Expert Guidance on Pandemic Relief Funds
NAR Facebook Live - April 8 at 1:00 p.m.
The National Association of Realtors ® will host a Leadership Live forum on Facebook on April 8 at 1 p.m. ET where association leaders and policy experts will share business-critical updates related to financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch here on Facebook.
Can't make the live broadcast.? Check the
NAR Facebook page when it has concluded to watch the recording.
Unemployment Assistance
The U.S. Dept of Labor has approved independent contractors receiving unemployment benefits. The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), which will implement this, is waiting for guidelines from the federal government. Realtors® will be informed as soon as this process is complete and the VEC is ready. In the meantime, you may go to the VEC website and register for unemployment.
The VEC recommends that unemployment claims be filed weekly if you remain unemployed. Call 1-800-897-5630 or check vec.virginia.gov.
*Update from VEC regarding Unemployment: "Affected workers, like the self-employed, who are not eligible under traditional unemployment insurance may be eligible under a brand new federal program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). To be eligible for this new program, workers must first apply through traditional unemployment by visiting www.vec.virginia.gov or www.vawc.virginia.gov. The state is required to verify eligibility under traditional unemployment before allowing claimants to be considered for the new PUA program. If you are determined to be ineligible for traditional unemployment, you will be contacted by phone (text or voice message) on how to file the supplemental information to complete your claim under the new PUA program. VEC will be announcing more details on the start date for this new program later this week. https://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/11790"
VISIT VEC WEBSITE.
NAR: UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE CARES ACT FAQS .
VAR: COVID-19 RESOURCES AND UPDATES.
Virginia Coronavirus Fraud Task Force, IRS-CI Warn of Potential COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment Scams
Scammers may try to get you to sign over your check to them or get you to “verify” your filing information in order to steal your money. Your personal information could then be used to file false tax returns in an identity theft scheme. Because of this, everyone receiving a COVID-19 economic impact payment is at risk.
Click here to read more from the Dept. of Justice announcement.
Coronavirus: SBA CARES Act FAQs
The "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act" or CARES Act, provides significant provisions aimed at assisting small businesses during this difficult time. The CARES Act appropriates more than $360 billion total for new Small Business Administration (SBA) programs - the 7(a) Paycheck Protection Program loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) advance grants program.
Click here to read the FAQ.
The Difference Between Mortgage Deferment and Forbearance
Borrowers should check with lenders or mortgage services to see what relief options are available.
Click here to learn more from Realtor® Magazine.
NAR Is Providing 2 Months of TeleHealth Access to Members
In response to the current health crisis, NAR is funding 2 months of access to Members TeleHealth at no cost to our members, via the Right Tools, Right Now program. Members TeleHealth provides access to a network of more than 2,300 board-certified physicians, who can address non-emergency medical issues via smartphone, tablet or computer.
Learn more.