COVID-19 and the Law: What Cancer Patients Need to Know
Consumer Protection:
Protecting Your Finances During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Major Consumer Protections Announced in Response to COVID-19
This comes from the National Consumer Law Center and will be updated as laws change. Excellent information on consumer debt, bankruptcy, foreclosure, debt collection, student loans, price gouging, and more.
Employment:
- Governor Walz' Executive Order 20-56 allows for some businesses to re-open as of May 18. Here are answers for employees who have concerns about returning to work and information about what employers must to do ensure a safe workplace.
- Here is a good listing of the various laws related to COVID-19 that protect workers in Minnesota.
Families First Coronaviruse Response Act (FFCRA)
Generally provides that employees of *covered employers* are eligible for the following types of paid time off from work due to to the COVID-19 crisis:
- Two weeks/up to 80 hours paid sick leave at regular rate of pay if employee is quarantined or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
- Two weeks/up to 80 hours paid sick leave at 2/3 regular rate of pay if employee is unable to work because of need to care for another as follows:
- someone who is subject to quarantine,
- a child (under 18) whose school or child care is closed due to COVID-19, and/or
- the employee is experiencing a substantially similar condition as specified by particular governmental agencies.
- Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at 2/3 regular rate of pay, where an employee (who has been employed for at least 30 days) is unable to work due to need to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed due to COVID-19.
*Note that covered employers means fewer than 500 employees, and businesses with fewer than 50 may be exempt from the school closing/child care unavailability provisions if this would jeopardize business viability.*
More details, payment calculations, FAQs, scenarios, and definitions here and here and here and here
Filing for Unemployment Benefits
Helping Minnesotans With Questions About Unemployment--lots of great information about eligibility and applying
Self-Employed or a Contract Worker? Here is a Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the UI Application During COVID-19
COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits --specific information about how to apply in Minnesota
Health Insurance:
Income Decreasing? MNsure's special enrollment period to reduce your health insurance costs
Commercial Insurers in MN agree to waive all treatment costs for in-network COVID-19 hospitalizations through at least May 31-- April 2, 2020
- Visit your insurer's COVID-19 resource page for more details: Blue Cross Blue Shield MN, HealthPartners, Hennepin Health, Medica, Preferred One, and UCare
- Note this does not apply to self-insured employers, but they are encouraged to implement similar protections and measures.
Insurance Options for Minnesotans Experiencing a Change in Income or Employment --new eligibility information from MNSure in light of COVID-19
Minnesotans Who Lose/Will Lose their Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
- You may qualify for a special enrollment period with MNSure
- if your employer ends coverage or
- you/your spouse lose coverage when you lose/leave a job
- Note there is usually a 60 day window to apply
- Failing to pay your COBRA premiums does NOT make you eligible for a special enrollment period
Housing:
For Homeowners:
Moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for 60 days for single family homeowners with FHA backed mortgages--Housing and Urban Development, March 18, 2020
Federal Housing Finance Agency directs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend Foreclosures and Evictions for at least 60 days due to coronavirus. --March 18, 2020
For Renters:
The majority of eviction cases are suspended until March 30 -update from Homeline as of March 19, 2020
Taxes:
Federal Tax Payments Deferred from April 15 to July 15 --US Department of Treasury
MN State Individual Income Tax Payments for 2019 Extended to July 15
- Applies only to individual income taxes not various business or fiduciary taxes
- Does NOT apply to estimated payments for 2020 due on April 15
- Does NOT apply to property taxes; those are collected by the various counties and the Dept of Revenue doesn't have authority to delay or cancel them
- If you are due a refund, file your taxes asap as waiting to file until July 15 will only delay receiving the refund you are due
Student Loans:
Automatic Stop to Federal Student Loan Repayments until September 30, 2020--as part of the CARES Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, broad relief for federal student loan borrowers was enacted. Lots of your very specific questions are answered here
For ongoing updates and info, visit the Federal Student Aid Coronavirus Forbearance Website
