Seemingly out of the blue, millions of lives were disrupted when the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping the nation. Businesses closed and citizens in many states were directed to stay at home to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. This is causing extreme financial hardship for many. We’ve updated our popular “Tools for Tough Times” feature normally only available to our members and making it available publicly as a service to all who may be suffering financial stress. We offer resources specific to this crisis, as well as some general tools designed to help you cope with tough financial pressures – whether it be learning how to avoid eviction or foreclosure on your home, finding local assistance for utilities, or tapping into ideas for saving money at the grocery store and cooking meals for less.
Table of Contents
- Coronavirus related resources
- Mortgages, Rents and Home Ownership
- Debt and Money Problems
- Financial Tools
- Heating & Home Energy
- Gas & Driving
- Frugal Living
- What steps have states taken to address coronavirus? State-by-state guide from the National Governors Association.
- How Each State Is Responding To COVID-19 – See state-by-state stay-at-home orders, school closures, election proceedings, interstate travel, business restrictions, resources for front line and unemployed personnel, and more. NPR is tracking developments in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia so you can see what’s changed and how states compare.
- Are you eligible for an Economic Impact Payment (also known as a “stimulus check”)
- Check for status or get your Economic Impact Payment (“stimulus check”)
- IRS Filing and Payment Deadline Extended to July 15, 2020
- State Tax Agencies – check to learn if deadline has been extended
- State-Level Information for Essential Workers Seeking Child Care – from the US Office of Child Care
- Your Money: A Hub for Help During the Coronavirus Crisis – get information about stimulus checks, unemployment insurance, paid sick leave and family leave, federal student loans, mortgages and rent, utility bills and more helpful advice (New York Times)
- Paid sick leave: Who gets it during the coronavirus outbreak – Many of America’s nearly 159 million workers will get access to some paid time off if they or their families are affected by the coronavirus, including gig workers, self-employed workers, and many workers who were not otherwise eligible. But there are loopholes. (Washington Post)
- Unemployment Insurance Relief During COVID-19 Outbreak – Department of Labor
- How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance? – Department of Labor
- Career OneStop: Unemployment Benefits Finder
- How to File for Coronavirus Unemployment if You’re Self-Employed– NerdWallet
- When the Paycheck Stops – A Survival Guide to Unemployment – from the AFL-CIO. Also available in Spanish
- 2-1-1 – a national help line that helps individuals identify assistance and support they may be eligible to receive in their community. Call 2-1-1 from any phone or visit www.211.org/.
- Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19
- Paying for Healthcare in the Age of Coronavirus – Especially if you’ve lost your job and coverage, getting the care you need can get expensive. Here are strategies from Consumer Reports to help.
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) benefits – Apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits, which are described on this page. SNAP income and resource limits are updated annually. The information on this page is for Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 2020. (USDA)
- Find your local food bank – The Feeding America nationwide network of food banks secures and distributes 4.3 billion meals each year through food pantries and meal programs throughout the U.S. Contact your local community food bank to find food.
- US Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- Penfed Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Financial Relief Program – financial assistance to Veterans, Active Duty, Reserves and National Guard who are experiencing a financial setback due to the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Emergency Grants for Individuals – Grantspace.org maintains a list of grants or relief available to residents of certain geographic locations/communities or workers in certain professions – for example: artists, freelancers, restaurant workers, etc.
- Your Guide to Getting Cash During the Pandemic – From retirement savings and aid programs to bill payment delay programs, there are new rules and options that can help. (Consumer Reports)
- What to Know About Taking Social Security in the Pandemic – (New York Times)
- Be on your guard for coronavirus scammers, skimmers & phishers! (Consumer Insurance Blog)
Mortgages, Rents and Home Ownership Resources
- How to Get Help With Your Mortgage During the Coronavirus Pandemic – A new law gives most mortgage holders the option of putting payments on pause. Should you take it? (Consumer Reports)
- Here’s what you need to know about paying your rent or mortgage – (Washington Post)
- Federal Foreclosure and Eviction Suspensions; Mortgage Loan Forbearance – National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)
- State Limitations on Foreclosures and Evictions– National Consumer Law Center (NCLC):
- Cities and States That Have Paused Evictions Due to COVID-19
- Buying a Home – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a detailed guide to systematically walk you through the steps in the home buying process.
- Homeownership Preservation Foundation – national non-profit counseling organization that operates (888) 995-Hope, to help homeowners remedy their mortgage problems and keep their homes.
- Hope Now – HOPE NOW is an Alliance between counselors, services, investors, and other mortgage market participants to maximize outreach efforts to at-risk homeowners and help them stay in their home.
- Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) – approved counseling agencies – clickable state map to H.U.D. approved counselors for advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages.
- Mortgages and Real Estate – facts, information, and consumers alerts from the Federal Trade Commission.
- FTC: Mortgage Relief Scams
Articles
- Home Buying: 9 Buyer Traps and How to Avoid Them (PDF) – Learn about the common and costly mistakes that trap people into paying too much, losing their dream home to another buyer, or buying the wrong home for their needs.
- Avoid Foreclosure – Learn some of the basics about avoiding and handling foreclosures from usa.gov
- Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payment Plans – discusses how bi-weekly payment plans work and how you might be able to save a hefty amount in interest over the life of your mortgage.
- How to Avoid Mortgage Fraud – an article from About.com regarding what constitutes mortgage fraud and how to avoid it.
Debt and Money Problems
Resources
- What to Do If You’re Having Trouble Paying Bills – During the coronavirus crisis, help with debts is available. But you have to ask. (Consumer Reports)
- Can’t Pay Off Your Credit Card Due to Coronavirus? Your Bank May Be Able to Help (Wirecutter)
- Everything You Need to Know About Student Loan Relief During Coronavirus (Wirecutter)
- Annual Credit Report – provides consumers with the secure means to request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act).
- Credit and Debt Advice – The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers various resources on credit and debt.
- Dealing with Debt – consumer resources and information from the Federal Trade Commission.
- Debt Collection FAQs – A guide for consumers regarding debt collection issues from the Federal Trade Commission
- Money Matters – a resource provided by the Federal Trade Commission to help consumers tackle some money issues head-on. Topics include: Scam Watch, Credit Cards, Managing Your Money, Dealing with Debt, Your Home, and Jobs. This site is also available in Spanish.
Articles/Videos
- Coronavirus: What to Do if You’re Out of Work – Dave Ramsey
- 9 Ways to Pay Off Debt
- Dealing Collection – Frequently Asked Questions – from the Federal Trade Commission. Also see: Debt Collection – Know your rights.
- Retooling Your Budget For COVID-19? 5 Smart Steps To Take Now
- MyMoney.gov – a resource brought to you by 20 agencies and bureaus of the U.S. Federal government that work on improving financial literacy and education. The Tools section offers budgeting worksheets, calculators and checklists. See Life Events for advice at various junctions in your life.
- NerdWallet – advice, content and tools ensure you’re getting more from your money.
- CNN Money – In addition to finance and business news, the site provides an array of articles, tools, and tips.
- Kiplinger Personal Finance – news, tools, and articles.
- Practical Money Skills – educator-developed and educator-approved site designed to help educators, parents, and students practice better money management for life.
- Smart About Money – sponsored by the National Endowment for Financial Education, the only private, non-profit, national foundation wholly dedicated to improving the financial well-being of all Americans. For over 30 years, NEFE has provided information and tools on financial planning, getting out of debt, managing money wisely, and saving for the future.
- 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy – an excellent resource from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for managing personal finances.
- Wirecutter: The Best Budgeting Apps and Tools
- American Council for and Energy Efficient Economy – among other resources, they offer a Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
- Energy Star – a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Learn about buying Energy Star Qualified Products, analyze your home energy use, take an energy audit, and learn to save money through home improvements or energy-saving home buying.
- State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Efficiency – are you eligible for any incentives, discounts, or rebates for using renewable energy or for implementing efficient practices? Find out using this clickable map.
- State Low-Income Energy Programs – links to and information about state-specific low income energy assistance programs.
- Tips for Saving Energy and Money at Home – a tool from the U.S. Department of Energy to help you cut your energy use by as much as 25% through a whole-house energy efficiency plan.
- Energy Saver – learn how to use the energy in your home more efficiently. Topics include: Appliances and Electronics, Energy Assessments, Insulation and Air Sealing and more.From the Department of Energy.
- Keep Your Utility Bills From Skyrocketing During the Coronavirus Pandemic – Consumer Report shows you ways to limit energy and water use without sacrificing comfort at home
- Fuelly – a free site to record and analyze your mileage and see how much money you could save with small driving changes. See how your mileage compares with EPA estimates and the mileage of other drivers. The free site also offers tips and a discussion forum.
- Fuel Economy – helps consumers make informed fuel economy choices when purchasing a vehicle and helps them to achieve the best fuel economy possible from the cars they own. Maintained jointly by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Find your car’s energy score, compare with other cars; research alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles; learn to drive efficiently.
- Gas Buddy – award-winning travel and navigation app that gives you 27 ways to save money on gas at 150,000 gas stations throughout North America.
- Green Vehicle Guide – EPA guide to choosing the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs.
- U.S. Transit System Links – links to regional bus, rail, ferry, trolley, and other public transportation systems.
- A Beginner’s Guide to Frugal Living: 24 Easy Ways to Start Saving
- 54 Ways to Save Money – Ideas for saving money from America Saves.
- How to Save Money: 100 Great Tips to Get You Started
- Deal Catcher – online coupons, products, sales, reviews, and rebates.
- Farmers Market Search – Shopping locally can help to reduce energy costs and can ensure fresh, local produce. The US Department of Agriculture maintains a current listing of farmers markets throughout the United States.
- Frugal Living – stretching your dollars and resources for a better life.
- Price Grabber – online comparison shopping enabling users to ultimately find products at the best price.
- The Cheapskate Guide: 50 Tips for Frugal Living
- Rewards Card Buying Guide – from Consumer Reports
- Get started with frugal living
- 29 Ways to Save Hundreds on Groceries
- How to Save Money on Groceries (NerdWallet)
- The Food Expiration Dates You Should Actually Follow – The first thing you should know? The dates, as we know them, have nothing to do with safety. (New York Times)
- How to Extend Food Expiration Dates – Tips for stretching the shelf life of eggs, milk, flour, and more. (Consumer Reports
- When to Buy to Get the Lowest Price on Products – Consumer Reports researched the best time of year to buy various products to ensure the best pricing.
- Best Low-Cost Cell-Phone Plans- Consumer Reports checks out the latest plans.