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Financial and Unemployment Resources
Free Financial Consulting
Alameda County residents affected by the pandemic can request a FREE financial consultation with a Financial Navigator who will listen to their challenges and inform them of the different programs available to help their situation. Navigators can:
- Point people to rental assistance and utility programs
- Inform them of unemployment insurance, CalFresh, and other benefit programs
- Prioritize payments for credit cards and student loans
- Guide them in communicating and negotiating with creditors and more.
In just one phone call, someone can get connected to the programs that can help them recover financially.
Open to Alameda County residents in a variety of languages. Sign up at https://finnav.org/alameda
CalWorks
CalWORKs provides cash aid and services to eligible families who have a child(ren) in the home. CalWORKs is available to U.S. citizens and certain immigrants, including US citizen children even if the parent(s) is not eligible, because of immigration status. Go to http://benefitscal.org/ or contact your local Social Services Agency:
Eden Area Multi-Service Center; 24100 Amador Street Hayward, CA 94544; (510) 263-2420
Are you...
- Not eligible for cash benefits like CalWORKS?,
- OR Refugee, asylee, or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder,
- OR A victim of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes?
You may be eligible for other assistance and relief programs. Visit the E-Benefits California website: http://benefitscal.org/
Relief Funds
- Emergency fund for service workers: visit https://ofwemergencyfund.org/help
- Emergency assistance for bartenders: visit https://www.usbgfoundation.org/beap
- For a comprehensive list of similar funds as above, visit this website: https://www.familiesinschools.org/financial-support/
Financial Tips
Check with your bank: Many banks and financial institutions are offering payment deferrals on car loans, home loans, and credit card payments. Check with your bank or credit union, or visit this website, to see what opportunities are available for you: https://tinyurl.com/y8sf354y
Trouble paying student loans? If your loan is held by the federal government, your loan payments are postponed with no interest until September 30, 2021. For other kinds of student loans, contact your student loan servicer to find more out more about your options.
If you are having trouble making payments: If you are having trouble making payments, contact the companies you owe money to. Discuss your situation and options. Many companies have implemented special payment flexibilities for consumers experiencing hardship at this time.
For comprehensive advice on financial troubles and options available during COVID-19, visit the Consumer Finance government website at:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/.
The website includes:
- Options to pay your mortgage
- Options to pay your credit cards
- Options to pay your auto loans
- How to work with your bank or credit union
- How to work with debt collectors
- How to stay on top of your credit reports
Read Annuity.org's COVID-19 financial guide: Click here. The guide includes information about unemployment, federal benefits, health care, small businesses, taxes, and more.
Unemployment Insurance
If you lost hours or your job due to COVID-19, apply for unemployment (UI) benefits for lost jobs, reduced hours, and missed work for childcare due to school closures at www.covid19.ca.gov.
How to Apply for UI Benefits (File a Claim) (YouTube): English | Spanish | Cantonese | Vietnamese | Mandarin
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has compiled helpful information for employers, employees, and all Californians.
Labor and Workforce Development Agency Resources for Employees: There are several compensation options available to employees, such as Paid Family Leave, Unemployment Insurance, and Paid Sick Leave. Please visit the State of California’s Safer at Work website for more information. Please visit the State of California’s Safer at Work website for more information.
Worker Supportive Services
The Alameda County Workforce Development Board (ACWDB) is here to help point employers, self-employed individuals, contractors, workers, and job seekers in the right direction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Go to www.acwdb.org for a complete toolkit on what services are being offered.
Pandemic Unemployment Insurance
As part of the federal CARES Act, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.
Benefits can be retroactive to weeks starting on or after February 2, 2020, depending on your last day of work due to COVID-19 and regardless of when you submitted your claim application. The effective date of your claim will begin the Sunday of the week when you last worked and became unemployed due to reasons directly related to COVID-19. Learn more and apply online at https://tinyurl.com/puaassist
If you qualify for a regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim, you should not file a PUA claim at this time. If you filed for UI and received an award notice indicating $0 in benefits available, visit this page for what to do next: https://tinyurl.com/faqpua
CAMEO, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and Legal Aid at Work have set up a legal clinic to help self-employed workers in Alameda County to determine if they’re eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. To participate in this clinic, call (415) 484-8372 or fill out the online form. A volunteer will ask you a few questions in order to set up an appointment for you with a Legal Aid At Work counselor.
Virtual Career Services and Job Opportunities
If you are collecting unemployment insurance or your wages have been impacted by COVID-19 and you meet income
requirements, limited funding is available to help cover some of the cost for supports like utility bills, housing expenses,
childcare, or work-related needs for tools/technology. You may also be eligible to receive no-cost workforce-related
services like job search assistance and retraining. Please contact your nearest Career Service Provider:
Tri-Cities Career Services Provider at Ohlone College
(510) 742-2323
careercenter@ohlone.edu
Eden Area Career Services Provider
(510) 253-2994
celestej@rubiconprograms.org
- If you are recently unemployed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, visit www.onwardca.org for job opportunities. Onward CA connects job seekers with essential businesses which are looking to increase their staff during the pandemic.