This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.

The Empolyer Tax Credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep their employees on payroll. For more information, see this pdf. 

As part of our effort to help all taxpayers, no matter where they live, their background or what language they speak, the IRS is expanding information and assistance available to taxpayers in additional languages. For the first time, the 2020 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, will be available in Spanish. It will also allow taxpayers to indicate whether they want to be contacted in a language other than English. This is a new feature available this coming filing season. Learn more on IRS.gov.

As part of a large effort to reach underserved communities, #IRS Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, is now available in 20 languages. The 2020 version of Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, will be available early next year in seven languages. https://go.usa.gov/xGBjn

Thanks to a significant grant from Lowe’s, LISC will provide the emergency assistance that small businesses desperately need to stay afloat. We will deploy grants to help them bridge the financial gap, and provide guidance to help them navigate the intricate web of public and private resources now available. LISC will focus these efforts on historically underserved communities—especially those enterprises owned or led by minorities and women, who often lack access to affordable capital.

Apply here.

We’re providing cash assistance to restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers and more who need the money they aren’t getting to survive. To apply click here. 

You may be eligible for additional leave under NYS Paid Family Leave and disability benefits.  Click: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/COVID19

RedRover is greatly concerned for people and animals during this COVID-19 crisis. We are currently assessing what is needed and will continue to provide updates with resources and information. Grant resources include Emergency Veterinary care, Emergency boarding, Pet food and Equine resources, and more.

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. This advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available following a successful application. This loan advance will not have to be repaid. For more information, click here.

Social Security offices continue to provide service by phone.  Phone numbers are published online at www.ssa.gov.  Just scroll down to Contact Us, select Office Locator, and enter your ZIP Code, and select Locate.  The office address, and our national toll-free number will appear first, but if you scroll down to Additional Information, the local office’s direct toll-free number is listed.

For those who need to connect with the IRS or have issues with income tax errors or arrears, they can call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778.

Some information available at taxpayeradvocate.irs.org.

Ulster County’s women and minority-owned businesses, along with businesses in low- and moderate-income census tracts, are now eligible for $2 million dollars in loan funding through the Ulster Equity Loan Program. The monies, targeted at stabilizing small businesses and non-profits hit by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, are made possible by a $100,000 investment by Ulster County Economic Development Alliance (UCEDA) in partnership with the National Development Council (NDC). The minority and women-owned businesses do not have to be certified by NYS and may be self-identifying. Other businesses will be eligible after minority and women-owned businesses and those in qualifying areas are given priority.

Ulster County Department of Social Services
Ulster County Temporary Assistance (845)-334-5442
Medicaid Office (845)-334-5175
www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov– the official health plan marketplace (855)-355-5777

Apply on line via State Department of Labor

This fund drive will help the hourly, low-wage workers in our community who have been laid off, fired, or given reduced hours as a result of COVID-19. We do not make cash payments, but pay vendors (i.e. utility company, landlord, insurance company, phone company, etc.). A $750 cap applies. Call 845-331-4199 for information.

The 2020-2021 Regular HEAP benefit opened November 2, 2020.

If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help you pay for heating your home.

Eligibility and benefits are based on:

• income,
• household size,
• the primary heating source, and
• the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.

Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household’s primary source of heat. Benefits also available for heating equipment repair or replacement, or a clean and tune benefit.

Find out more about eligibility and program information.  

All requests for support will be kept confidential except to those providing support. There is no ask that is too big, and no one will ever be shamed for asking for what they need.

Kingston Mutual Aid is an all-volunteer grassroots group. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you for your kind patience.

Fill out form to apply for aid.

EmPower New York grants of up to $10,000 to low-income households facing high energy burdens through NYSERDA. Eligible upgrades include attic and wall insulation, high efficiency lighting, refrigerator and freezer replacement and solar credits of $5-$15 a month that are applied to your utility account. Application: https://rb.gy/bncasr

Per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order:

New York is extending a moratorium on evictions for residential and commercial tenants. At this time, eviction proceedings have been suspended and no one can be evicted in New York State until at least May 1, 2021.

The state is also banning late payments or fees for missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium, and allowing renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. Click for more info

Through United Way’s partnership with H&R Block, every household with a simple return can file their federal and state taxes for free on MyFreeTaxes.com.

NYS partners with the Free File Alliance to offer you more options to e-file your New York State income tax return—at no cost. If your 2019 income is $69,000 or less—yes, using at least one of the software providers on this page. 

If you earned more than $69,000 in 2019, see Other e-file options to learn about your electronic filing options.

For everything you’ll need to choose the right software and prepare your return, see Get ready to e-file your income tax return. For additional tools, see Filing Season Resource Center for additional filing information.