Financial Resources

Financial Resources

Texas Watch and the Texas Watch Foundation are committed to helping consumers navigate these difficult times. It is important that we all stay home and stay safe. To help you do so, we have compiled resources related to finances here. For more resources, please see texaswatch.org/covid19. 

Federal Stimulus Bill: 

• See FAQ from the New York Times about the stimulus package

• Coronavirus stimulus check scams are out to swindle you out of $1,200: What you need to know.

• FBI Anticipates Rise in Business Email Compromise Schemes Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic (FBI)

• What freelancers need to know about COVID-19 economic relief (FastCompany)

• Why you didn't get the full stimulus payment (NBCDFW)

• $1,200 coronavirus 'Control Chamber': Eldercare homes levy steep fees amid pandemic (USA Today) 

Financial Resources for Small Business Owners:  

• SBA.Gov's Small Business Resources and business counselors

• Quickbooks' Tips for Small businesses

• The DOL's statement on paid sick leave rights as an employee and employer

• Learn about the Comptroller’s statement on business taxes

• COVID-19 and the American Workplace (D.O.L.)

• TWC resources for employers

• Virus News: U.S. May Face 18 Months of Rolling Shutdowns (Bloomberg)

• LiftFund offering small business loans in Texas (from press conference April 13 with Gov. Abbott)

• Small Business Support Programs

If you need help paying bills:

• Check out USPIRG's Delaying Bill Payments During COVID-19
• NPR’s How to Get Unemployment, Skip Loan Payments, and More
• Coronavirus and Federal Student Loan Refinance (US News & World Reports)
• Weighed down by Debt? How to Ease the Load (FDIC)
• Protect yourself financially from the impact of the coronavirus (Consumer Finance Protection Bureau)
• Maintaining a good Credit Score during COVID-19 (Bankrate)
• Grocery Shopping and COVID-19 (CreditCards.Com)
• Should you refinance your student loans during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Bankrate)

Tips Filing Unemployment Benefits:

• Apply for unemployment benefits with the Texas Workforce Commission 

  • Texas Workforce Commission asks that you call during certain hours based on your area code. For information, please see their website. 

  • If you are having trouble accessing the system, try filing for benefits between the hours of 10PM and 8AM.

  • See TWC's flowchart on timeline of unemployment benefits.

  • Be on the lookout for job scams!

  • June 22nd update: TWC Provides Acceptable Reasons for Work Refusal

• Learn what federal benefits are available to you: Benefits.gov

• Learn about unemployment insurance from the AFL-CIO

• AFL-CIO’s Guide to Surviving Unemployment

• Texas Workforce Commission’s resources for job seekers

• Texas seeks millions from unemployed workers after state ‘overpaid’ benefits (Houston Chronicle, 7/6/20)

Apply for assistance by job sector: 

• For restaurant workers: Southern Smoke's Emergency Assistance Application

• For restaurant workers: Eater's A List of Relief Funds

• Career exploration, training, and jobs with Career One Stop

• Find Contact Tracing Jobs with WorkInTexas.com

For Homeowners:

• What you need to know about mortgage forbearance (Nerdwallet)
• Common Questions about paying mortgages during COVID-19 (ElderJustice New York)
• FAQs: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Assistance options for families impacted by COVID-19 
• Guide to coronavirus mortgage relief options (Consumer Finance Protection Bureau)

If you are facing eviction: 

• The Eviction Lab

• See your housing rights with Austin Tenants Council

• Your rights as a tenant in Texas (BASTA)

• Tenant letter to landlord for inability to pay (BASTA)

• Resources from the Texas Apartment Association

• Evictions in Texas are halted, but what happens to renters when the suspension lifts? (Dallas Morning News)

• Explaining the eviction policy in Texas during the coronavirus pandemic (Houston Chronicle)

• Read about how the Texas Supreme Court suspends Eviction Hearings (Office of the Governor)

• For City of Dallas residents, see How do I apply for Dallas’ COVID-19 rental, mortgage assistance program? Do I qualify? (Dallas Morning News)

• If you are in the North Dallas area and have legal questions about evictions, please email dallas-evictions2020@gmail.com.

• Implications of COVID-19 on the rental market (Apartment Guide) 

• U.S. Poised for Wave of Evictions in January as Federal Ban Expires (WSJ)

Call 2-1-1 for additional resources. If you have additional information that would be helpful for Texas consumers, please email texaswatch@texaswatch.org

Last updated: May 6, 2021