FEMA is now accepting applications for funeral expenses paid after January 20, 2020 for deaths caused by COVID-19

 FEMA is now accepting applications for funeral expenses paid after January 20, 2020 for deaths caused by COVID-19. We are only accepting applications by phone. Online applications are not accepted.

 

You may visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for information about the program. After you read this information and gather the necessary documents, call 1-844-684-6333 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) to apply for this assistance. Call this number also for help with ALL other questions or concerns about COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.The phone line is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. 

 

If you use a relay service (a videophone, InnoCaption, CapTel, etc.), please provide your number assigned to that service. FEMA must be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from an unidentified number.

 

Please do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. They will ask you to call the direct funeral assistance number.

 

At this time, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

 

If you would like to volunteer your services or time in support of COVID-19, visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster  For information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccines page. You may also dial 2-1-1 for the United Way or visit 211.org 

Courtesy

Benefits.gov

FEMA Urges Hawaii Residents to Prepare for Hurricane Season

 With hurricane season fast approaching, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its National Flood Insurance Program advise Hawaii residents to prepare now for hurricane-related storms and flooding.

The 2021 Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. This year, the National Weather Service predicts that there may be between two and five tropical storms and hurricanes in the Central Pacific. While this forecast represents fewer storms, it does not predict hurricane landfalls. Even a glancing blow from a hurricane or a significant rain system that passes over land, saturated by previous storms, can trigger a major mudslide and cause significant structural damage.

Courtesy:  https://bigislandnow.com/2021/05/23/fema-urges-hawaii-residents-to-prepare-for-hurricane-season/

Biden-Harris Administration Delivers Emergency COVID-19 Assistance for India

Reflecting the United States’ solidarity with India as it battles a new wave of COVID-19 cases, the United States is delivering supplies worth more than $100 million in the coming days to provide urgent relief to our partners in India.  In addition, U.S. state governments, private companies, non-government organizations, and thousands of Americans from across the country have mobilized to deliver vital oxygen, related equipment, and essential supplies for Indian hospitals to support frontline health care workers and the people of India most affected during the current outbreak.  U.S. Government assistance flights will start arriving in India on Thursday, April 29 and will continue into next week.

Just as India sent assistance to the United States when our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/28/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-delivers-emergency-covid-19-assistance-for-india/

USAID, United States of America (USA) covid help to India : 150 Pressure Swing Adsorption oxygen generating plants

Through USAID, the U.S. Government is delivering on our promise to stand with the people of India as they fight a devastating second-wave of COVID-19.

USAID will also support the Government of India’s efforts to stand up 150 Pressure Swing Adsorption oxygen generating plants, allowing 150 healthcare facilities to generate their own oxygen. 

https://www.usaid.gov/india/coronavirus

United States USA Covid assistance, grant help to India

 

UNITED STATES DELIVERS SIX PLANES TO INDIA WITH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO COMBAT COVID-19 SURGE

• 20,000 courses of remdesivir (125,000 vials) to help treat critically ill patients.
• Nearly 1,500 oxygen cylinders to address India’s critical oxygen shortage, which can be repeatedly refilled at local supply centers.
• Nearly 550 mobile oxygen concentrators that obtain oxygen from ambient air. These units have a lifespan of more than five years and can serve multiple patients at once, depending on their oxygen needs.
• One million rapid diagnostic tests to quickly identify COVID-19 cases and prevent community spread.
• Nearly 2.5 million N95 masks to protect health care professionals and other frontline workers.
• A large-scale Deployable Oxygen Concentration System that can provide oxygen to treat 20 or more patients at a time.
• 210 pulse oximeters to measure oxygen levels in a patient’s blood to determine whether a higher level of care is needed.    Courtesy USAID

https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/may-6-2021-united-states-delivers-six-planes-india-emergency-medical-supplies

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)

 

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)

ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, such as losses not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-assist-for-livestock-honey-bees-fish/index

USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help communities, farmers, ranchers, and businesses that have been hard hit by Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, Maria and other natural disaster events. To find out how USDA can further assist you, visit USDA’s Storm Disaster Page.

American Rescue Plan Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Debt Payments

USDA recognizes that socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have faced systemic discrimination with cumulative effects that have, among other consequences, led to a substantial loss in the number of socially disadvantaged producers, reduced the amount of farmland they control, and contributed to a cycle of debt that was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, socially disadvantaged communities saw a disproportionate amount of COVID-19 infection rates, loss of property, hospitalizations, death, and economic hurt.

To address these systemic challenges, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides historic debt relief to socially disadvantaged producers including Black/African American, American Indian or Alaskan native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian American or Pacific Islander.

Details at

https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/loans-and-grants/american-rescue-plan-socially-disadvantaged-farmer-debt-payments

More Information

In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.

To learn more about USDA’s work to implement the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, visit www.usda.gov/arp.

Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers

 While FSA is committed to serving all farmers and ranchers, by statute, FSA targets a portion of all Guaranteed loan funds, Direct Operating and Direct Farm Ownership loan funds, Microloan funding, and Youth loans, to historically underserved farmers and ranchers, which include:

• Women
• African-Americans
• Alaskan Natives
• American Indians
• Hispanic
• Asian
• Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Please visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/minority-and-women-farmers-and-ranchers/index

Alabama Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes: Federal Disaster Assistance

Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster.

Click below to apply

https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Individuals and households in these designated counties are eligible to apply for financial and direct services. Apply for assistance, or learn more about the Individual Assistance program.

• Bibb (County)
• Calhoun (County)
• Clay (County)
• Hale (County)
• Jefferson (County)
• Perry (County)
• Randolph (County)
• Shelby (County)

Visit fema.gov for more details

Apply for Crop Disaster Assistance

 Eligible producers must apply for coverage of non-insurable crops using Form CCC-471, "Application for Coverage", and pay the applicable service fees at their local FSA office. The application and service fees must be filed by the application closing date as established by the producer's FSA state committee.

Apply for Crop Disaster Assistance

courtesy usda.gov website

Who is eligible for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program?

 

Who is eligible for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program?

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An eligible producer is a landowner, tenant or sharecropper who shares in the risk of producing an eligible crop and is entitled to an ownership share of that crop. As authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), an individual's or entity's average adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation cannot exceed $900,000 to be eligible for NAP.

Eligible crops must be commercially produced agricultural commodity crops for which the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance is not available and be any of the following:

• Crops grown for food;
• Crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, including, but not limited to grain and forage crops, including native forage;
• Crops grown for fiber, such as cotton and flax (except for trees);
• Crops grown in a controlled environment, such as mushrooms and floriculture;
• Specialty crops, such as honey and maple sap;
• Value loss crops, such as aquaculture, Christmas trees, ginseng, ornamental nursery and turfgrass sod;
• Sea oats and sea grass and;
• Seed crops where the propagation stock is produced for sale as seed stock for other eligible NAP crop production.

NAP provides coverage equal to 50% of the approved yield and 55% of the average market price. Additional buy-up coverage is available in increments between 50% of the approved yield up to as much as 65% of the approved yield and 100% of the average market price. Under the buy-up coverage, producers may choose to elect the Historical Marketing Percentage Option and/or the Direct Market Option. Producers may also elect the organic average market price for eligible crops under both the 50/55% coverage level and the buy-up coverage.

Producers must contact a crop insurance agent for questions regarding insurability of a crop in their county.

For further information on whether a crop is eligible for NAP coverage, producers must contact the FSA county office where their farm records are maintained.

An eligible natural disaster is any of the following:

• Damaging weather, such as drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind or hurricanes;
• An adverse natural occurrence, such as earthquake or flood; A condition related to damaging weather or an adverse natural occurrence, such as excessive heat, plant disease, volcanic smog (VOG), insect infestation or;
• Any combination of these conditions.

The natural disaster must occur during the coverage period, before or during harvest and must directly affect the eligible crop.

How do I apply for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program?

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Eligible producers must apply for coverage of non-insurable crops using Form CCC-471, "Application for Coverage", and pay the applicable service fees at their local FSA office. The application and service fees must be filed by the application closing date as established by the producer's FSA state committee.

Apply for Crop Disaster Assistance

Courtesy benefits.gov program website.

What is Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to a natural disaster.

Courtesy benefits.gov

Check out 

Who is eligible for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program?

Crop Insurance. Who is eligible for Crop Insurance? Find your Local Crop Insurance Provider.

Crop Insurance protects agricultural producers against crop losses resulting from natural causes. The program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA), offers several different plans for crops and livestock. Availability of these crop policy plans varies by state and county.

Who is eligible for Crop Insurance?

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In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be an agricultural farmer or rancher.

You can learn about Crop Insurance and for more information about the Crop Insurance Program and to find insurance plans available in your area, please visit the USDA's Risk Management Agency website.

Click here to Find your local crop insurance provider

courtesy benefits.gov website

A TEACH Grant can help you pay for college if you plan to become a teacher in a high-need field in a low-income area.

 A Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is different from other federal student grants because it requires you to agree to complete four years of qualifying teaching as a condition for getting the grant; and if you don't complete your teaching service obligation, the grant will turn into a loan that you must repay in full, with interest.

https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach

A TEACH-Grant-eligible program is a program of study that is designed to prepare you to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field and that leads to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or is a postbaccalaureate program. A two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree is considered a program that leads to a bachelor’s degree. A postbaccalaureate program is not TEACH-Grant-eligible if it is offered by a school that also offers a bachelor’s degree in education.

Schools that participate in the TEACH Grant Program determine which of the programs they offer are TEACH-Grant-eligible. A program that is TEACH-Grant-eligible at one school might not be TEACH-Grant-eligible at another school. Additionally, even if a program meets the eligibility requirements to be a TEACH-Grant-eligible program, it may not be designated as TEACH-Grant-eligible by the school. Contact the financial aid office at the school you are attending (or that you plan to attend) to find out which programs at that school are eligible.

Courtesy  https://studentaid.gov/

The Department of For-Hire Vehicles is offering grant

 

Grant Funding

The Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) welcomes for-hire companies, drivers, and innovators whom are eligible to apply for grant programs designed to enhance the DC transportation experience for all DC residents, drivers, and visitors alike.  The Department of For-Hire Vehicles is offering grant funding to fulfill the regulatory responsibility to support the economic viability of the for-hire industry and to enhance customer choice. DFHV is subjected to regulatory requirements and amendments, the DFHV is authorized to provided grants to owners of licensed taxicabs legally operating and incorporated in the District for purposes outlined in D.C. Official Code § 50-301.20 (b) (1).  

Grant funding for Washington dc taxi drivers.

Third Round of Economic Impact Payments Status Available IRS May 17 2021

 Find out when your third Economic Impact Payment is scheduled to be sent, or when and how we sent it with the Get My Payment application. Get My Payment updates once a day, usually overnight.

Get My Payment

Do not call the IRS. Our phone assistors don't have information beyond what's available on IRS.gov.

The third round of Economic Impact Payments are being sent in phases.

Each week we're sending the third round of Economic Impact Payments to eligible individuals as we continue to process tax returns. If you haven't received a payment yet, it doesn't mean you won't.

Payments are sent by direct deposit or mail as a check or debit card.

IRS is mailing IRS Notice 1444-C to people who received a third Economic Impact Payment.

-Courtesy IRS.gov