Student Food Insecurity:

Blue Table: students experiencing food insecurity can get support through Blue Table.

Dependent Care Advantage Account

Employees can stop their DCAA deductions or change their election amounts if they experience an eligible change in status. Due to the current situation most employees find that a resulting change in care provider and/or change in work schedule (for the employee or their spouse) are events that will allow them to stop or reduce their deductions. There are several reasons listed on the DCAA website, https://goer.ny.gov/dependent-care-advantage-account that can help employees make changes to their DCAA. Employees can submit their change online https://goer.ny.gov/enroll-online or over the phone, 800-358-7202.

There is no limit on the number of changes the employee can submit during the year. They may stop now, and re-enroll over the summer or next fall with the occurrence of another change in status event, until November 1. Since we only take 24 payroll deductions after November 1 we cannot make changes to the remaining pay period.

Reducing or stopping DCAA payroll contributions does not impact an existing DCAA balance. Any money contributed (including the employer contribution) to DCAAs remains in the accounts for employees to use for the plan year. If an employee enrolled during open enrollment, anything in their DCAA remains in the account for them to use for any daycare expenses from 1/1/2020 -12/31/2020. If they enrolled following a change in status, account funds may be accessed beginning with their start date through 12/31/2020.

NYS-Ride

This program allows flexibility to change your enrollment as your needs change. Information is available on their website:

https://participant.wageworks.com/cobrand/NYS/program-information/index.aspx

Resources for Children Learning at Home:

Spectrum Internet (for those with children K-16)

ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is the leading and most comprehensive digital early learning resource for students in preschool through 2nd grade.

Adventure Academy is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) for students in 3rd through 8th grade

ReadingIQ is an advanced digital library and literacy platform for children through 6th grade that provides access to thousands of high-quality books, all curated by experts to advance literacy

Unemployment Resources for Spouses/Partners:

NYS is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines.

If you are filing a new unemployment insurance claim, the day you should file is based on the first letter of your last name. If your last name starts with A - F, file your claim on Monday. For last names starting with G - N, file your claim on Tuesday. For last names starting with O - Z, file your claim on Wednesday. If you missed your filing day, file your claim on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Filing later in the week will not delay your payments or affect the date of your claim, since all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.

Here is a step by step process to file a claim online.

Or begin your claim now.

(courtesy of ProMark Insurance)

Health Resources: