As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many additional government and community resources available to support families. These wide-ranging opportunities include Kosher meals, support for rent and mortgage payments, tax credits, and discounts on laptops and internet services among many other benefits.  To help family avail themselves of these programs, Agudah New England has complied this list which is organized and color-coded by the category of support offered. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about these opportunities, please contact Ariella Hellman at [email protected].

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Benefit Program Name Eligibility Link Required Action Deadline
FOOD SUPPORT
Weekly food boxes for children from Tifereth Raphael Food Pantry Summer Food Service Program Children 18 and under who are not receiving a federally funded lunch at another site. No income limitations or residency requirements https://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html Box pick-up at Brighton Marine, 77 Warren Street in Brighton every Sunday from 9:15am-11:15am. Waiver for SFSP boxes expires on Sep. 30, 2021
Shaloh House Daily Open Meals Site Summer Food Service Program Children 18 and under who are not receiving a federally funded lunch at another site. No income limitations or residency requirements. https://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html Shaloh House Parking Lot Site, 29 Chestnut Hill Ave, Brighton: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Free breakfast and lunch offered at school sites until June 30, 2022
School lunch and breakfast National School Lunch Program Free lunch served to all students in the school regardless of family income level https://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html Schools that run programs will share information with their families. Free lunch is extended to all students in participating schools until June 30, 2022
P-EBT (Pandemic EBT)- Debit cards sent to families to purchase food for children enrolled in schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) Thir program is available to K-12 students and children under 6 that attend schools which run federally funded lunch programs. If families are enrolled in SNAP the benefit will be added to their card. If famlies are not enrolled in SNAP they will receive a separate card. https://www.map-ebt.org/ Contact Project Bread's Hotline with any questions- 1-800-645-8333 Program will continue through the summer. Families will receive two payments of $187.50 this summer.
Provides healthy foods, nutrition education, nursing support, and referrals to healthcare and other services, free of charge, to new moms, pregnant and nursing women and kids under 5. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) New moms, pregnant and nursing women, and kids under 5. Income limit 185% FPL but you are automatically income eligible for WIC if you receive MassHealth/Medicaid insurance plans, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) or cash assistance. https://www.mass.gov/wic-information-for-participants Apply online https://www.mass.gov/forms/apply-for-wic-online Ongoing
Monthly funds to buy food Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Income eligibility is 200% FPL. Households with a member 60+ or receiving a disability benefit may be eligible if income is over 200% FPL. SNAP Advocates at JF&CS Bet Tzedek Legal Services can help see if you qualify and help you apply. To talk with a SNAP Advocate, email [email protected] or call 781-693-1333. Ongoing
Gift card to Kosher supermarkets Yad Chessed Families must be Jewish and have incomes at or below 500% of the Federal poverty guidelines (approximately $120,000 for a family of 5). http://www.yadchessed.org/ email [email protected] or 781) 487-2693 Ongoing
HOUSING
Rental/Mortgage Arrears Assistance Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) at Jewish Family and Children's Service Intake conversation available to all to assess needs and discuss resources available within our program and external to our agencies. Case Managers are familiar with specific rental programs that may be unique to specific cities/towns. https://www.jfcsboston.org/ Call EFA intake line- 781-693-1388 Ongoing
Utilities Protections/Payment Plans and Arrears Assistance Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) at Jewish Family and Children's Service Intake conversation available to all to assess needs and discuss resources available within our program and external to our agencies. Case Managers are familiar with various programs avaiable through the utility companies and assistance available in individual towns. https://www.jfcsboston.org/ Call EFA intake line- 781-693-1388 Ongoing
Rental/Mortgage Assistance up to $10,000 for arrears and potential stipends Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition), Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) Up to 80% AMI and arrears accrued from 3/13/20 onwards. For COVID-related housing crises, RAFT, ERMA, and ERAP can provide eligible households up to $10,000 that can be used to help keep their housing (payment towards rental arrears), or obtain new housing (payment towards security deposit, first/last month's rent, moving expenses). Rental stipends potentially available for clients not in subsidized housing. Each program's requirements and eligibility vary slightly. https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/raa.aspx Clients should apply online at: https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/raa.aspx , by finding their town and clicking the "Apply" link. One application required to screen individuals for RAFT, ERMA, and ERAP Applications are open.
Utilities Assistance up to $1,500 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Up to 80% Area Mean Income (AMI), e.g. Household of 4, $96,250 a year and arrears accrued from 3/13/20 onwards https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/raa.aspx Eligible applicants should find their town, and click the "Apply" link to apply with the agency that serves their town. Filling out the application as completely as possible will help to expedite the process. Applications are open.
Rent and Utilities Assistance Yad Chessed Families must be Jewish and have incomes at or below 500% of the Federal poverty guidelines (approximately $120,000 for a family of 5). http://www.yadchessed.org/ email [email protected] or (781) 487-2693 Ongoing
TECHNOLOGY
Discounts on internet services, laptops, desktops etc. for eligible families Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Family meets one of the criteria below: 1) Household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; 2) Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, or Medicaid; 3) Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; 4) Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; 5) Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program. https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit Applications available at https://getemergencybroadband.org/ The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner.
"Monthly discount on one communications service from a certified Lifeline service provider for one of the following types of services: 1. Home or wireless phone service; or 2. Home internet or a wireless phone data plan." Lifeline Service There are two ways to qualify, income-based eligibility (household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines) or program-based eligibility (Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Certain Federally-Recognized/State Tribal Assistance Programs, and Veteran's Pension or Survivor's Pension benefit). A full list of eligibility criteria, including the federal poverty guidelines, is available here: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/do-i-qualify/. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/lifeline-services Apply online by visiting www.CheckLifeline.org/lifeline. You will need to create an account (username and password) and enter all required information. Upon submission, an eligibility determination will be immediately returned. If the National Verifier cannot prove eligibility automatically, you will need to upload your proof of eligibility document directly to the website for further review.
TAX CREDITS
Advance monthly payment for half the estimated credit. Maximum credit of $3,000 per child ages 6-17 and $3,600 for children under 6. Child Tax Credit (CTC) Maximum credit is available to taxpayers with AGI's of $75,000 or less for a single taxpayer, $112,500 or less for a head of household, and $150,000 or less for married couples. Gradual phase out of benefits for families above this income threshold. https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021 File your 2019 or 2020 tax return and claim the Child Tax Credit on the return. The IRS will set up separate portals for families that did not file taxes in these years and/or for families that had a child in 2021. Visit https://www.findyourfunds.org/ for assistance. Starting July 15, 2021
Dependent Care FSA- maximum contribution amount increased from $5,000 to $10,500 Dependent Care FSA Amount Increased Employees can set aside pre-tax dollars from their salaries for child care expenses for eligible children if their employer has a sponsored plan https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/looking-ahead-how-the-american-rescue-plan-affects-2021-taxes-part-1 Employers must adopt this change for employees to be able to participate. Contact your employer for more details. 2021 Tax year
Qualifying families may be eligible to receive up to $8,000 as a refundable tax credit to cover employment-related childcare expenses including day camp tuition Refundable Tax Credit for Employment Related Child-Care Expenses Families earning up to $125,000 may be eligible to receive the 50% tax credit before it begins to phase out. The credit is available when both parents are working or looking for work, and there are special rules when a parent is incapable of caring for themselves or if a parent is a full time student. The credit is fully refundable in FY21. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/looking-ahead-how-the-american-rescue-plan-affects-2021-taxes-part-1 Please contact your tax adviser for advice on whether you are eligible for this benefit. 2021 Tax year
OTHER
Reimbursement for COVID related funeral costs COVID-19 Funeral Assistance (FEMA) To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions: 1) the death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia; 2) the death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19; and 3) the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien. https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance FEMA has established a hotline for impacted families. Please call 1-800-462-7585 for assistance. Applications opened on April 12, 2021
Unemployment benefits extended 13 weeks for certain eligible claimants Unemployment Extended Benefits (EB) To be eligible claimants must have: 1) exhausted all rights to regular UI (Unemployment Insurance) under Massachusetts law; 2) not have rights to regular UI with respect to any UI law of another state or Canada; 3)exhausted Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC); 4) wages in the base period (with respect to the regular UI claim that was exhausted) that includes 1 of the following: a) 20 weeks of full-time covered employment, b) wages higher than 40 times your most recent weekly benefit amount or c)Total wages in the base period equal to or greater than 1.5 times the highest quarter; 5)no disqualifications that would prevent you from being eligible for EB; and 6) regular UI benefit year ended on or after May 9, 2020. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/unemployment-extended-benefits-eb Eligible claimants will be presented with an application for Extended Benefits (EB) through their UI Online account. Work search requirements reinstated week of June 13.
Budget counseling and guidance Yad Chessed Families must be Jewish and have incomes at or below 500% of the Federal poverty guidelines (approximately $120,000 for a family of 5). http://www.yadchessed.org/ email [email protected] or (781) 487-2693 Ongoing