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Date: March 18, 2020

COVID-19 Benefits FAQs (Español)

1. Social Distancing Measures
2. If you cannot work
3. If your child's school is closed
4. If you need health insurance
5. If you need food assistance
6. If you need help paying for internet or utilities 

The coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic is affecting us all, and we understand how stressful this time can be for our clients, neighbors and communities. Foster Garvey has assembled a COVID-19 taskforce to address the particular needs of our pro bono clients and others in our community who may need additional support during this time.

Below are some “Frequently Asked Questions” addressing employment, child care, healthcare and food assistance, along with links to resources that provide basic guidance to key benefits that are available to those affected by coronavirus closures in Washington State. We will continue to update this page as the situation changes.

1. Social Distancing Measures 

    • Schools closed
    • Shelter-in-Place order. You must stay at home other than to perform essential activities
    • No social gatherings whatsoever
    • Restaurants and bars closed except for takeout/delivery
    • All businesses closed except for essential businesses (for example, grocery stores, pharmacies and healthcare providers may remain open)

2. If you cannot work

If you miss work because:

    • You or your family are sick, you may qualify for:
      • Paid sick leave through your employer 
        • Full wage replacement, no waiting period
        • An additional two weeks of paid sick leave (paid at two-thirds of your regular rate) may be available under new federal law (capped at $2,000)
      • Paid family & medical leave through Washington State
        • Partial wage replacement, one-week waiting period
        • Requires application and medical certification that you are sick and cannot work
        • Click to apply
      • You may qualify for 12 weeks of emergency paid leave under new federal law
        • If you have worked 30 or more days for your employer
        • The first two weeks may be unpaid (so you can use the emergency paid sick leave above)
        • Then you can get two-thirds of your regular rates, up to $200 a day, and up to $10,000 in total
      • Unemployment benefits
        • If you worked over 680 hours from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019 (full or part time)
        • Partial wage replacement for up to 4 weeks, with a potential for a 4-week extension (for a total of 8 weeks)
        • If you are severely ill and cannot work, you will qualify for unemployment benefits once you recover and are healthy enough that you could go back to work
        • Click to apply
    • Schools are closed, you may qualify for:
      • Paid sick leave through your employer
        • Full wage replacement, no waiting period
        • An additional two weeks of emergency paid sick leave (paid at two-thirds of your regular rate) may be available under new federal law (capped at $2,000)
      • You may qualify for 12 weeks of emergency paid leave under new federal law
        • If you have worked 30 or more days for your employer
        • The first two weeks may be unpaid (so you can use the emergency paid sick leave above)
        • Then you can get two-thirds of your regular rates, up to $200 a day, and up to $10,000 in total
    • Your employer cut your hours or shut down, you may qualify for:
      • Unemployment benefits
        • If you worked over 680 hours from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019 (full or part time)
        • Partial wage replacement for up to 4 weeks, with a potential for a 4-week extension (for a total of 8 weeks)
        • Click to apply
    • You have underlying health conditions and are advised to self-quarantine, you may qualify for:
      • Paid sick leave through your employer, depending on your case
        • Full wage replacement, no waiting period
        • An additional two weeks of emergency paid sick leave may be available under new federal law (up to $5,110)
      • Paid family & medical leave through Washington State, depending on your case
        • Partial wage replacement, no waiting period
        • Requires application and medical certification that you are sick and cannot work
        • Click to apply
      • You may qualify for 12 weeks of emergency paid leave under new federal law
        • If you have worked 30 or more days for your employer
        • The first two weeks may be unpaid (so you can use the emergency paid sick leave above)
        • Then you can get two-thirds of your regular rates, up to $200 a day, and up to $10,000 in total
      • Unemployment benefits
        • If you worked over 680 hours from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019 (full or part time)
        • Partial wage replacement for up to 4 weeks, with a potential for a 4-week extension (for a total of 8 weeks)
        • Click to apply
      • You are practicing social distancing absent additional underlying factors, you do not qualify for Washington State benefits
      • If your reason for missing work was not listed above, click here for additional information

3. If your child’s school is closed

4. If you need healthcare

    • Coronavirus testing is free for everyone, but you may need to get a doctor’s note before you can get tested
    • If you do not currently have health insurance you can still apply for insurance coverage by April 8, 2020 (click here to apply)
    • Individuals and families who are low-income may be eligible for Apple Health (or Medicaid) can enroll at any time
      • Apple Health is available to all children 18 years old and under, regardless of immigration status
      • Apple Health is available to U.S. citizens 19 years and older (click here to see if you qualify)
      • Undocumented individuals may still be eligible for certain health benefits
        • Asylum seekers, certain survivors of domestic violence or trafficking, and “Special Immigrant Juveniles” are just some categories of undocumented immigrants who may be eligible (click here to learn more)

5. If you need food assistance

    • You may be eligible for “food stamps” or other help getting food if you lose work
      • If you were already getting “food stamps,” you might be able to get more if you lose work
      • Food assistance is available to citizens and certain groups of immigrants, like asylees and victims of trafficking through Washington State
      • Click here to learn more
    • Northwest Harvest SODO Community Market is offering free pre-bagged food at the door to anyone who needs it (click here to learn more)

6. If you need help paying for internet or utilities

For additional information on assistance available in Seattle, click here

Haga clic aquí para ver los beneficios disponibles sobre el coronavirus en español.

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