South Carolina Covid-19 Resource List
Authored By:
South Carolina Legal Services - Columbia
Daily Video Updates
- Economic Stimulus Payments
- Economic Stimulus Payments and Related Scams for Those 60 and Over
- E-Learning, Special Education and Individualized Services
- Enforcing Court-Ordered Visitation
- Applying for Unemployment
- CARES Act - Benefits and Risk of Mortgage Relief Program
- Public Benefits Update
- Six Essential Rules for Dealing With Debt
- Probate Issues
- Taxes and IRS
- Information For Individuals 60 and Older
- General and Special Education Issues
- Family Law
- Barriers to Employment and Unemployment Benefits
- Moratoriums on Foreclosures
- Moratoriums on Evictions
- Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP
- Avoiding Scams
Health Information
- Read the latest from the Centers for Disease Control on how to prepare and what to do if you are sick.
- Learn how to prepare yourself and learn more about Covid-19 on the World Health Organization website.
- Get the latest information on the coronavirus in South Carolina from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Free virtual COVID-19 screenings from MUSC Health for those concerned or experiencing respiratory or flulike symptoms.
- What you need to know about the SC stay at home order.
South Carolina Court Closings
- Court Operations During the Six Week Period, May 4 - June 12, 2020.
- All family court proceedings have been suspended except for emergencies
- Jury trials have been postponed, other trial court activities have been limited
- Jury trials have been postponed, other summary court activities have been limited
- If you have an ongoing court case in a South Carolina State court, contact the court where your case was filed to find out the status of your case.
- Stay up to date with S.C. Judicial Branch Coronavirus Information
- Operation of the Trail Courts During the Coronavirus Emergency
School and Education
- Each individual school district, in conjunction with SC DHEC and SC Department of Education, decides about the provision of instruction via virtual, hybrid or face-to-face learning. To find out about your school district, go here: https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/schools/district-and-school-closures/operational-status/
- Need internet access for virtual learning? The SC Department of Education has $8 million to help! Contact your school district to apply. THERE IS NO DEADLINE FOR YOUR APPLICATION. If your school district tells you otherwise, contact the SC Department of Education directly. Or, talk to a lawyer. (Read the FAQs here: https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/shared-services/free-and-lower-cost-internet-in-response-to-covid-9/hotspots-and-internet-faq-v2-9-15-2020-pdf/)
- Want some help with virtual school? Need some additional resources? Check out Virtual SC, https://virtualsc.org/resources/.
- For a list of SC Department of Education’s COVID-related information, go here: https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/covid-19-coronavirus-and-south-carolina-schools/
- The recent executive order for federal student loans by President Biden directs the Education Department to extend the pause on principal payments and interest accrual for direct federal loans until at least Sept. 30, 2021.
For more information for student loan borrowers see:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/student-loans/ - Ensuring FAPE for Students with Disabilities During COVID-19
- Are you a special education student? Federal law still requires that you receive the services in your IEP! It might look a little different, now, so schools and students should be flexible and reasonable.
- For general guidance on special education during COVID times, check out OSEP’s statements here: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/index.html#2020
- If you believe your special education student isn’t getting the necessary services, you can (1) talk to a lawyer, (2) file a complaint with the Department of Education (https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/special-education-services/parent-resources/dispute-resolution-information/state-complaint/), or (3) file a due process hearing request.
Help With Work and Finances
- FMLA. If you need to take leave from your job because you are ill or because you are caring for someone who is ill, you may qualify for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Visit the Department of Labor website to learn more.
- Answers to common questions on Covid-19 and Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- If you work is affected by COVID-19, you can apply for Unemployment Insurance. These instructions will walk you through the registration and application process.
- If you became unemployed because of COVID-19, see if your situation qualifies you for Unemployment Insurance benefits.
- Resources from Consumer Protection Bureau to help protect your finances during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Coronavirus emergency loans and small businesses
Avoid Scams
- Scammers are selling products and services that they say will treat coronavirus. Learn how to avoid these scams.
- Lookout for these scams trying to take advantage for the coronavirus fears
- Watch out for fraudulent COVID-19 products
- Common COVID-19 scams to watch out for and steps you can take to avoid them.
- SCLS attorney, Susan Ingles, talks about the different tricks that scammers use to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- IRS warns taxpayers to be aware of Coronavirus-related scams.
- Most recent info and video on Coronovirus scams from FDA in English & Espanol
Food, Housing and Benefits
- Find a food pantry or food bank near you.
- All evictions currently ordered and scheduled must be rescheduled for after May 1, 2020.
- Find a homeless shelter in your area.
- All local Social Security offices are closed to the public. Learn more information about your benefits, appointments and other services here.
- Some public utility companies have decided that they will not shut off services during this time. Find an updated list of utilites companies that have announced they will not disconnect services on the Clean Energy website.
- Meals on Wheels America delivers food to seniors.
- If you're having trouble paying rent, see a list of agencies that may be able to help. Although evictions have temporarily been suspended, you are still responsible for paying your rent on time.
- Veterans: Call your VA medical center before going to a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room, especially if you have symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. Calling first helps us protect you, medical staff, and other patients. Ask your VA health care team about the option of care by phone or video instead of an in-person visit. We also ask that visitors who feel unwell postpone their visits to VA facilities.”
- To help borrowers who are at risk of losing their home, Federal Housing Finance Agency has suspended foreclosures and evictions for Enterprise-backed single-family mortgages for at least 60 days.
- Social Security benefits will continue to be paid. More information from Social Security Administration here.
- If the government decides to issue COVID-19 stimulus checks they are likely to be mailed to your known address. If the address on your lax tax return is different from your current address, we encourage you to change your address with the IRS and SC Department of Revenue.
- SC READ ID deadline extended to 2021 due to coronavirus
- Our attorney, Emily Kauffman, walks you through what you need to know about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP benefits.
- Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and SSI Recipients – Steps to Take and Schedule of Payments
- Check on the Status of Your Economic Impact Payment
- COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program — a program designed to provide emergency rental assistance to South Carolinians facing financial hardships as a result of the coronavirus crisis
Children and Families
- Questions and answers about childcare during the COVID-19 emergency.
Taxes
- To assist taxpayers during the COVID-19 outbreak, S.C. state tax returns and payments will now be due July 15, 2020.
- The IRS has extended the deadline to file the federal income tax return and pay any amount due until July 15, 2020.
- Those who didn't file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 ay need to register to receive the economic stimulus payment by using this IRS Tool.
- VA, SSI recipients with eligible children need to act by May 5th to quickly add money to their automatic Economic Impact Payment
Immigration
- As of March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended routine in-person services until at least April 1 to help slow the spread of Coronovirus Disease.
Last Review and Update: Aug 19, 2020
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