News for Community Partners from Legal Aid

Please see these important updates related to COVID-19 as well as other information in the message below–

• Recent CDC order protects qualifying tenants from eviction by giving landlord a declaration.
• Immigration application fees increase October 2.
• Economic Impact Payment must be claimed by non-filers by October 15, 2020.
• Ohio makes driver’s license amnesty program permanent by December 15, 2020.
• Learn more about these benefits during the pandemic: SNAP, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer.
• Emergency financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, and other basic necessities.
• Interactive statewide map of COVID testing.
• Information about your rights at peaceful protests and demonstrations.
• Learn how to file a complaint against the Cleveland police through OPS.
• New SNAP scam alert.
• CEOGC’s M.O.V.E.R.S. program has been extended.
• Cleveland guarantees free eviction help for some households with children.
• Workers can call the Worker Information Line for information about their rights.
• Join Legal Aid on Friday 9/25 for a virtual training on Financial Matters and the Law.

Questions? Contact Anne Sweeney, Managing Attorney for Community Engagement, at anne.sweeney@lasclev.org

National Updates:

Recent CDC order protects qualifying tenants from eviction by giving landlord a declaration: The Center for Disease Control has issued an Order temporarily stopping some evictions for nonpayment to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Tenants are not automatically protected by this order. They must meet certain criteria and complete a Declaration form to be delivered to their landlord. Tenants can use this tool from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to generate and send Declarations to get protection from eviction under the CDC’s Eviction Order. Tenants with questions should call Legal Aid’s Tenant Information Line at 216.861.5955.

Immigration application fees increase October 2: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a new rule that increases fees for many immigration applications, limits the types of applications that are eligible for a fee waiver, and narrows the eligibility requirements for a fee waiver. This new rule will go into effect on October 2, 2020. For more information about this new rule, click here.

Economic Impact Payment must be claimed by non-filers by October 15, 2020: As a result of the CARES Act, people began to see some financial relief through the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) issued by the IRS. Millions of individuals that do not normally file income taxes need to use the IRS Non-Filer Tool by October 15, 2020 to receive their payment.

• Click here for more information about the Economic Impact Payment and the IRS Non-Filer Tool.
• Click here to view the IRS Non-Filer Tool.
• Click here to view a guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on helping consumers claim the EIP. This guide contains step-by-step information for direct service and community organizations frontline staff on how to talk with clients about the EIP, determine if clients need to take additional steps to receive the EIP, and troubleshoot problems in accessing the EIP.

State Updates:

Ohio makes driver’s license amnesty program permanent by December 15, 2020: The BMV Driver’s License Amnesty Program is now permanent after being signed into law by Governor DeWine on June 16, 2020. The Department of Public Safety has until December 15^th to have the program operational. The Act (HB 285) requires the Department of Public Safety to 1) conduct a public service announcement about the program and requirements 2) make the information available on the Department of Public Safety and BMV websites and 3) establish a toll-free number that a person can call to find out more information about the program and whether they are eligible. The new program will have two phases. The first phase will apply to drivers whose licenses were suspended before September 15, 2020 and the second phase will apply to drivers whose licenses were suspended after September 15, 2020.

Learn about SNAP benefits: Do you have questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during COVID-19? Are you wondering about recertifications and work requirements during this time? Click here form more information about SNAP benefits during COVID-19.

Learn about P-EBT benefits: Have you heard about the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program? Do you have questions about who qualifies for P-EBT? Are you wondering when and how eligible families will receive P-EBT benefits? Click here for more information about P-EBT.

Learn about PUA: Do you have questions about remote schooling and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)? If your child is attending school remotely, do you have questions about PUA eligibility? Click here for more information about remote schooling and PUA.

Local Updates:

Emergency financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, and other basic necessities: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an undue financial burden on so many. A variety of sources of funding have emerged to support people during this time. There are resources for rent assistance, utility assistance, property tax payment assistance, and other general financial support through the Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) program. There may also be support for those who still have not received their Economic Impact Payment.

Interactive statewide map of COVID testing: As the pandemic continues, testing has become more widely available. Click here to view an interactive map of testing sites across the state, requirements for testing, and contact information for the organization.

Information about your rights at peaceful protests and demonstrations: Do you know your rights when engaged in peaceful protests or demonstrations? Do you know when a permit is required? Do you have questions about what the police can do? Click here to learn more about your rights when engaged in peaceful protests or demonstrations.

Learn how to file a complaint against the Cleveland police through OPS: Are you wondering about the process for filing complaints about problems with the Cleveland police? Complaints against the Cleveland police can be made with the Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Click here to learn more about the process of filing a complaint with OPS.

New SNAP scam alert: The USDA has issued a warning about scammers using text messages to try and obtain personal information from SNAP recipients. Scammers will send messages informing people that they have been selected to receive food stamps or SNAP. Cuyahoga Job and Family Services (CJFS) will never ask you to send personal information via text message. CJFS sends text alerts to customers who have signed up to receive updates on their case via text. However, these messages will never ask you to send your personal information to CJFS via text. Official messages from the agency will include information about the status of your case or updates about programs offered by CJFS. For more information about this scam, see this flyer.

CEOGC’s M.O.V.E.R.S. program has been extended: The Council for Economic Opportunities’ program M.O.V.E.R.S. has been extended. The M.O.V.E.R.S. program focuses on individuals who are 18-24 years old, are high school graduates and meet income guidelines. Participants will receive Microsoft trainings towards their IC3 Digital Literacy Certification, along with basic customer service training and job readiness tools. This 6-week program will also provide a financial stipend based on attendance, a clothing voucher, business tours, college/educational tours, and workplace assessment testing. See this flyer to learn more or contact a Family Development Specialist for registration information.

Legal Aid Updates:

Cleveland guarantees free eviction help for some households with children: Right to Counsel – Cleveland guarantees free eviction help for tenants in Cleveland with one or more children living at or below the federal poverty line who are facing eviction. For more information, visit Free Eviction Help.

Workers can call the Worker Information Line for information about their rights: Legal Aid launched a Worker Information Line! People with questions about employment rights, benefits, or unemployment assistance should call 216.861.5899 in Cuyahoga County and 440.210.4532 in Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake or Lorain Counties.

Join Legal Aid on Friday 9/25 for a virtual training on Financial Matters and the Law: Are financial matters plaguing your clients? patrons? congregation? Learn more about bankruptcy, payday loans and auto transactions, as well as public benefits during an online training by Legal Aid Society of Cleveland attorneys. The training is Friday, 9/25/2020 from 9 am – 12:15 pm. More information and registration is available at https://lasclev.org/09252020/.