Job Loss
One-stop resource for the people of California impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://onwardca.org/
Health
If you are experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19, contact your physician. He or she will assist you to determine whether or not you should be referred for testing.
For more information, please visit https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/.
If you need mental health assistance, visit https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/guidelines#MentalHealth.
Taxes
Property Taxes: The California Board of Equalization is working with the State of California to determine if the state will allow counties to provide some relief from penalties if property owners are unable to make tax payments by the April 10, 2020, due date.
The Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, under state law, has the authority to cancel penalties that meet certain requirements. Taxpayers who do not pay property taxes by April 10, 2020, due to COVID-19 must submit a Penalty Cancellation Request Form and provide documentation to support the cancellation of penalties. All requests will be reviewed and decided on a case-by-case basis.
Income Taxes: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is allowing individuals to defer up to $1 million of federal income tax payments for tax year 2019 (including self-employment tax) due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest. The IRS guidance does not change the April 15 filing deadline, but taxpayers can always file for a six-month filing extension. The California Franchise Tax Board earlier extended the April 15 deadline to June 15, 2020, for making state income tax payments and estimated payments.
For more information on federal income taxes, visit the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus.
Free tax filing options:
• myfreetaxes.org
• irs.gov
• creditkarma.com/tax
Rent
California issued a statewide moratorium on residential evictions for renters who cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19 related economic hardships. The moratorium went into effect on March 27, 2020, and is valid through May 31, 2020.
If COVID-19 has impacted your ability to pay all or part of your rent, you should:
• Explain your financial situation to your landlord and relay how much you are able to pay
• Save all financial documents
• Pay as much of your rent as you can
If your landlord is attempting to evict you for not paying rent and you took all of the above steps, contact a local legal aid provider.
Updated Guidance to California Tenants from California Attorney General Becerra.
Mortgages
Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo and nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions and servicers have committed to providing relief for consumers and homeowners in California.
To review the list of financial institutions that are offering mortgage payment forbearances, visit https://dbo.ca.gov/covid19-updates-fi/.
For more information, visit the State of California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response site at https://covid19.ca.gov/get-financial-help/.
Childcare
One of the areas of immediate need during this crisis is childcare for health professionals and essential workers. First 5 Orange County has partnered with several organizations in Orange County to identify childcare providers that remain operational, and to help providers get supplies so they can keep their doors open. Childcare resources are highlighted here.
The County of Orange is encouraging residents to create a family preparedness plan in the event they are impacted by COVID-19. Family preparedness is a mainstay of planning for emergencies such as earthquakes and fires, and they are equally important during a health pandemic.
• Alternate Caregiver Form
• Child Medical Consent Form
Need help accessing or paying for child care? Children's Home Society of California (CHS) has three Child Care Payment Programs that provide subsidized child care services to eligible families.
For more information:
• Children’s Home Society of California
• Flyer
Reporting Child Abuse
At this time, with schools closed and families staying home, children can be isolated. We all need to be vigilant in protecting children during this stressful time. Remember to call in any suspicion of child abuse: 1-800-207-4464
More Information
Food Assistance
There are many food pantries in operation in Orange County. In addition, a number of Orange County school districts are offering "grab and go" meals for students 18 years old and younger.
For additional information visit:
• Food Pantries
• All Food Help
• School District Grab and Go Meals (18 years and younger)
Homeless Families
First 5 Orange County is also working with the Family Solutions Collaborative (21 families focused shelters), CHOC and other healthcare providers, and United Way to provide additional financial and administrative support for homeless families who have a child age 0-5 who is being tested or has tested positive for COVID-19. First 5 is providing funds to shelter these families in a safe, secure, isolated facility.
For more information: http://occhildrenandfamilies.com/
OC Community Resilience Fund
Philanthropic organizations in Orange County have generated and pooled funds to offer grants to support community clinic operations; community-based organization operations; and emergency grants to individuals impacted by COCID-19. First 5 Orange County is working with the Resilience Fund to support a subset of applicants who serve children ages 0-5 and their families. In doing this, we free up the Resilience Fund for other community priorities while we support organizations serving young children.
Senior Assistance
Many programs are available to provide support to seniors over the phone or via video chat.
Click on the links below for additional information:
• Office on Aging Information and Assistance for 65+ years
• Senior Grocery Shopping Hours
• Shopping Assistance
• Elder Abuse Reporting/Adult Protective Services
• Other Older Adult Support
• Great Plates Delivered (meal delivery program): For Seniors interested in enrolling in the program, please call (714) 480-6450.
Utility Resources
Some Orange County utility providers are temporarily suspending service disconnections for nonpayment and waiving late fees by request for customers affected by COVID-19. If you are having trouble paying your bill, contact your utility provider to make arrangements.
• San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) Coronavirus Response
• Southern California Edison Coronavirus Response
• Anaheim Public Utilities
• Southern California Gas Company
• Cox Communications
• AT&T
• Comcast
• Spectrum
• Utility Discounts and Community Based Bill Assistance Programs
• CARE/FERA Programs
School Closures
For more information about school closures, please visit the Orange County Department of Education COVID-19 website: https://newsroom.ocde.us/coronavirus-update/.
Miscellaneous
Fee waivers and waived penalties for Citibank customers. Starting March 9, 2020, and effective for an initial 30 days, Citibank Retail Bank customers can get fee waivers on monthly service fees and waived penalties for early Certificate of Deposit withdrawal. Citibank Retail Bank Small Business customers can get fee waivers on monthly service fees and remote deposit capture and waived penalties for early Certificate of Deposit withdrawal. Call the phone number on the back of your debit card to inquire about account assistance. If you currently work with a Banker or Financial Advisor, you can contact them during their regular business hours. Assistance is available 24/7 via the phone number on the back of your debit card. More info: Citibank online announcement
Free internet service for two months with Comcast. New families who connect to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program will get free internet service for two months. The Internet Essentials program is normally available to qualified low-income households in Comcast’s service area for $9.95/month (visit www.internetessentials.com for eligibility requirements). You can cancel at any time (no contract and no term) if you don’t want to continue the program after the first two months. After you sign up, Comcast will mail you a free self-install kit with a cable modem and a Wi-Fi router. For More info: Phone #: 1-855-846-8376 (English) and 1-855-765-6995 (Spanish); web: www.internetessentials.com; Comcast press release
For other connectivity options, visit OC Public Libraries' Stay Connected OC: http://www.ocpl.org/stayconnectedoc.
Cash assistance for service workers. One Fair Wage is offering cash assistance to restaurant workers, delivery drivers, and other tipped workers and service workers who are seeing their income decline or aren’t able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns. Submit a request online: https://ofwemergencyfund.org/help
Get financial assistance for individuals and their families in the alcohol industry through the USBG National Charity Foundation. Eligible if worked for at least one year directly serving or in the production, promotion or distribution of alcoholic beverages, or the spouse or child of someone in the industry Apply with online form. More info: COVID-19 Relief
Free storage space for college students. U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage space, usage of U-Box portable moving, and storage containers for college students impacted by unforeseen schedule changes at their universities. Offer valid for new customers with college IDs. Visit link to find a participating location: https://www.uhaul.com/Storage/
Free internet access for households with students. Free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Installation fees are waived. Call to enroll: 844-488-8395 More info: Charter to Offer Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60-Days For New K-12 and College Student Households and More
Free video communications for students and staff. All K-12 schools can request a free basic account for online video communications with no time limits using their school’s email address. Sign up here
