COVID-19 Information

Vaccine Information

Questions about vaccinations is one of the most frequent questions to my office. Here is how you can find the most up-to-date information on where you can be vaccinated, who is currently able to be vaccinated, and what vaccines are currently offered in California. Additionally, you can find more information about local resources below:

Financial Assistance

State

The Golden State Stimulus (GSS) is a $600, one-time relief payment. You'll get it if you receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit after claiming it on your 2020 individual tax return, which is filed this year.

You'll get an additional $600, one-time GSS payment if you file your return with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

ITIN filers who do not receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit but earn $75,000 or less will get a $600 GSS payment.

You'll receive your GSS payments shortly after you file your 2020 taxes.

Click here to learn more.

Federal

The American Rescue Plan is delivering direct relief to the American people.

$1,400 per-person checks:

  • Single people making less than $75,000, heads of household making less than $112,500, and married couples filing jointly making less than $150,000 qualify for stimulus checks. People making up to $80,000 will receive partial payments.
  • Those with dependents will receive $1,400 per person, including college students and seniors claimed as dependents.

Increased Child Tax Credit, Earned-Income Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit:

  • For those without children, the American Rescue Plan increased the Earned-Income Tax Credit from $543 to $1,502.
  • For those with children, the American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and $3,600 for children under the age of six – and raised the age limit from 16 to 17.
  • The American Rescue Plan also increased and expanded the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, making more people eligible and increasing the total credit to $4,000 for one qualifying individual and $8,000 for two or more.

Extended unemployment insurance:

  • The American Rescue Plan extended unemployment benefits until September 6 with a weekly supplemental benefit of $300 on top of the regular $400 benefit.
  • The first $10,200 of unemployment benefits will be tax-free for people with incomes less than $150,000.

Click here to learn more.

Resources for Businesses

State

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program: Small businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19 may apply for up to a $25,000 grant. The amount of grant funding ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Businesses are eligible based on their annual revenue as documented in their most recent tax return. Applicants who submitted their application and submitted all documentation do not need to reapply; qualified applications will be automatically rolled over into the next funding round for consideration. For more information including eligibility, please click here.

The California Rebuilding Fund is a loan program to support California's small businesses—especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state. Businesses who employed 50 or less full-time equivalent employees and had gross revenues of less than $2.5 million or below in 2019 are eligible to apply. The loans WILL need to be paid back over a 3- or 5-year term with a fixed annual interest rate that is currently 4.25%. Click here to learn more and apply.

The California IBank Small Business Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program provides loans to underserved small businesses with 750 employees or less. Click here to learn more.

The California Capital Access Program for Small Business is a loan loss reserve program which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults. Click here to learn more.

Click here to download the Small Business COVID-19 Relief and Resources Guide

Federal

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll. Borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness. The U.S Small Business Administration is currently offering PPP loans until May 31, 2021. Click here to learn more and find a lender.

The U.S. Small Business Administrations Economic Injury Disaster Loan provides economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Small business owners, including agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations may apply. If you have already applied, you do not need to submit your information again. Please call 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard of hearing) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov to check the status of your application. Click here to learn more.

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers debt relief to existing SBA loan borrowers whose businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. Click here to learn more.

Click here to learn about forthcoming resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration, including the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants.

Tax Relief

The Franchise Tax Board and the Internal Revenue Service have postponed the tax filing and payment deadline for individual taxpayers to May 17, 2021. This postponement applies to individual filers whose 2020 tax returns and payments were originally due on April 15, 2021. Taxpayers do not need to claim any special treatment or call FTB to qualify for this postponement. FTB will waive any interest and late payment penalties that would otherwise apply if the returns are filed and the payments are made by May 17.

NOTE: The postponement only applies to individual taxpayers, and it does not apply to estimated tax payments, which are still due on April 15.

Click here to learn more.

The due date to file and pay taxes and fees owed to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) originally due between December 15, 2020, and April 30, 2021 has been extended by three months. This extension is generally granted to businesses with less than $1 million in taxes and fees. To request an extension if you have more than $1 million in taxes and fees due or to ask a question about the extension, call CDTFA at 800-400-7115. Click here to learn more.

Small Business Relief Payment Plans for Sales and Use Tax: Effective December 15, 2020, small business taxpayers with less than $5 million in taxable annual sales, can take advantage of a 12-month, interest-free, payment plan for up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability only. All payment plans must be paid in full by April 30, 2022, to qualify for zero interest. Businesses with $5 million or more in annual taxable sales in sectors particularly impacted by operational restrictions due to the pandemic may also apply for this 12-month interest-free payment plan. Please note: This relief only applies to sales and use tax due on returns with original due dates between December 15, 2020 and April 30, 2021. A business that previously took advantage of the 12-month, interest-free payment plan that must be paid in full by July 31, 2021, may also request to participate in this new 12-month interest-free payment plan. More information will be available soon on CDTFA's COVID-19 webpage or you can contact CDTFA's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-400-7115 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

EDD Payroll Tax Extension: Employers statewide directly affected by COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit payroll taxes without penalty or interest. This extension may be granted under Section 1111.5 of the California Unemployment Insurance Code (CUIC). A written request for extension must be received within 60 days from the original delinquent date of the payment or return. Click here to learn more. For questions, employers may call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center toll-free at 1-888-745-3886.

Employee Retention Credit: The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have extended to June 31, 2021, the Employee Retention Credit, which is designed to make it easier for businesses that, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on the payroll. Click here to learn more.

Paid sick and family leave tax credits: The American Rescue Plan, enacted March 11, 2021, amended and extended the tax credits (and the availability of advance payments of the tax credits) for paid sick and family leave for wages paid beginning April 1, 2021, and ending on September 30, 2021. Click here for future updates.

Protections for Renters and Homeowners

State

COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act (eviction moratorium): The State of California legislature has enacted, and the Governor has signed, two state laws, Assembly Bill No. 3088, which took effect on August 31, 2020, and Senate Bill No. 91, which took effect on February 1, 2021, that provide state-wide eviction and foreclosure protections for many residential tenants and property owners suffering from economic hardship due to COVID-19. These protections extend through June 30, 2021. Neither AB 3088 nor SB 91 eliminate the tenant's obligation to pay their unpaid rent. As such, the tenant will still owe back rent to their landlord. Beginning July 1, 2021, landlords can take tenants to small claims court to recover unpaid rent debt regardless of how much the tenant owes. Click here to learn more.

California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program: Rental assistance for renters and landlords is available. Click here to learn more. Go to the Housingiskey.com application portal or call 1-833-430-2122 to apply.

Mortgage Relief: Foreclosure protection is available for homeowners and small landlords who have federally-backed mortgages through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This includes landlords with four or fewer properties (whether or not they're owner-occupied).

Homeowners or small landlords who don't have federally-backed loans can contact their loan servicers to request forbearance. Your lender must provide detailed reasons if they deny your forbearance request. You can contest a denial.

Click here for a list of financial institutions may be able to reduce or delay your monthly payment. In addition, they will:

  • Give you a streamlined process to request forbearance for coronavirus-related reasons, supported with available documentation
  • Confirm approval of and terms of the forbearance program
  • Provide the opportunity to extend your forbearance agreement if you continue to experience hardship due to coronavirus

National

Homeowners and renters can visit consumerfinance.gov/housing for up-to-date information on their relief options, protections, and key deadlines.

On February 16, 2021, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture announced a coordinated extension and expansion of forbearance and foreclosure relief programs, including:

  • Extend the foreclosure moratorium for homeowners through June 30, 2021;
  • Extend the mortgage payment forbearance enrollment window until June 30, 2021 for borrowers who wish to request forbearance;
  • Provide up to six months of additional mortgage payment forbearance, in three-month increments, for borrowers who entered forbearance on or before June 30, 2020.

Mortgage Relief: If your ability to pay your mortgage is impacted, and your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (Use the "loan lookup" tools for Fannie Mae or for Freddie Mac to find out) you may be eligible to delay making your monthly mortgage payments for a temporary period, during which:

  • You won't incur late fees.
  • Foreclosure and other legal proceedings will be suspended

Click here to learn more.

Renters Assistance: Renters living in a property financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (use the "loan lookup" tools for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to find out) are covered by a temporary eviction moratorium. Renters are still expected to pay their rent during the eviction moratorium period, if they can. Those experiencing financial hardship should reach out to their landlord to discuss their situation and potential solutions.

You also have access to their respective Disaster Response Networks. These networks offer support from HUD-approved housing counselors, such as a personalized recovery assessment and action plan, financial coaching and budgeting, and ongoing check-ins. Contact your property manager to see if you are eligible. Fannie Mae's renter hotline number is 1-877-542-9723 and Freddie Mac's renter hotline number is 1-800-404-3097.

Resources for Workers

The State of California is taking proactive steps to ensure that workers affected by COVID-19 are protected from discrimination and understand all the benefits available to them.

  • If you are unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness related to COVID-19, you may qualify for Disability Insurance.
  • If you are unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19, you may qualify for Paid Family Leave.
  • If you lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19, you may qualify for Unemployment Insurance.
  • If you have lost your job or business or have had your hours or services reduced for reasons related to COVID-19, you may qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
  • If you or a family member is sick or for preventative care, including when civil authorities recommend quarantine, isolation, or stay-at-home, you may qualify for California Paid Sick Leave.
  • If you're unable to work or telework because you are: (1) subject to quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19; (2) advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19; (3) experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; (4) attending a COVID-19 vaccine appointment; (5) experiencing symptoms related to a COVID-19 vaccine; (6) caring for a family member who is subject to a COVID-19 quarantine or isolation period; (7) caring for a family member who has been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19; or (8) caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19 on the premises, you may qualify for California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave. *If you live in San Mateo County, you may be eligible for supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Please check with San Mateo County.
  • If you were infected with COVID-19 at work, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits.

Click here for more information.

The Governor, along with the Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Kimberley Johnson, unveiled a new childcare portal/website where you can search childcare options in your zip code. The portal provides locations, hours and the size of the facility (capacity), ages of children, and available slots, etc. All childcare facilities have been provided guidance from DSS on social/physical distancing, the need for small group sizes, etc. as related to COVID-19.