RESPONSE TO COVID-19: Three Rivers Legal Services is here for you. WE ARE OPEN FOR TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS. Currently, our offices are taking the necessary safety precautions by not accepting any Walk-In applicants. However, we remain dedicated to serving our communities during this time of crisis by providing online applications and phone appointments.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

COVID-19  Frequently Asked Questions Video Series

What is the Florida Writ of Possession?

What should I do if a Writ of Possession was posted at my home?

The conditions of my property are terrible and my landlord wont fix them. What can I do?

I’ve fallen behind on my mortgage payments due to COVID-19

Domestic Violence & Safety During Covid-19

I Got Too Many Unemployment Payments, What should I do?

My landlord wants to enter my home, but I don’t want visitors during the COVID-19. Can I stop them?

Are you unable to pay rent because of Covid-19?

What should I do if my Landlord locks me out?

Is there a moratorium on foreclosures?

What is the Federal Eviction Moratorium?

What happens when the Eviction Moratorium ends?

COVID-19 UPDATES

6/16/20 Reemployment Assistance During COVID-19 UPDATE: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Florida has changed some rules of its Reemployment Assistance Program. The Governor has waived several program requirements, including the mandatory waiting week for your first payment. Through the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida is also administering supplemental Federal benefits available under the CARES Act. These benefits include:
 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Provides up to $275 in weekly
benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for Florida Reemployment Assistance, such
as self-employed, contract, or “gig” workers.
 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC). An additional $600 per
week to any individual eligible under Florida law for Reemployment Assistance, as
well as self-employed, contract, or “gig” workers.
 Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Allows for an
additional 13 weeks of benefits added to the end of state Reemployment Assistance
benefits.
Paper applications are available for those without internet. FedEx is assisting with this process by offering free printing and mailing options for paper applications at more than 100 stores statewide. For more information visit:  www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19, which includes a frequently asked questions section. TRLS is available to assist individuals who have questions about their eligibility for state or federal unemployment benefits, including assistance with filing your benefits claim, questions about your application, denials or terminations of benefits, or questions about your benefit amount. Please call our legal helpline for assistance at 1-866-256-8091.

5/08/2020 GNVCares to provide temporary assistance to extremely low income households. 

What is GNVCares?

GNVCares provides temporary assistance to extremely-low, very-low and low-to-moderate income households by way of rent/mortgage and/or utility payments. Eligibility will be determined based on proof of income and lost wages as a result of the pandemic. Individual

households would receive up to $1,250 applied directly toward housing and utility costs. Priority for individual assistance will be given to those demonstrating greatest need.

*Assistance can be provided if you have concerns about these documents.

  • Income verification to demonstrate extremely-low, very-low, and low income levels, with priority given to
  • extremely-low, very-low and low income neighbors.
  • Proof that COVID-19 pandemic caused unemployment or reduction in work hours which resulted in a reduction
  • of wages.
  • Letter stating why rent, mortgage or utility payment is past due (March 16, 2020 and onward)
  • Proof of income before COVID-19 pandemic (such as pay stubs or child support)
  • Proof of income after COVID-19 pandemic (such as pay stubs or child support)
  • Proof of loss of income (employer’s termination letter and/or reduction of work hours letter)
  • Copy of photo ID card for applicant and co-applicant (Driver’s license or ID cards for all members over
  • 18 years)
  • Copy of current written rental lease agreement (lease must be executed prior to March 16, 2020)
  • Copy of current mortgage statement showing payment due for March 16, 2020 and onward
  • Copy of utility statement showing payment due for March 16, 2020 and onward

LEARN MORE at www/GNVCares.org

5/06/2020 Reemployment Assistance During COVID-19

Has your employment been affected by Co-Vid 19? Or are you receiving Reemployment Assistance, but have questions regarding the additional benefits offered during this pandemic?

In response to the Co-Vid 19 pandemic, Florida has changed some rules of the Reemployment Assistance program. Benefits are now available to self-employed workers and independent contractors. And the governor has waived several program requirements, including the mandatory waiting week for your first payment.

The state has also launched a new mobile-friendly website that is better prepared to handle the high volume of unemployment applications.  Paper applications are available for those without internet.  For more information visit:  www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19, which includes a frequently asked questions section.

FedEx is assisting with this process by offering free printing and mailing options for paper applications at more than 100 stores statewide.

TRLS is ready to assist with the denial of benefits or questions you may have concerning the process. Please call our legal helpline for assistance at 1-866-256-8091.

4/14/2020 – Columbia County School Free Meal Update

Meals will be served at Five Points Elementary, Fort White Elementary, Richardson Community Center, Melrose Elementary, and Westside Elementary. Lunch AND Breakfast for the next day will be served daily from 11am-1pm. Meals will be prepackaged and distributed through parent pick up or the bus loop at each site. Children do not need to present but parents/guardians will have to fill out a short questionnaire. Walk up service IS allowed. Children can go to any meal site to be served and verification of enrollment is not necessary.

Bus Wheels Serving Meals will be delivering at the following sites and times:

  • Cedar Park @ 11:15 – 11:45
  • Sugar Mill Apartments @ 11:15 – 11:30
  • Brandywine Apartments @ 11:30 – 11:45
  • Windsong Apartments @ 11:15 – 11:45
  • Woodgate Village @ 11:15 – 11:45
  • Three Rivers Office @ 11:15 – 11:45

4/14/2020 – Important Updates Regarding Economic Impact Payments

Taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2018 will receive their economic impact payments automatically. Automatic payments will also go in the near future to those receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.
For those who did not file a 2018 or 2019 return, the Treasury has set up an online portal so you can give the IRS basic information that they can use to send you your economic impact payment. It is a free tool designed to help those who don’t have a filing obligation, including those with too little income to file a return.
To use the tool, visit https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here, and look for “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here.” Then just provide basic information including Social Security number, name, address, and dependents. The IRS will use this information to confirm eligibility and calculate and send the economic impact payment.
Using the tool to get your payment will not result in any taxes being owed. Entering bank or financial account information will allow the IRS to deposit your payment directly into your account. Otherwise, your payment will be mailed to you.
Next week, the IRS will also be rolling out a payment tracking tool, that will provide taxpayers with estimated payment delivery dates.
To learn more about how payments will be distributed and who should use the non-filers tool, visit https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-launch-new-tool-to-help-non-filers-register-for-economic-impact-payments

4/7/2020 – SNAP Food Assistance

DCF has suspended all SNAP (food assistance) time limits and work requirements during the COVID-19 public health emergency. No one in Florida should be required to work 80 hours in order to get or keep their SNAP for now.

• What if I lost SNAP in the past because DCF said I did not comply with work requirements or I already used up my time limits?
If you were told that you couldn’t get SNAP in the past because of work requirements or time limits, you should apply again.

• How do I reapply for SNAP?
There are several ways to apply:
1. The fastest way to apply is online here
2. DCF says that you can use a paper application by downloading and printing from this site. The completed paper application can then be mailed to ACCESS Central Mail Center, P.O. Box 1770, Ocala, FL, 34478-1770, or it can be faxed or hand-delivered to a dropbox at a DCF customer service center.
3. In some areas, community partners may be open and able to help you apply. Call to confirm. The link to find a community partner is here

• What if I need food today?
For help with emergency food resources in your community:
1. Find a local food bank here
2. Call 2-1-1 or visit http://www.my211florida.org/.
If you think there is a mistake with your SNAP case, find free local legal help at https://thefloridabarfoundation.org/.

4/3/20 – Florida Evictions

Beginning April 2, 2020, Gov. DeSantis has suspended residential evictions for non-payment of rent due to COVID-19. This means that new and existing eviction cases for nonpayment of rent are paused until May 18, 2020 (or any extensions ordered by the Governor).

This ONLY applies to evictions for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19. If you are being evicted for any other reason, it is not clear there is moratorium, unless you are a tenant who lives in housing covered by the federal eviction moratorium.

Tenants served with an eviction complaint and summons must file a response with the court by the deadline stated in the summons to avoid losing their cases. If you were served and have questions, call the Three Rivers Legal Services Legal Helpline at 1-866-256-8091.

4/3/20 – Social Security Benefits/Stimulus Checks

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced yesterday that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive their economic impact payment. The IRS will instead use the information from the the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to send payments directly to recipients (either by physical check or direct deposit) just as they would normally receive their benefits. Learn more on the US Department of the Treasury website: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967

3/20/20 – IRS Pushes Tax Deadline

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are providing special payment relief to individuals and businesses in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as deferring the tax payment deadline.
The filing deadline for tax returns remains April 15, 2020. The IRS urges taxpayers who are owed a refund to file as quickly as possible. For those who can’t file by the April 15, 2020 deadline, the IRS reminds individual taxpayers that everyone is eligible to request a six-month extension to file their return.
This payment relief includes:
Individuals: Income tax payment deadlines for individual returns, with a due date of April 15, 2020, are being automatically extended until July 15, 2020, for up to $1 million of their 2019 tax due. This payment relief applies to all individual returns, including self-employed individuals, and all entities other than C-Corporations, such as trusts or estates. IRS will automatically provide this relief to taxpayers. Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this relief.

To learn more, visit:
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-17.pdf
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm948
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

3/19/20 – School Lunch Assistance Programs

Clay County: They are doing meals this week through 3/22, but as of yesterday had no plans to do it next week since that is their regularly scheduled Spring Break week. Website for daily updates here.

Columbia County: Meals are available starting March 23rd until school closures end at the following locations: Five Points Elementary, Fort White Elementary, Niblack Elementary, Summers Elementary, and Westside Elementary. Breakfast will be served on March 23rd from 9am-10am. Lunch AND Breakfast for the next day will be served starting on March 23rd from 11am-1pm. Meals will be prepackaged and distributed through parent pick up or the bus loop at each site. Children must be present and IN VEHICLE to receive meals. Walk up service IS allowed. Children can go to any meal site to be served and verification of enrollment is not necessary.

Duval County: “Grab and Go” lunch will still be available at schools. We’ll also use our buses to deliver school meals into neighborhoods as they deliver the educational packets. The bus delivery sites will be posted by Monday, March 23, on our Duval HomeRoom website. Visit www.duvalschools.org and look for the Duval HomeRoom link to find this information. Website for daily updates here.

Hamilton County: FREE “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunches for children 0 – 18 will be available  March 17th – March 20th at the following locations: Old Central Hamilton Elementary (9am-12pm), White Springs Public Library (11am-1pm), Jasper Public Library (10am-1pm), Jennings Public Library (9am-1pm), JRE (First Central Baptist) (9am-12pm), Belleville Volunteer Fire Station (10am-1pm), Achiever’s Christian Academy (10am-12pm). Please call the food service department for additional information at 792-7805 or 792-7804.

Nassau County: Meals will be available beginning Monday, March 23rd from 10 am – 1 pm at the following locations: Southside Elementary, Yulee Middle, Callahan Elementary, and Hilliard Middle-Senior High. Website for daily updates here.

3/19/20 – Fannie Mae Assistance Options for Homeowners Impacted by COVID-19
WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) wants to help ensure families are given options in these uncertain times in the case of job loss, a reduction in work hours, illness, or other issues. We want to remind those impacted by COVID-19 of available mortgage assistance and relief options. Under Fannie Mae’s guidelines for single-family mortgages:
-Homeowners who are adversely impacted by this national emergency may request mortgage assistance by contacting their mortgage servicer
-Foreclosure sales and evictions of borrowers are suspended for 60 days
-Homeowners impacted by this national emergency are eligible for a forbearance plan to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months
-Credit bureau reporting of past due payments of borrowers in a forbearance plan as a result of hardships attributable to this national emergency is suspended
-Homeowners in a forbearance plan will not incur late fees
-After forbearance, a servicer must work with the borrower on a permanent plan to help maintain or reduce monthly payment amounts as necessary, including a loan modification

3/19/20 – Grocery Shopping for At-Risk Individuals

According to the CDC, individuals over the age of 65 are at increased risk of complications from the coronavirus. Some local supermarkets are offering expanded hours to better support our elder community.

Publix is designating Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, 7 – 8 a.m., as senior shopping hours for customers age 65 and over. This change in hours will begin Tuesday, March 24, and continue until further notice. Beginning March 18th, Hitchcock’s Markets will be opening an exta half-hour early to allow shopping time for senior customers. Other stores, like Winn Dixie are offering curbside grocery pick-up options to help limit exposure to the virus. Three Rivers will keep you informed as we receive more information that might be helpful to seniors.

3/19/20 – IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief

The House has passed an emergency coronavirus response bill providing for tax credits for sick and family leave payments. For more information you can check out https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus or contact us for legal help this tax season.

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