumer Issues:

Student Loan FAQ

Avoid Coronavirus Scams:

• • Advice for Consumers (FTC)         Spanish
  • Download sharable quick guide to scams (FTC)        Spanish
  • Report Scams: English  Spanish

Consumer protection basics… plain and simple.

• •  English: cosumer.gov  — what to know and do
  • Spanish: consumidor.gov  —  qué saber y qué hacer

COVID-19 Consumer Resource Center: This website, written entirely by three of the nation’s leading consumer protection law firms, is intended to provide you with our thoughts relating to all aspects of your financial life in order to help you navigate this difficult time.

 

Mortgage Relief

The CARES Act signed on March 27^th includes federally mandated prohibitions on some foreclosures and requires forbearance options for some mortgage loans. Find out if your loan is covered by reading the National Housing Law Project’s informational sheet on the CARES Act here. Be sure to visit their website here for more updates as the situation changes.

Homeowner & Renter Help (CFPB) This website consolidates the CARES Act mortgage relief, protections for renters, resources for additional help, and information on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams. It also provides lookup tools for homeowners to determine if their mortgage is federally backed and for renters to find out if their rental unit is financed by FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac.

The National Consumer Law Center has made its “Surviving Debt” book available for FREE online during the COVID situation. You can access it here: https://library.nclc.org/sd/0101

 

Veterans:

Veterans with a debt with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Debt Management Center can call 1-800-827-0648 to request temporary financial relief in the form of:

• • Suspending all actions on Veteran debts under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department.
  • Suspending collection action or extending repayment terms on preexisting VA debts, as the Veteran prefers.

More information can be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at https://www.va.gov/debtman/.

Veterans having trouble reaching the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by phone can also contact the VA by email at https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/app/ask/ or send letters to:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Debt Management Center
PO Box 11930
St. Paul, MN 55111

Please be aware that it is unclear how long this suspension may last.

Veterans who have a “VBA benefit debt” or an “overpayment” who request a suspension of the debt collection and then begin receiving their full benefit amount can be increasing the debt they owe the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Similarly, veterans who suspend collection action or extends repayment terms on preexisting VA debts can result in a longer period of time for the veteran to pay off his or her debt and may end up paying the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs more money in the long run.

We encourage veterans who contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Debt Management Center about temporary financial relief to keep a record of the date(s) they called, who they spoke to, and any information provided, copies of all e-mail communications or copies of all correspondence the veteran sends and receives.

 

 

Domestic Violence Protection:

We are continuing to help victims of domestic violence.

• • If you have questions about your current protective order or upcoming hearing date, please call your local Legal Aid office.
  • Please remember you can TEXT 9-1-1 in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Please confirm if your county is not listed.

Shelters and Hotlines:

• • Crisis hotlines across the KC metro region are still staffed 24 hours a day.
  • Shelters are still operating, though some have had to alter or halt the admittance of new clients.
  • Counseling and therapy sessions are held over the phone.
  • Agencies are searching for creative ways to serve victims and survivors while maintaining social distancing.
  • Any of the six Kansas City area metro shelters can be reached at 816-468-5463.
  • If you are outside the Kansas City area the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.

 

 

Kansas City-Focused: Most are frequently updated, so continue to check back.

• Coronavirus Information – Kansas City Health Department
• PrepareMetroKC – Mid-America Regional Council
• Disaster Resources – United Way of Greater Kansas City 2-1-1
• City of Kansas City, Missouri