Employment and Financial Resources During COVID-19

You can apply for unemployment benefits with the Texas Workforce Commission.

The National Employment Law Project also has COVID-19 resources for unemployed and frontline workers.

Read about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which requires some employers to give unpaid leave during a family health crisis.

Note that the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) no longer requires an employer to give you paid leave.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid has information about what employers can and can't do to address COVID-19.

See also COVID-19 Vaccinations and Your Employment.

See Reasonable Accommodations at Work Due to COVID-19.

Disability Rights Texas has an FAQ, Disability Discrimination at Work During COVID-19.

Read Staying Safe at Work in the COVID-19 Pandemic from Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. The article discusses your safety rights, how to report safety violations, and general safety tips.

The National Employment Law Project also has COVID-19 resources for unemployed and frontline workers.

Use this Farmworker COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan from Texas RioGrande Legal Aid to evaluate how prepared your workplace is for COVID-19 and how you can take steps to protect yourself from the virus.

TexasLawHelp has an estate planning library. See also: 

• Estate Planning for Police, Fire, and Medical Personnel
• Handwritten Wills Checklist
• Do-It-Yourself Guide for Handwritten Wills
• Powers of Attorney
• Advance Directives

See TexasLawHelp's bankruptcy library. 

See also the Tarrant County Bar Association's bankruptcy handout.

Federal student loan payments are paused, interest-free, until 60 days after the ongoing federal debt relief lawsuits are resolved or until September 1, 2023—whichever comes first. See the Federal Student Aid website for more information.

COVID-19 has caused much financial hardship. Many people have gone into debt due to businesses having to close. Learn about your options for dealing with housing debt, medical debt, credit card debt, and more here: Debt During COVID-19.