Menifee Forward

If you are a resident of Riverside County housed between the months of June and November looking for one-time direct rental assistance.

United Lift will administer $33 million in rental assistance between the months of June and November, with the first round of payments expected to be dispersed in early July. 

The rental assistance is intended to cover 100 percent of total past due rent, up to $3,500 per household. Funding for the program is limited to cover past due rent from April 2020 to November 2020.

Learn more at unitedlift.org

The first application window will be open from June 15 through June 25. Following the initial window, applications will be open every month through for a period of 10 days.  

Apply at: unitedlift.org

If you are a restaurant employee who has been adversely impacted by COVID-19, whether through a loss of wages or loss of employment

Grants provided to restaurant employees for essential expenses

Each approved grant is for $500, per person

Learn more at refr.us

Please apply at refr.us

If you are a currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate student.

Funding provided through the CARES Act for universities to provide special grants for unmet financial need and extra expenses caused by COVID-19. 

The federal grants offered through the CARES Act provide aid to students needing financial assistance for school in the midst of COVID-19.

The existing Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) program, under the Department of Education, is administered directly by the financial aid office at each participating school. Not all schools participate. Students must check with their school’s financial aid office to find out if the school offers the FSEOG program.

Additional information regarding these grants can be found online at studentaid.gov

If you are currently enrolled in school and were receiving work-study grants and actively working in a work-study job prior to COVID-19

Relief provided through the CARES Act that offers funding for students in work-study programs that were impacted by COVID-19. 

The federal work-study program provides part-time jobs to students with financial needs allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program is offered through the Department of Education and administered directly by the financial aid office at participating schools. 

Students in the program may be eligible for payment for lost wages due to COVID-19. Eligible students may be paid all or part of the wages they would have made had they continued working. 

Students who believe they are eligible should contact their school’s financial aid office. Additional information about this program can be found online at studentaid.gov

If you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 

Funding provided through the CARES Act for training and support services administered by the Department of Labor (DOL).

These programs benefit a wide range of individuals, including but not limited to, dislocated workers, seniors, farmworkers, veterans, disabled, youth, etc. The programs are aimed to improve the employment prospects of these individuals and are designed to increase workers’ employability and earnings. 

The programs are delivered through the states and tailored to local economies. Additional information about these programs can be found online at dol.gov

Find information on local training programs by contacting your local American Job Center or contacting Employment and Training Administration's toll-free helpline at 1-877-US2-JOBS.

If you are 65 years of age and older, or a young adult with disabilities.

The CARES Act provides enhanced Medicare coverage for COVID-19 related services, including lab tests, medically necessary hospitalizations, and telehealth services. 

Expanded coverage of telehealth services for all qualifying Medicare recipients.

Additional informational about eligibility, types of coverage, out of pocket costs, and services provided can be found online at medicare.gov

Apply online at ssa.gov

If you are a struggling homeowner seeking mortgage relief during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Cares Act relief options for all federally backed mortgages. 

Options and assistance for individuals seeking mortgage and rental relief.

Click Here to get information on what your options are for mortgage and rental relief.

Contact your local loan servicer.

You may have to wait on the line to speak to your mortgage servicer as call volumes are especially high due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure that you have your account number handy when you call. 

For homeowners with mortgages covered by the CARES Act, you only need to explain that you have a pandemic-related financial hardship.

If you are a Servicemember, Veteran or surviving spouse looking for a home loan.

Home loan guaranty and programs to buy, build, repair, retain or adapt a home.

Home loans to help buy, build, repair, retain or improve.

For more information on the VA Home Loan program call (877) 827-3702, to contact the nearest VA Regional Loan Center, or visit benefits.va.gov

Please visit benefits.va.gov or call (877) 827-3702

If you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19

Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own

39 weeks instead of 26; extra $600 per week, payable immediately

Please visit irs.gov/coronavirus

No action is required

If you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19

Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own

39 weeks instead of 26; extra $600 per week, payable immediately

Please visit EDD.ca.gov

File an Unemployment Insurance Claim

If you have not yet filed 2019 federal taxes

The deadline to file and pay federal income taxes is now July 15, 2020

An automatic 3-month extension for both filing and payment of federal income tax, without penalties or interest

Learn more at irs.gov/coronavirus; contact your tax preparer or accountant for more information

The extension is automatic

If you need to withdraw funds from your retirement account

Withdraw funds from a 401(k) or IRA

Hardship withdrawals are not subject to 10% early distribution penalty; may be repaid over 3 years

Learn more at irs.gov

Contact your retirement account manager or plan sponsor

If you need to take a loan from your 401(k)

Take a loan against your 401(k) instead of withdrawing funds

Loan limits have doubled to the lesser of $100,000 or 100% of the vested account balance

Please visit irs.gov

Contact your retirement account manager or plan sponsor

If you are over 70-1/2 or older and subject to mandatory minimum distributions

Decide whether to take a distribution for calendar year 2020

Allows individuals to keep funds within retirement accounts

Expect guidance from the IRS and your retirement account manager or plan sponsor

Contact your retirement account manager or plan sponsor

If you have a High-Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account and use telehealth services

Use telehealth services rather than in-person medical visits

Telehealth services may be covered under a qualifying health plan before the patient has met the plan deductible

Contact your doctor or health insurance company

Rules and procedures vary by plan

If you have a medical savings account and buy certain over-the-counter medical products

Uses medical savings account funds for more items

Funds may be used for over-the-counter medical products without a prescription

Contact your medical savings account administrator

Rules and procedures vary by account administrator

If you have federal student loans

CARES Act relief provided to federal student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency.

Borrowers of these specific loans may temporarily stop making payments until September 30, 2020

To learn more about automatic deferral, interest, and eligibility visit studentaid.gov

Contact your loan servicer or visit studentaid.gov

If you have federal Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans

Interest is temporarily set to 0%

From March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2020, the interest rate of specific federal loan types is 0%

Learn more at studentaid.gov

Contact your loan servicer or visit studentaid.gov

If your employer makes payments toward your student loans

Employer payments to employees’ student loans are tax-free up to $5,250

These payments will not be treated as taxable income to the employee

Expect guidance from the IRS and your employer

Contact your employer about this potential benefit