Congressman Courtney: COVID-19 Update 3/25/20: Additional resources for workers, families, students

Last week, my office hosted two telephone town hall meetings to hear questions and talk about the response to COVID-19 with folks from across eastern Connecticut. Tomorrow night, we’re hosting another one.

The telephone town hall will take place tomorrow night, Thursday, March 26th, at 6:20 PM . We’ll talk more about what resources are available to hard-working families, workers, and small businesses, progress on the latest bipartisan economic stabilization bill in Congress, and about what our first responders and health care professionals are doing on the ground right here in our communities to keep us safe.

Below, I’ve compiled more information and several of the latest updates about resources that are becoming available to help families, workers, small businesses, veterans, students, and more.

The battle against COVID-19 is going to be won at home, and Congress needs to keep working together, across the aisle to give the American people the tools they need to win the fight. As we move forward, I’ll keep sending regular updates with the latest information on legislative action and resources. For a more comprehensive list of helpful links, resources, and information on the COVID-19 outbreak, visit my resource page online .

First and foremost, to find the latest information from the Center for Disease Control and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, please visit their websites, linked here:

Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Resource Page
Connecticut Department of Public Health Resource Page

Tax Deadline Extended

Last week, the IRS announced that the federal income tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15, 2020, giving Americans 3 months longer to file their income tax returns for the 2019 tax year without incurring interest or penalties.

This is the right move by the IRS. It’s critical that we find every avenue possible to help folks through this rough patch, and giving folks another 3 months to get their income tax documents in line is one of the simplest steps we can take here.

Resources for Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits

If you or someone you know has lost wages due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there are some existing programs that people can start taking advantage of right now to get assistance.

If you are unemployed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and are seeking assistance, do not delay filing your claim for unemployment benefits with the Connecticut Department of Labor, even if your employer hasn’t issued you any paperwork. It’s important to file as soon as possible to avoid being denied or delayed assistance. For how to apply, or if you’re an employer seeking more information, please visit http://www.filectui.com/ .

Resources for Families and Individuals Without Health Insurance

To help ensure that all residents have access to health insurance coverage in light of this public health crisis, Access Health CT, our state’s health insurance marketplace, has opened up a special enrollment period. If you missed the opportunity to sign up for health insurance in November, this is an opportunity to get coverage now. Visit www.AccessHealthCT.com or call 855-365-2428 to enroll.  

Resources for College and University Students and Student Loan Borrowers

There’s more we can do during this public health emergency to help hard-working Americans lower their monthly student loan payments altogether, but this is a good start:

Late last week, the Department of Education announced that for at least the next 60 days, all borrowers with federally held student loans will have their interest rates set to 0%. The Department of Education has also advised that each of these borrowers will have the ability to suspend their payments for at least two months, without worrying about accruing interest. To do so, however, you MUST contact your student loan servicer.

Resources for K-12 Families

The CT Department of Education has publicized locations for two COVID-19 Emergency Meal Programs. These lists will be continuously updated, so make sure to check back for more updates and information:

• “The COVID-19 Emergency Meal Program Limited to Students Attending School in Specific Districts”. School districts on this list are only authorized to serve meals to students attending their schools, and any other child age 18 or younger residing in the same household. Click here to view this list.
• “The COVID-19 Community-wide Emergency Meal Program for Children”. ANY child 18 years or younger can receive meals at any meal service and distribution sites in these towns/cities. They DO NOT have to be a resident or attend school in these towns/cities. Click here to view this list.

Our Hospitals Need Our Help

The bipartisan Families First bill, signed into law last Wednesday, March 18th, frees up industry manufacturers to donate N95 masks and other supplies to local hospitals and medical professionals. We’ve got to keep working together, across the aisle to close the gap on critical medical supply shortages, but this provision helps us get a jump-start.

Our communities have the opportunity now to rally together to help our hospitals — the State of Connecticut is seeking donations now for personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure our front line health care workers are safe while they treat sick patients. For more information on how to donate, visit 211CT.org/DONATIONSCOVID19 .

The House has already taken the lead on passing two bipartisan economic stabilization packages which have been signed into law, and progress is being made on a third. I’ll keep working across the aisle in Congress to put more resources in the toolbox for American families, workers, and small businesses, and I’ll keep sending you regular updates about resources for eastern Connecticut as we move forward. To keep up with all of the latest news, make sure to sign up for me e-Newsletter here.

As always, if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to reach out to my office here .