If you have been financially affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for services such as:

• Unemployment insurance
• Paid family leave
• Disability Insurance
• Relief from financial institutions

Learn more in this chart of benefits available for workers affected by COVID-19 and see published resources for workers affected by COVID-19.

Relief from financial institutions

The State of California is working to soften the financial impact of COVID-19 on residents who are struggling to pay their mortgage and bills. Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, and nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and servicers have committed to providing relief for consumers and homeowners in California.

Under the Governor’s proposal, Californians who are struggling with the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for the following relief after contacting their financial institution:

90-day grace period for all mortgage payments

If you are impacted by COVID-19, these financial institutions will offer mortgage-payment forbearances of up to 90 days, which allow you to reduce or delay your monthly mortgage payment. In addition, they will:

• Give you a streamlined process for requesting forbearance for COVID-19-related reasons, supported with available documentation;

• Confirm approval of and terms of forbearance program; and

• Provide you the opportunity to extend your forbearance agreement if you continue to experience hardship due to COVID-19.

Relief from fees and charges for 90 days

For at least 90 days, financial institutions will waive or refund mortgage-related late fees and other fees including early CD withdrawals.

No new foreclosures for 60 days

Financial institutions will not start any foreclosure sales or evictions.

No credit score changes for accessing relief

If you are taking advantage of this COVID-19-related relief, late or missed payments will not be shared with credit reporting agencies.

Questions and answers on financial relief

How do I get mortgage relief and/or forbearance?

You should contact and work directly with your mortgage servicer to learn about and apply for available relief. Please note that financial institutions and their servicers are experiencing high volumes of inquiries.

How long will the forbearance last?

The terms of a forbearance will be agreed to between you and your mortgage service. Financial institutions will confirm approval of and terms of the forbearance program.

What effect will this have on my credit report?

Financial institutions will not report derogatory information (e.g., late payments) to credit reporting agencies but may report a forbearance, which typically does not alone negatively affect a credit score.

How long will these programs last?

It is still unclear how severe or how long the COVID-19 impacts will be. Financial institutions have committed to necessary relief and will be assessing the ongoing conditions and necessity of continuing relief.

What if my financial institution isn’t offering this relief?

At this time, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo and Citigroup, and nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions are supporting these commitments. The state will welcome any other institution that would like to meet the moment and provide much-needed financial relief to Californians.

What if I already made a payment or was hit with a fee because of COVID-19?

These measures go into effect as of March 25, 2020.

Is the mortgage relief available to businesses?

The relief is currently only available for residential mortgages.

What if my mortgage servicer is not communicative or cooperative?

You can file a complaint with the Department of Business Oversight through the complaint form on the DBO website (https://dbo.ca.gov/file-a-complaint/) or by contacting the DBO Consumer Services Office at (866) 275-2677 or (916) 327-7585 via email at Ask.DBO@dbo.ca.gov.

Questions and answers for workers

Am I allowed to work during the outbreak?

It depends what your job is. Workers in essential sectors (pdf) are allowed to work during the Stay Home Order.

What can I do if I can’t work because I’m sick or quarantined because of COVID-19?

• You can use paid sick leave if your job has it.
• If you’re unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim.
• You may also file a Worker’s Compensation Claim if you were exposed to coronavirus at work.

What kind of sick leave is available to me?

Sick leave varies by employee. For details see Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Frequently Asked Questions on laws enforced by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office.

What if my employer does not have paid sick leave?

For those not able to secure paid leave, state (California Family Rights Act) and federal laws (Family and Medical Leave Act) may qualify you for up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year.

Do I need a note or certificate from a medical provider to file for unemployment?

No, a medical certificate is not required. Here is more information on who is eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI).

What if I can’t work because I’m taking care of someone who’s sick or quarantined? 

• You can use paid sick leave if your job has it.
• You can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim.

What can I do if my work hours are reduced because of COVID-19? 

You can file an Unemployment Insurance claim.

What can I do if I miss work because of school closures? 

• You can file an Unemployment Insurance claim.
• Other options may be available. See Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19.

How long will it take to process a claim for unemployment or insurance benefits and to receive a payment?

After your claim is submitted, it will take at least three weeks to be processed. It may take longer if your information doesn’t match wage records or your identity can’t be verified.

The Governor has waived the one-week waiting period. This means you can collect benefits for the first week that you were out of work or had reduced hours.