Home- COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Resources
Community Legal Services is taking necessary precautions to ensure the health and well-being of our clients, staff, and communities. At this time all our office locations are closed to the public. We remain available to our clients via the HELPline 1-800-405-1417 and our website chat and intake forms available on this website.
If you are facing housing issues and you live in Orange County, please call 1-800-533-0091
Here’s the link to the new CLSMF Facebook page.
Here’s the link to our Twitter feed.
For emergency rental assistance, visit this page.
COMMON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, protections were put in place so that Medicaid recipients kept coverage even if they no longer qualified. This was done so people had access to COVID-19 testing and treatment. These special protections are coming to an end.
See our page on “Medicaid Unwinding” for more information.
Click on each image to enlarge.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has more information.
Reemployment Assistance Resource Guide – COVID-19
Visit this site – DEO Reemployment Assistance Service Center for more.
|
|
|
|
*If you have more questions about these benefits, please contact the CLSMF HELPline 1-800-405-1417 or apply for services online.*
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, states and the federal government have expanded protections to tenants facing eviction and homeowners facing foreclosure.
Tenants who are facing evictions based on non-payment of rent are currently being afforded additional protections than tenants that are facing evictions for reasons unrelated to payment of rent.
Some local Circuits and Counties are offering broader protections to all tenants and occupants regardless of the grounds for removal. See the sections below for more details.
Follow this link for information on the CDC Eviction Moratorium.
Circuit Information Links:
- Fifth Circuit(Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter)
- Seventh Circuit (Flagler, Putnam, Volusia)
- Ninth Circuit(Orange, Osceola)
- Eighteenth Circuit(Brevard, Seminole)
- Homeowners Protected by the CARES Act
- Assistance for Homeowners with Federally Backed Mortgages
- Assisting Homeowners Who Do NOT Have a Federally Backed Mortgage Loan
- Helping All Borrowers—Whether Covered by the CARES Act or Not
- Tips for Homeowners
- To Request Forbearance or Not?
- Other Resources
*If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.*
During this time, some parents may find it challenging to continue to perform their duties and responsibilities of co-parenting in compliance with court orders. Parents are expected to follow and honor the time-sharing schedule in place and are prohibited from unreasonably restricting the other parent from access to a child. The courts may order sanctions against a non-compliant party but immediate relief from the courts will only be available under circumstances where there could be harm to the child.
Check with your Circuit Court for the latest administrative orders:
(As of 7/07/20)
- Fifth Circuit(Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter)
- A-2020-21-B Parenting in Domestic Relations Cases
- A-2020-23 Suspended Writs of Bodily Attachment in DOR Child Support Cases
- Seventh Circuit (Flagler, Putnam, Volusia)
- Ninth Circuit(Orange, Osceola)
- AO2020-07-02 Amended Parenting Domestic Relation Cases
- Eighteenth Circuit(Brevard, Seminole)
- Administrative Order AO-20-18 Amended Domestic Relations – Covid-19 Visitation & Timesharing Guidelines.
- If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
*If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.*
Links to School Districts Reopening Plans 20200724
Click on the image for access to the links.
Principal and interest payments on federally held student loans are automatically suspended through September 30, 2021. For more information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, click here.
COVID-19 RELATED RESOURCES
You may be eligible to receive economic impact payment from the IRS.
For information on the first and second stimulus payments, please follow this link:
A guide to COVID-19 economic stimulus relief.
See CFPB’s Guide to second round of COVID-19 (stimulus) Economic Impact Payments
If you have lost your job due to layoff caused by Coronavirus, visit the Healthcare Marketplace to figure out if you might be eligible to enroll in a new health insurance plan.
Benefits.gov is an online resource to help you find federal benefits you may be eligible for in the United States.
*Additional local resources may be available. Please check with your local government websites.*
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 INFORMATION
For the most up-to-date information, go to: www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19.
The Florida Dept. of Health’s COVID-19 Call Center is 1 (866) 779-6121 and is open 24/7 or you can email [email protected] with your questions.
- Florida Department of Health Orange County COVID-19 Information
- In support of the state’s efforts, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has established a Coronavirus Call Center phone number for Orange County, Florida residents. The phone number is 407-723-5004.
- The DOH-Orange Call Center is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Centers for Disease Control: https://bit.ly/2W4YLEt
World Health Organization: https://bit.ly/2WfdCMq
City of Orlando: Orlando.gov/covid19
Florida Bar https://www.floridabar.org/news/releases/covid19/
Visit the Food and Drug Administration website for the most up to date details about COVID-19 in the U.S.
If you and your family have lost your health insurance as a result of job loss, you may be able to sign up for a new policy through the Healthcare.gov (Obamacare) website.
You have 60 days to apply after loss of coverage. If you would like assistance finding and applying for health insurance, visit the Covering Central Florida website.
See the top section of this web page for downloadable brochures about this topic in English and Spanish.
COURTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICE INFORMATION
Courthouses and government offices across the state are minimizing operations to reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19. Public access is very limited and some proceedings may have been suspended or postponed.
Due to the fast-changing situation, we encourage you to access updated information about available services, administrative and court proceedings by contacting or visiting the websites for your local Clerk of Court or other offices.
During the emergency, the Florida Supreme Court will be issuing statewide emergency orders setting the larger framework for the statewide emergency response.
Keep in mind that these statewide orders will be supplemented by local orders issued by authorities in each of the counties and in each of the appeals courts. For information on these more specific local orders, please check the links listed on the tabs below for each circuit and county.
Clerk of Court Offices: Check for available services (filing documents, payments, etc.) and updates from your local Clerk of Courts Office by calling or checking their website before showing up in person.
If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
- COVID-19 Admin Orders
-
- Check Fifth Circuit website for updated orders
- County specific Clerk of Court links:
-
-
-
- Citrus — 352-341-6424 (TDD: 800-955-8771)
-
-
- Evictions and Foreclosures (see tabs below for more info)
- Parenting during COVID-19 (see tabs below for more info)
If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
COVID-19 Admin Orders *Check Seventh Circuit website for updated orders
-
- Evictions and Foreclosures (see tabs below for more info)
- Parenting during COVID-19 (see tabs below for more info)
If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
- Ninth Circuit COVID-19 page *Check Ninth Circuit website for updated orders
- County specific Clerk of Court links:
- Evictions and Foreclosures (see tabs below for more info)
- Parenting during COVID-19 (see tabs below for more info)
If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
- COVID-19 Admin Orders *Check Eighteenth Circuit website for updated orders
- County specific Clerk of Court links:
- Evictions and Foreclosures (see tabs below for more info)
- Parenting during COVID-19 (see tabs below for more info)
If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
Federal courts are working with state and local health officials to gather local information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), and some have issued orders relating to court business, operating status, and public and employee safety.
See Florida Middle District website for the most updated information.
- Florida Middle District Coronavirus announcements
- Florida Middle District Bankruptcy Courts announcements
If you have questions about the meaning of these orders, please contact the CLSMF HELPline or apply for services online.
To get answers to questions about coronavirus and how VA is responding, visit their Coronavirus FAQs page or read VA’s public health response.
Informational links:
According to the FDOR website:
“To minimize exposure to COVID-19 and help protect visitors and employees, all Department of Revenue offices in Florida are temporarily closed to the public at this time. The Department offers alternative options for Child Support customers. Taxpayers should visit the General Tax Administration Program COVID-19 webpage for more information. Property taxpayers should contact their county property appraisers and tax collectors for information.”
Child Support Offsets:
The CARES Act includes direct payments to qualifying individuals. Federal law requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to offset these payments when past-due child support is owed. Learn more by visiting DOR’s Economic Impact Payment Offsets page.
Property and Sales Taxes:
The Department of Revenue has issued emergency orders pertaining to property tax and sales tax due dates. Please visit the Media page for more information. For more information regarding sales tax due dates, visit the General Tax Administration Program COVID-19 webpage.
FOR ADVOCATES AND ATTORNEYS
Our volunteer attorneys are a valuable resource to help us meet our clients’ needs especially during these difficult times. We ask for your continued assistance to our community. There are several ways to participate and give of your time. Please contact a member of our Pro Bono team for more details or visit our Pro Bono informational page to sign up to serve.
Contact email: [email protected]
Social Security Offices are closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can still get help by using online services or calling them.
You can do most of your business with SSA online. Before calling them, please visit their website to see a list of self-service options.
If you cannot use their online services, they may be able to help with certain critical issues by phone and mail. Please see “How will SSA help me by phone?”.
See Social Security Administration COVID-19 page for the most updated information.