Financial Resources Available for Uber/Taxi, Small Business, and Individual COVID-19 Crisis Relief

Financial Resources Available For Uber/Taxi, Small Business, And Individual COVID-19 Crisis Relief

By Feifer & Greenberg LLP
7:51 pm

Friends,

These are certainly trying times. We understand that many of you are facing sudden financial hardship or uncertainty due to the disruption of our daily lives.

As New Yorkers, we stand together to assist one another and support our community members. While every bit helps, we also desperately need relief from the government institutions we depend upon during times of crisis.

Fortunately, some assistance is available to those suffering during the COVID-19 outbreak. Various relief programs are available from municipal, state, and federal funding sources. Some sources provide direct stimulus (AKA a check), while others may provide a low-interest loan, a temporary forbearance on debt, or assistance through programs like Citymeals on Wheels.

The following are some of the programs available to those who find themselves out of work or dealing with drastically reduced income at the moment. We know taxi drivers, Uber drivers, and small business owners are going to be hit particularly hard during this time, so we hope that these programs can provide some form of financial relief, no matter how small.

Individual Stimulus Payments

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, was passed by both U.S. legislative chambers and signed into law on March 27, 2020. Among other forms of relief, the act offers direct stimulus to individuals suffering economically during the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent business closures.

Here are some of the most important facts you need to know about the direct individual stimulus payments:

The payments are based on your 2019 income, as listed on your 2019 tax return. If you haven’t yet filed for 2019 (as many of us haven’t), it will be based on your 2018 income.
Most adults will receive $1,200. Couples will receive $2,400.
Every qualifying child under 16 may grant an additional $500.
Individuals who make over $75,000 or couples who make over $150,000 will have their payment reduced by $5 for each $100 they make over the $75k/$150k threshold.
Max limits for any payments are $99,000 (single person), $198,000 (married, no children), $218,000 (family w/ 2 children).
Most can expect payments within three weeks. There’s no need to apply if the IRS has already used your bank information to direct deposit tax returns in the recent past.
If you have not used direct deposit with the IRS before, the agency says that it will, “develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information…in the coming weeks.”
Individuals who already receive financial assistance and file Form SSA-1099 or Form RRB-1099 but do not file a tax return may need to take no further action unless they have qualifying dependents.
Stimulus payments do not count as taxable income for 2020.

Expanded Unemployment Benefits

The CARES Act also expands unemployment benefits for New Yorkers. This includes Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits as well as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

Here are some of the most important things you need to know:

Benefits are being expanded to bridge the gap between actual earnings and what the state would ordinarily pay as an unemployment benefit.
Covers part-time workers and the self-employed, and generally includes people that would ordinarily not be eligible.
Gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors are covered by expanded unemployment benefits, too. Self-employed people would be newly eligible for unemployment benefits.
Those who are already receiving assistance likely need to take no action. New applicants can apply online.

The Paycheck Protection Program (SBA Loans)

Many small businesses are required to postpone operations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Others must severely scale back operations and staff.

As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has implemented the Paycheck Protection Program. They describe the program as, “a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.”

Here are the most important facts to know about the program:

Sole-proprietors, independent contractors, and other self-employed individuals are eligible for loans.
Specific allowable uses of the loan include: payroll support, such as employee salaries, paid sick or medical leave; insurance premiums; and mortgage, rent, and utility payments.
If the employer maintains payroll, the portion of the loans used for covered payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven. This proposal would be retroactive to February 15, 2020
Applicants “can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating,” and more regulators will participate, “once they are approved and enrolled in the program.”
The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

SBA Disaster Loans and Loan Relief for COVID-19 Economic Losses

The SBA is expanding its disaster loan and loan relief programs in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

Here are some of the most important details:

They are offering a loan advance of up to $10,000 for certain qualifying applicants.
Those currently enrolled in 7(a), 504, or microloans who qualify for debt relief will have all of their principal, interest, and fees automatically paid for six months. The SBA will similarly cover the costs of new loans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
Certain businesses may qualify for automatic deferral.

Other Resources for Individuals Impacted by COVID-19

While the New York area has been hit the hardest during the COVID-19 crisis, we do have a number of resources available as a small form of relief to the most vulnerable populations.

These programs include:

Employment Resources
Food Assistance
Health & Medical Assistance
Financial Assistance
Rent Arrears and Public Assistance
Emotional Support & Spiritual Care
Other Assistance

For more information on these available programs, visit the Help Now NYC COVID-19 Assistance for Individuals page.

Let Us Know if You Need Assistance with a Traffic Ticket Case or License Suspension

For the time being, New York traffic ticket cases are postponed. However, NY police officers are still issuing new tickets, and individuals with existing suspensions or ongoing cases may have their procedures complicated by office closures.

If you need any help with an existing New York traffic ticket case, a new ticket, or an ongoing suspension, do not hesitate to contact Feifer & Greenberg, LLP. We can work closely with you to coordinate your case with local officials, keep you up to date, and try to minimize the impact the COVID-19 outbreak has on your outcome.We are available for free case evaluations when you call us at (888) 842-5384 or contact us online.

FREE CASE EVALUATION

FAQ

Your office is in NYC. How do you handle cases statewide?

We have organized a statewide network of attorneys. In our network are both attorneys who work for Feifer & Greenberg and attorneys who work for other firms that regularly provide of-counsel representation to our clients. This statewide network allows us to match clients in a particular county or court with local attorneys who regularly appear on similar matters in the same county or court. It enables us to help clients anywhere in New York State and in our opinion provide particularly effective and affordable representation for our clients. Local attorneys can draw on their particular local experiences and, with travel time and expense removed from the equation, help us keep our legal fees low.

Do you guarantee results?

We can only guarantee that we will provide the best possible client service and legal representation. We can’t guarantee results. These are legal proceedings and we can’t promise you that every case will end in our favor. We will always honestly assess your case (both good and bad) and set realistic expectations during your consultation. We’ll discuss our goals and objectives but no attorney can ever guarantee how a case will conclude.

Should I just pay my ticket or should I fight?

We recommend fighting almost all tickets. Even if the current NY traffic tickets aren’t particularly harmful, you have an incentive to keep your record clean for the future. Convictions quickly lead to surcharges, insurance increases and other complications. You should strongly consider any decision to pay a ticket without fighting.

How can our traffic ticket lawyers help you?

Our lawyers are experienced, prepared attorneys who understand the nuances of fighting traffic tickets. Experience, preparation and good decision making help us to help our clients avoid points, surcharges, insurance increases and the other negatives that can easily result from a traffic ticket.

Common Charges

At Feifer & Greenberg, our New York traffic ticket attorneys are dedicated to helping clients with their speeding tickets. We have worked on thousands of traffic matters, successfully dismissing tickets that would have cost our clients hundreds or even thousands in fines, surcharges and insurance increases.

If you want to fight your speeding ticket, make sure you know what is at stake . Speak with our experienced New York traffic lawyers to ensure that you are taking the proper steps to keep your record clean.

Financial Resources Available for Uber/Taxi, Small Business, and Individual COVID-19 Crisis Relief