>> Featured Resource: Unemployment checklist & Updates from Governor Inslee
- Resource hotlines: Phone lines to call when you need assistance
- Organizing during COVID-19: Support and ideas to move organizing work to digital platforms. We can do this!
- Statewide resources: Unemployment & other resources from government and community
- Regional food security resources
- National information: Recommendations from the CDC and WHO
- Other important resources: Childcare, domestic violence survivor resources, healthcare coverage, and more
- 211 Hotline (statewide): Dial 211 on your phone and talk to a real live person. You can ask for any resources you need and see what is available in your area.
- Department of Health COVID Hotline (statewide): 1-800-525-0127 - Call this line if you need information and help specifically about COVID/coronavirus.
- King County COVID Hotline (regional only): If you believe you were exposed to COVID-19—or if you're a healthcare provider with COVID-19 questions—contact their call center between 8 AM to 7 PM PST at 206-477-3977.
- Labor Notes has organizing advice and a dedicated email account for organizing questions during coronavirus.
- Labor Notes webinar: "Organizing in the Face of Coronavirus"
- AFSCME FAQs for Union & Local Leaders
- AFSCME Facts on Fiscal Stabilization
The state Employment Security Department (ESD) recommends workers take the following four steps to help ensure their unemployment benefits are filed correctly and start quickly:
- Sign up for the agency’s COVID-19 action alerts.
- Download and review the ESD eligibility checker. This will help workers determine if they are currently eligible for benefits.
- Download and read the application checklist to make sure that you have what you need.
- A SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account is needed to file an unemployment claim. ESD recently posted a video that explains the process to be followed in order to apply for benefits. After reviewing the video, please sign up for a SAW account.
Updates from Governor Inslee on applying for unemployment:
Workers’ Comp clarification: any essential worker who believes they have a work-based claim should apply –LNI will take it into consideration. Three criteria are used to review any claim:
a. Was there a high risk or greater likelihood of exposure or contracting the disease due to the worker’s occupation?
b. If not for their job, would the worker have been exposed or contracted the condition?
c. Can the worker identify a specific source or event during their employment that resulted in exposure to COVID-19?High-risk workers can protect themselves from covid-19 without jeopardizing their employment status or losing income.
- WFSE-supported Foundation for Working Families - Grants for union families in need
- Washington State COVID-19 Page
- The Washington Department of Health
- Updates from Governor Jay Inslee
- WA State Health Care Authority
Regional food security resources:
- Western WA food security: This Google Map shows food banks and community and school food drop sites.
- Tacoma grocery drop-off request: $50 budget per family.
- Walla Walla Mutual Aid Page: Has food and other resources.
- Safety tips for janitorial staff
- Federal student debt: Interest will not be collected for some federally managed loans.
- Domestic violence: Are you co-quarantined with an abuser? Please reach out — contact @ndvh (dm on Twitter) | National Domestic Violence Hotline: CALL 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224 or LIVE CHAT at http://thehotline.org.
- Washington State childcare hotline
- Safety & caring for kids at home: What to do if you and family or neighbors need to care for children who are home from school.
- More childcare recommendations: From the WA Department of Health.
- Financial help: List of state financial assistance programs
- Testing: Before you show up at your provider's office, make sure you have the symptoms necessary for testing (doh.wa.gov) (the criteria are changing as more tests become available) and contact your provider's office first.
- I know I've been exposed. Now what?
- I don't have insurance, or I'm worried about my coverage: Help is available. Check out WA Healthcare Exchange.
VIDEO CONFERENCING SOLUTIONS
Download our WFSE Digital Media Guide
Zoom: Free 40-minute sessions for up to 100 participants
GoTo Meeting: Starting at $12 per month for up to 150 participants
Google Hangouts Meet: Video conferencing for up to 100 people starting at $6 per month
Slack: Video conferencing for up to 15 people starting at $6.67 per month