Dear Neighbors,
On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-
19). Since then, the Legislature has released $1.1 billion dollars to fund emergency services to ensure the best response to the pandemic in our communities.
As the sitation evolves, both statewide and particularly in the 76th Assembly District, the state is working in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the San Diego County Health and Human Services to mitigate the spread of the disease.
As your State Assemblymember, I would like to help provide Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista and Camp Pendleton with a way to navigate the many resources available.
As this is a real-time emergency situation, we will be updating this page regularly. If you need assistance with any state agency, please feel free to call my district office at (760) 434-7605. My office and I are here to serve you!
Sincerely,
Tasha Boerner Horvath
SENIOR RESOURCES
On Sunday, March 15 the governor ordered all California residents age 65 and older (or those with underlying health issues like heart and lung disease, asthma, diabetes) to isolate themselves at home. Our office will continue working to compile resources available for you and your loved ones during this time:
- Meals on Wheels: Deliveries are continuing with COVID-19 precautions in place. To arrange for service to your address, call the Metro San Diego Service Center at (619) 295-9501
- Carlsbad Senior Center: Meal services are provided for residents 60 and older. Pick up service for packaged cold meals that will need to be reheated will br available Monday through Friday. Reservations must be made no later than noon the day before, Monday through Friday. Mondays order would need to be placed on Friday by noon. Place a reservation by calling (760) 602- 4655 to leave a message for a reservation and/or request a meal be delivered to their home.
- Encinitas Senior Center: Food provided as drive-through pick-up or home-delivery (Must be over 60 and willing to fill out an intake form for home-delivery). Must make reservation the day before picking up or delivery date. Call the center at (760) 943-2221
- Vista Senior Center: Food provided as drive-through pick-up or delivery twice per week. Must place an order in advance. Call the center at (760) 643-5288 to sign-up.
- Oceanside Senior Center: Home-delivered meals for Oceanside seniors provided through Serving Seniors for those who meet eligibility requirements
EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS
(For a quick reference chart to determine which benefits you may be entitled to, refer below/ click here.)
Sick Leave – If you cannot work because you have tested positively for the COVID-19 virus or have been exposed to someone who has, you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week. To apply for these benefits, click here.
Caring for a family member with COVID-19 – If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim. PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.
Caring for a child because of school closures – All of the schools in San Diego County have closed. If you cannot work because you need to care for your child, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. This employer paid program provides partial income replacement. To see if your situation meets the eligibility requirements and to file your claim online, click here.
Reduced Work Hours or Layoffs – The Governor and the County of San Diego have ordered all California bars, nightclubs, wineries and breweries to close. Restaurants are only allowed to offer to-go and delivery of food. As a result, if your hours have been reduced or your employer has shut down, you can file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Eligible individuals can receive benefits that range from $40-$450 per week
- If you are temporarily unemployed and expect to return to work within a few weeks, you are not required to actively seek work to receive these benefits. If you have been laid off or otherwise lost your job through no fault of your own, you are also eligible for these benefits but may be required to actively seek new work. To see if your situation meets the eligibility requirements and to file your claim online, click here.
Self Employed – If you were self-employed before COVID-19 and were impacted by the pandemic, you could be eligible for Disability Insurance (DI) or Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits if either you or a former employer has made contributions to a Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) fund in the past.
FOR ALL CLAIMS: An Executive Order by the Governor waives the one-week unpaid waiting period, so you if you are eligible, you can collect the benefits for the very first week you are out of work. For more information on state resources and to see if you are eligible, please refer to the Employment Development Department COVID-19 resource page, located here.
UTILITIY BILLS
Gas & Electric – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) will not disconnect ratepayers as a result of nonpayment during the pandemic. The company is urging customers who are struggling to pay their utility bill due to financial hardships stemming from COVID-19 to call its Customer Contact center at 1-800-411-7343 to make payment arrangements. For the full statement from the utility company, click here
Water – As of March 17th, the City of Oceanside, the Vista Irrigation District, the San Dieguito Water District, and the Santa Fe Irrigation District have committed to suspending all disconnections to services due to non-payment resulting from COVID-19 related hardships. Penalties for non-payment may still apply. To find out how you might be affected if you have trouble paying for your water bill and make sure you’re aware of the current policies for your water district, it’s best to call and ask.
- City of Oceanside: (760)-435-5800
- Carlsbad Municipal Water District: (760)-438-2722
- Olivenhain Municipal Water District: (760) 753-6466
- San Dieguito Water District: (760) 633-2650
- Santa Fe Irrigation District: (858) 756-2424
- Vista Irrigation District: (760) 597-3100
Telephone, Cell Phone and Internet – The Federal Communications Commissions has launched the Keep Americans Connected Pledge asking U.S telephone and broadband service providers to agree that, for the next 60 days, they will not terminate any services to residential or small business customers who can’t pay their bills due to complications from the pandemic, as well as waive any late fees those customers might incur because of economic hardships resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, among other commitments. For a complete list of the service providers who have signed on to the pledge as of March 13th, click here.
To read about the specific commitments from some of the major service providers who have signed onto this pledge, please refer below:
SCHOOLS
Closures - All school districts in Assembly District 76 have announced they will be closed for three weeks (which includes Spring Break) starting Monday, March 16. This includes:
- Encinitas Union School District
- San Dieguito Unified High School District
- Carlsbad Unified School District
- Oceanside Unified School District
- Vista Unified School District
Meals - Packaged and prepared meals will be distributed at drive-thru/walk-up stations at designated schools throughout the San Diego County. Find the latest information on known food service sites open during school closure on the San Diego County Office of Education website.
TAX FILING
The governor’s Executive Order delayed the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Food Bank – The San Diego Food and Diaper Bank is continuing normal operation hours and is taking necessary precautions to help make sure that food and products remain safe.
COVID-19 BENEFITS AT A GLANCE
|
Program |
Why |
What |
Benefits |
More Information |
How to File |
|
Disability Insurance |
If you're unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness related to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) |
Short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. |
Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 52 weeks. |
||
|
Paid Family Leave |
If you're unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) |
Up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member. |
Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 6 weeks. |
||
|
Unemployment Insurance |
If you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 |
Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. |
Range from $40-$450 per week for up to 26 weeks. |
Learn more about your eligibility for Unemployment Insurance |
|
|
Paid Sick Leave |
If you or a family member are sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine |
The leave you have accumulated or your employer has provided to you under the Paid Sick Leave law. |
Paid to you at your regular rate of pay or an average based on the past 90 days. |
||
|
Workers' Compensation |
If you are unable to do your usual job because you were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of your work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. |
Benefits include temporary disability (TD) payments, which begin when your doctor says you can't do your usual work for more than three days or you are hospitalized overnight. You may be entitled to TD for up to 104 weeks. TD stops when either you return to work, your doctor releases you for work, or your doctor says your illness has improved as much as it's going to. |
TD generally pays two-thirds of the gross wages you lose while you are recovering from a work-related illness or injury, up to maximum weekly amount set by law. In addition, eligible employees are entitled to medical treatment and additional payments if a doctor determines you suffered a permanent disability because of the illness. |
Learn more about your eligibility for Workers' Compensation benefits |