Find out about vaccine availability and how to register.

STAY is a new DC rent and utility relief program.  It is administered by the Department of Human Services and replaces the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP).  The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) remain active.  View the DC STAY  Eligibility Checklist below, or go online at: https://stay.dc.gov/

This presentation was compiled based on the best information available on DC Superior Court and the OAH operations during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Nothing should be considered legal advice or  relied on as definitive guidance. There is no guarantee the information is accurate or that an individual’s experience will be is presented here.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides for a third round of stimulus payments, as follows: $1,400 per eligible individual; $2,800 for married joint filers; and an additional $1,400 for each dependent (including older children in college and adult dependents).

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes several temporary changes (for 2021 only) that expand the child tax credit, primarily for low-income taxpayers.

The American Rescue Plan extended four UI programs. Claimants receiving PUA or PEUC will not have to reapply to continue benefits. For the 2020 tax year, federal taxes are waived on UI benefits (up to $10,200 for individuals and $20,400 for married couples) for households with an adjusted gross income of less than $150,000.

Find out about how ERAP works and what new benefits are available during the public health emergency.

Key Takeaways: FRSP subsidies extended through June 2021; temporary SNAP benefit increase through Sept 2021; re-certifications for TANF/SNAP restarted March 2021; one-time 6 month extension for all TANF/SNAP customers; mid-certifications waived through June 2021; TANF/SNAP interviews waived; 3 ESA Service Centers open for application pick up and drop off only.

Find out more about the online portal and local and federal rental assistance programs.

All protections regarding evictions, utility cutoff, and debt collections continue through this extension.  The Order also provides for some modifications to Phase Two Reopening.

Find out how to ensure you receive all your stimulus payments and/or recovery rebate credit.

Here is a list of programs that offer free tax prep help to DC households that make less than $57,000.

DC libraries are open under DC Phase 2 for limited services.  These services include returning materials, picking up a hold, checking out books from their Grab-n-Go selection, getting a library card, and picking up a remote print job.

Key Takeaways: Re-Certifications for TANF/SNAP will restart in March 2021; one-time 6 month extension for all TANF/SNAP customers; mid-certifications waived through June 2021; TANF/SNAP interviews waived; 3 ESA Service Centers still open only for pick up and drop off of applications; emergency SNAP allotments through February 2021; temporary SNAP benefit increase through June 2021.

Read about the housing assistance programs and resources you may be eligible for.

All schools will offer a range of in-person learning options and services. including In Person Learning Classrooms with teachers, CARE Classrooms or tutoring with staff facilitators, and self-contained classrooms for special education students.

Find out about rental and utility assistance programs and where to call for help accessing these programs.

This is a subsequent order that modifies the previous public health emergency end date of March 31, 2021 so that it conforms with DC Council Coronavirus Public Health Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2020.  The end date is now March 17, 2021.

Key Takeaways: Increased income eligibility; Increased rental assistance cap  average rental amount of $10,205; You may now apply more than once until you reach the assistance cap, within a twelve (12) month period during a public health emergency; Residents are now able to self-certify if they are unable to provide supporting documents.

This means COVID-19 protections, such as the eviction and utility shutoff moratoriums, will continue through March 31, 2021.

In response to our Petition, the DC Council unanimously voted in favor of the FOIA Tolling Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (Bill 23-1017), which will repeal the COVID-related suspension on response times for DC government FOIA requests starting January 16, 2021.

Number of classrooms and grades offered vary by school.  Go here for more information on locations: CARE Classrooms    

We understand the Chair of the DC Council has introduced legislation to repeal the FOIA suspension at the December 1st DC Council Legislative Meeting.

DCPS Chancellor Ferebee announces that the planned re-opening of in-person learning to students on November 9, 2020 is indefinitely postponed until at least 2021.  This results from an inability to come to agreement with the Washington Area Teachers Union.

The Amendment allows parents or other legal caregivers of a child to designate a Standby Guardian to care for the child if the parent or other caregiver becomes too ill to do so because of a complications from a COVID-related illness. Click below for a copy of the DC KinCare Alliance COVID-19 Standby Guardianship packet.

The App is free and available through Google Play and Apple App Store.

Gatherings of up to 50 people permitted; retail stores limited to 50% maximum capacity; restaurants indoor dining limited to 50% capacity with tables 6 feet apart; services at places of worship may not exceed the lesser of 50% of the capacity or 100 persons; playground are open; casual low to moderate sports permitted; outdoor swimming […]

Litigants in DC Superior Court Domestic Relations cases should note that all in-person hearings and trials set through and including July 31, 2020 have been cancelled and will be rescheduled!

Find out how to sign up to use your SNAP EBT card to purchase groceries through Amazon. Available in English (p. 1) and Spanish (p. 2).

Find out about what protections you have with respect to debt collectors, credit reporting agencies, and scams during the public health emergency.

HOPE: Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, Equity

Find out what is covered and what is not under new DC and federal laws.

The undersigned organizations, which are members and allies of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), write in response to the recently announced deadline pf April 22, 2020 for Social Security beneficiaries to file taxes or utilize the new web tool to claim economic impact payments for child dependents under the age of 17 or wait until 2021 to claim the payments.

Go to the What We Do/Presentations Section of this website for a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation, or view the Webinar Summary Graphics below.

Make sure you and your dependents will receive the full amount of federal stimulus payments. Contact the DC KinCare Alliance Legal Helpline at 202-505-5803 if you need assistance.

$5 million of the Relief Package will go towards undocumented workers who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment or other benefits.

The letter explains that the Children’s Bureau cannot waive statutorily required judicial proceedings but “expects that courts and states will work together to determine how best to balance child-safety related statutory requirements against public-health mandates.”

Read a Summary of the of the Law here.

The letter outlines some of the
most urgent concerns and recommends both legislative and administrative solutions.

The letter asks for clarification of DHS’ plan to transfer families out of family shelters during the public health emergency.

Find out about DC workers’ rights to unemployment compensation, family and medical leave, and paid sick leave during the COVID-19 crisis.

Get up-to-date information on what DC is doing to assist its residents during this public health emergency.

Relative caregivers and the children they raise are at especially high risk during this public health emergency. Urgent action is needed by the Mayor and Council to protect these families.

We have put together a Summary of the new law as relevant to kinship families.