Casey O'Brien

SBA Will Assume Most Borrowers Applied in "Good Faith"

The Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline to many during the pandemic, but in order to receive it business owners had to prove that they needed the money due to the economic impacts of COVID-19 "in good faith". After the Treasury

Want to be a Contact Tracer? Start With This Free Course

Contact tracing is an effective--and important--way to manage the COVID crisis and ensure safe reopenings.   As we have covered before, contact tracing [https://helloskip.com/blog/what-do-contact-tracers-do/] involves interviewing individuals exposed to the virus and investigating who they have been in contact with in

driver license

What to Know about the New REAL ID deadline

Although some DMV offices are beginning to open slowly [https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/11/coronavirus-california-reopens-select-dmv-field-offices/] , there are still many offices around the country that are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. That has meant that it's been difficult for many

covid-19

Breaking: Social Security Recipients Beginning to Recieve Stimulus Checks

About 8 million people  in the US rely on Social Security benefits to survive. Some of them are retirees, while others are disabled and unable to work.  Benefit recipients who live exclusively on Social Security benefits do not have filing requirements with the IRS, [https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/

Who Doesn't Qualify for a Stimulus Check?

Millions of Americans have started to receive their stimulus checks via mail and direct deposit. But while the economic impact payments are unprecedented in scope, there are still some people who, for some reason, don't qualify.  If you're wondering where your payment is, it's

covid-19

Your Guide to the New House Stimulus Bill

On Friday, the  the House of Representatives passed a new COVID-19 stimulus bill that, if it becomes law, would be the largest aid package in American history, with a price tag of more than $3 trillion [https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/12/politics/3-trillion-aid-package-democrats-

financial

The Biggest Money-Saving Move You Can Make Today in Quarantine

If you're like millions of other Americans,  you might be facing a tighter budget right now. That can be scary, but the good news is that there are things you can do to help you ride things out. And you might just find you like your new cost

Log onto the IRS Website Before Wednesday to Make Sure You Get Your Stimulus Check ASAP

Haven't received your stimulus check yet? You're not alone. But with the IRS estimating that it could be September [https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/17/new-timeline-shows-when-all-coronavirus-stimulus-payments-will-arrive.html] before everyone eligible receives their funds, you'll

America's Job Market as of Today, by the Numbers

The U.S. Department of Labor released their monthly report today [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm], and it shows clear measures of the impact of  the novel coronavirus across the American economy in April. We have pulled out the most important numbers for you below. Read

covid-19

Understanding Investments in the Time of Coronavirus

Investing can be intimidating even without a global pandemic. But now is a great time to get started with investing if you never have before, especially if you feel comfortable financially and could invest your stimulus check.  We caught up with financial advisor Leslie Shenkler [https://financialservicesinc.ubs.com/team/

financial

Your Guide to Student Loans and Coronavirus

If you have student debt, you may be concerned about paying your loans in a national health crisis. The good news is, you may not have to.  Read on for all the info you need on navigating your student loans in the pandemic. Federal Student Loans and The CARES Act

covid-19

The SBA has slashed EIDL loan limits and is shutting out new applicants. Here's what we know.

EIDL loans, one of the major sources of funding for struggling businesses during the pandemic has scaled down significantly, limiting loans and shutting out nearly all new applicants. The Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, a lending program for disaster relief that predates the pandemic, was given an

financial

Referral Programs to Get Extra Cash in Your Pocket this Week

With unemployment high and rising every day, more and more Americans are feeling the financial stress of lost income and bills to pay. If you're one of them, we can help: there are many companies that will pay a referral bonus  for every friend you refer to use

covid-19

Here's the Lowdown on The Push for a Second Stimulus Check

If you're feeling stressed that your stimulus check won't be enough to cover your basic necessities--even for a few weeks--you're not alone. For many Americans, $1200, which is the maximum stimulus payment, is not enough to cover even a month of rent.

financial

Managing Your Budget During a Global Pandemic

Are you living on a tight budget during the coronavirus lockdown?  We understand.  To help you manage your money and deal with the unexpected costs of life in quarantine, we've gathered some tips and tricks on how to manage--and maybe even save– your money through the coronavirus

covid-19

How to Help Your Community For #GivingTuesdayNow

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving held on December 1 of every year;  in 2019, it generated $2 billion dollars in a single day, in the US alone.  In response to the crisis caused by COVID-19, #GivingTuesday has announced an additional day of giving to help nonprofits and

covid-19

Making more on Unemployment Than You Did Working? Keep Jobhunting Anyway. Here's Why.

The federal government's pandemic response law, the CARES Act,includes some unprecedented adjustments to help the country deal with the coronavirus pandemic--including an additional $600 in unemployment insurance, weekly. That increase offers much-needed relief for many out of work Americans and their families, but it also

covid-19

4 Coronavirus-Safe Side Hustles For Making Money from Home

If you've been laid off during the COVID crisis, like thirty million other Americans [https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/30/economy/unemployment-benefits-coronavirus/index.html] , you might be scrambling to make ends meet. Even many who still have their jobs have had hours or wages cut.

covid-19

Don't Panic: Here's what to do if you can't pay your May rent or mortgage.

With a record 30 million unemployment claims filed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans are facing dire financial straits. If you have lost your job or revenue for your business here are some tips

covid-19

Your Guide to the COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Checks

To help Americans ride out the coronavirus crisis, the federal government is currently sending out Economic Impact Payments, commonly being referred to as stimulus checks. You are eligible for a check [https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/irs-mails-out-first-coronavirus-1200-stimulus-checks-work-out-your-payment-schedule/

financial

The Ultimate Unemployment Guide for Everyone Laid Off From Lyft, Uber and other companies

Unemployment around the US is continuing to rise, with announcements today from both Lyft and Uber of major layoffs  (Lyft is laying off 17% of the company, and Uber is expected to lay off 20%). TripAdvisor [https://www.thestreet.com/investing/tripadvisor-layoffs-coronavirus-pandemic] laid off 25% of their

covid-19

How to Make Sure Your COVID-19 PPP Loan Gets Fully Forgiven

After closing down due to lack of funding, yesterday the Paycheck Protection Program officially reopened [https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program] with an additional $310 billion from Congress. PPP loans are designed to keep small businesses running during the coronavirus crisis, and can

covid-19

What do COVID-19 Contact Tracers Do?

Understanding Contact Tracing Jobs and Where to Find Them Around the country, especially in areas with aggressive coronavirus response plans, public health departments are rolling out contact tracing programs. Contact tracing is a process used to track the path of contagious diseases, where people that are confirmed to have a

covid-19

Unemployed from Covid-19 and Need a Job? We Can Help.

As of April 23, the real unemployment rate in the US was suspected to be over 20% [https://fortune.com/2020/04/23/us-unemployment-rate-numbers-claims-this-week-total-job-losses-april-23-2020-benefits-claims/] , with over 26 million Americans filing for benefits. That is a staggering