State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell represents the cities of Methuen and Haverhill in the state legislature and serves as House chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at [email protected] or (617) 722-2380.
The state has taken many essential steps to stop the spread of COVID-19, and we are continuing to work to minimize any hardships these protective measures might create for small businesses and working families. Below is a brief guide of resources that may be useful.
Unemployment Assistance
- The State has filed emergency regulations allowing individuals to collect unemployment benefits if their workplace is shut down due to COVID-19 and plans to reopen. The State has also passed a law allowing new unemployment claims to be paid more quickly by waiving the usual one-week waiting period.
- You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you are quarantined due to an order by a civil authority or medical professional, or if you leave employment due to a reasonable risk of exposure to COVID-19 or to care for a family member.
- For eligibility information and to apply for unemployment benefits online, visit mass.gov/unemployment/covid-19
Small Business Relief
- Following a request from Governor Baker, the U.S. Small Business Administration will offer low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million for Massachusetts small businesses and private non-profits of any size affected by COVID-19. For more information and to apply, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
- For small businesses that paid less than $150,000 last year in sales plus meals taxes, or less than $150,000 in room occupancy taxes, Governor Baker has announced that those taxes due in March, April, and May will instead be due on June 20, 2020, with no penalties or interest.
- For additional resources for businesses, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-resources-and-guidance-for-businesses
Further, the Massachusetts House and Senate have made available $15 million in funding to support many of the State’s emergency actions related to COVID-19. Much of this funding will go toward first responders in our communities and local boards of health to support our most pressing needs, such as testing, treatment, and prevention.
Other actions taken by the State include critical social distancing measures such as closing K-12 schools and daycare centers (except for emergency daycare facilities), banning gatherings of over 25 people, restricting restaurants to take-out and delivery, limiting visitors to hospitals and nursing homes, and requiring health insurers to cover telehealth services. The State has also taken steps to drastically increase COVID-19 testing and expand our available health care workforce to prepare for an influx of patients needing care.
This is a rapidly changing situation, with new actions taken every day to protect public health, minimize economic damage, and help those in need. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.mass.gov/covid19.