Florida Disaster Relief Unemployment and Federal Disaster Relief Unemployment

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Florida is still a nightmare as far as trying to get unemployment if you are self-employed or a gig worker. Forget  about getting any help from the unemployment office or speaking to a live human,

The most common unemployment issue right now is people still pending and waiting to get paid, and missing FPUC (Federal-$600), along with needing to backdate claims to receive past money owed to them.   The DEO is fully aware of this.

Another issue is people are seeing the PUA link (State Disaster) where they should be seeing the PEUC because their state UC has been exhausted.

What do all these letters mean you ask?  Here’s a breakdown.  PUA is for self-employed and 1099s who would otherwise receive no state benefits.  Instead of automatically converting the regular application to this like DEO first said they would for self-employed, you have to wait till the monetary determination decides to deny you and determine ineligibility for regular unemployment benefits.  Once they do this in the list of areas on the left side halfway down a link will appear to apply for the PUA. Fill it out. It will put in the date of the determination, not the date you started applying for unemployment.   You will receive somewhere between $125-$275  a week. Commencing 6/1/2020 you will need to login every week and submit 5 jobs you applied for or information about your career source contact.

FPUC is the Federal disaster relief program this is the $600 everyone is talking about. There doesn’t seem to be a link for most people to apply.  Also it will use the date of the PUA which is likely wrong.  So you need to fill out UC Modification Form – https://claimdate.myflorida.com/login

Representative Ann V. Eskamani ( [email protected]  ) has been hard at work posting information on Facebook regarding DEO and Unemployment Compensation.   She seems to be the only government official who cares.  Contact her staff regarding your issues at [email protected] .   You can find the escalation letter at https://forms.gle/F4NHDxuu9ADqk8847

You might also find some useful information at  http://www.floridajobs.org/docs 

Good Luck!!!!

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney#ClearwaterEstatePlanningAttorney                           #Pinellas ProbateAttorney

Small Business Resources

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Trying to figure out how to keep your business afloat during this pandemic can be extremely stressful.  To ease your stress a little we have put together some resources for you to try and pump up your business.

Make it easy for customers to call you on the fly with the Click to Call tool in Google Maps. As Google’s popular “Near Me” search continues to gain traction, it’s crucial for businesses to tie in an online Click to Call option to ensure customers can reach you quickly and easily.

For reputation management and social monitoring, consider using ListenPort. This tool watches the internet for discussions and reviews of your business and alerts you right away to dissatisfied customers. Resolve complaints and issues promptly via a free SMS number to let customers know you’re attentive and you care.

Yelp for Business Owners is a good resource to help SMBs make the most of crowdsourced reviews, engage new and returning customers, and offer exclusive deals.

Hubspot’s Website Grader. Grader lets you know what you’re doing right and which areas of your site need some attention.

If your business has multiple social media accounts, you can simplify the way you manage them by using SocialOomph.

Google Keyword Planner is an oldie but goodie; it’s designed to help analyze and research keywords and optimize SEO.

Canvas to design great visuals that are the cornerstone of today’s effective digital strategies.

To make a  logo for your SMB, check out the free logo maker Spaces.

Marvel allows remote teams to work together on designs and prototypes on any platform and from any device. Marvel has Dropbox and Google Drive integration.

U.S. Small Business Administration website is a treasure trove of information for entrepreneurs of all kinds.

The free online courses at ALISON let you learn at your own pace and on your own time.

Learn finance and managerial accounting from the ground up with a series of no-cost online courses from MIT Open Courseware.

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

 

 

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)

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The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) protects consumers from receiving nuisance calls from creditors and marketers on home phones and cell phones since 1991.  TCPA restricts robo-calls made to all cell phones, whether they are for business or personal use.

How do Creditors and Marketers Violate the TCPA:

  • When they use automatic dialing systems, a computer program that auto-dials hundreds of programmed numbers. Receiving four or more calls in a day from a specific creditor typically means an auto-dialer is in use.
  • When they use artificially generated communications or pre-recorded voice messages that direct the recipient to hold for an available operator.
  • When they send unsolicited SMS text messages that cause the recipient to incur phone charges.
  • When they fax junk-faxes that interrupt the receipt of business faxes, tie up phone lines, and waste paper.

When they do not maintain and support a required DO NOT CALL list. Consumers have the right to ask to be placed on it and the requests are honored for five years.   https://www.donotcall.gov/

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

How to Save $1000
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According to recent research, almost one-half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck  62% of Americans have no emergency funds.  Most  Americans waste 10-15% of their income on non-essential items. Here are some tips to create a small next egg.

1. Pay Attention to Your Spending

Pay attention to your spending. Many of us spend money without really registering what we’re doing. Track all of your spending for at least a month to see where the money is going. Track every dollar. When you swipe your credit card, save the receipt and write down each thing you spent money on. When you pay cash save the receipts. See where your money is going.

2. Set Aside a Small Amount to Start

Most of us need to work up to making long-lasting changes in our lives. You can do this as you move toward saving your$1,000. Break down your goal into bite-sized and manageable chunks. When you feel strapped for cash, it feels impossible to set aside $200 a month for savings. Instead break it down into something easier. Saving $200 a month is the same as setting aside $7.14 per day- no Starbucks and you meet your goal.

3. Make it Automatic

Make your savings automatic. Have a set amount taken out of your checking account each month and transferred to your savings account. There are tools, like Digit.co, that will analyze your patterns and figure out how much you can afford to save on a daily basis and transfer the money for you. Good Luck!

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

How Long Does it Stay on My Credit?

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The Answer is  usually 7-10 years. A Break down by account types is below:

  • Collection Accounts – Are required to be removed 7 years from the date of default on the original account. The “date of default” is the date that the original account became 180 days or approximately 6 months past due. The date the original account was assigned to the collection agency is NOT the date when the 7 year clock starts ticking.  Problems arise in find the actual default sate since many creditors tend to flip accounts from one collection agency to another.
  • Foreclosures and Repossessions – Required to be removed after 7 years from the date of the original terminal delinquency. “Terminal Delinquency” means that the account has been unpaid for 180 days, which leads to the foreclosure or repossession.  This is not the same date that the foreclosure was filed. In some instances foreclosures have been filed at 45 days  delinquency, and in others they have been over 2 years  delinquent  before the foreclosure action was filed.
  • Charge Offs – Required to be removed 7 years from the date of original terminal delinquency.
  • Settlements – Required to be removed 7 years from the date of original terminal delinquency.
  • Late Payments – Required to be removed 7 years from the date the late payment occurred. The account does not have to be removed if it did not go into default, just the late payments associated with the account.  I do not see this being followed by the credit bureaus unless you point it out.
  • Judgments – Required to be removed 7 years from the date the judgment was filed, whether it has been satisfied or not.
  • Bankruptcies – Chapter 7 bankruptcies must be removed no later than 10 years from the date filed. Chapter 13 bankruptcies can remain on your credit reports for 7 years from the date of discharge, though this date may not exceed 10 years from the date filed.
  • Tax Liens – Paid and released tax liens are required to be removed from your credit reports 7 years from the date released. Withdrawn tax liens will be removed from your credit reports immediately. Unpaid tax liens are never required to be removed from your credit reports.
  • Federal Student Loans – The FCRA is silent on the issue of defaulted federal student loans.  Credit reporting limitations for these items are governed by the Higher Education Act. Once a defaulted student loan has been paid it is required to be removed from your credit reports after 7 years. However, unpaid federal student loans can remain upon your credit reports forever. The good news is that they may not be able to sue you or collect on them depending on the Statute of Limitations in Your State.  In  Florida they need to initiate suit on a written contract within 5 years of  the  default. F.S. §95.11(2)(b).

In some instances items that normally would be removed and not appear still may be on your report:

  1. Report is used for employment screening of a job expected to pay $75,000 or more.
  2. Report is for a life insurance policy with a value of $150,000, or more.
  3. Report is used as part of loan underwriting for an amount of $150,000, or more.

Filing Bankruptcy will result in the other negative items, other then Student Loans , Judgments( if a Motion is not filed) and Tax Liens being  zeroed out on your credit report with the notation included in bankruptcy or in some cases totally removed.  Bankruptcy will actually increase your credit score once your discharge is entered.   For a free consultation  please contact my office.

Related Articles

Unpaid Debt and the Statute of Limitations

Debt Collection Calls

Debt Collector’s Calling?

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

 

Survival Skills You Learn When You’re in Debt

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Guest Blog- by Oak View Law Group, Author Ian Caldwell

Being in debt is not always bad. Are you astonished? You shouldn’t. Every experience teaches you some valuable things in life, and “being in debt” is not an exception. Though it is not advisable to invite “debt” in your life. However, experiencing debt problems teaches you some valuable aspects of ‘money’ and ‘money management’ which perhaps is difficult to learn. One thing is sure. Being in debt once will perhaps help you on how to ?avoid debt problems for the rest of your life.

A person, who has successfully got out debt, knows the following:

One cannot run away from the problems – One of my friends once told me that she used to avoid the problems and she was scared to face it. What happened was she increased her debt load. This taught her a lesson that instead of avoiding the debt problems, she needs to face it head on. So, if you’re in debt, address the issues and find a way to solve the problem. You may find credit card consolidation to be one effective way of overcoming your debt-related troubles. In addition to this, there are so many professionals out there that are experts at helping people in your situation. Whether your debt is small or you are in personal bankruptcy, have a look around for a company like Bankruptcy Alberta who can be there to help.

 

To plan a suitable budget –Budgeting is the most basic aspect of financial management and no one knows this better than a person who has experienced major debt problems. To be debt free, you have to plan a suitable budget, which can help you save a decent amount as per your situation. Planning a “suitable budget” might be a bit difficult for you initially, but with time, you’d be able to master the art. With initial hiccups, gradually, you’ll come to know what works for you the best.

To set savings goals –Can you be successful in life without a goal? Definitely ‘No’. Similarly, you need to have savings goals to achieve your financial goal – be it becoming debt free or building a solid financial future. The goal which you set should be achievable so that it motivates you to achieve it within the period you’ve thought. Set a definite amount. For example, you want to repay $1000 within 2 months or want to save $12,000 in a year, etc.

To make savings automatic –If you opt for automatic savings, then you won’t have to worry about saving a required amount every month. You will first save and then spend the remaining amount. Though it might become a bit difficult initially since you’ll have less amount to spend along with managing your required bill payments.

Not to hesitate to start small –Are you thinking that your salary is too less to start saving a decent amount every month? If you have experienced debt problems, you know that you need to save and meet your daily necessities irrespective of your paycheck amount. If you think wisely, you’ll find that saving a small amount is not so difficult. For example, you can start by saving at least $25-$50 every month. This way you can save at least $100 a month, which you can use to reduce your debt load or increase your savings. Just think – saving $100 a month is actually saving $1200 annually. By doing so, the habit of saving will be reinforced and you’ll be motivated to save more.

To look for an extra earning opportunity –An extra income every month is always a bliss. So, don’t worry about how much you’re earning from a part-time job. A person struggling to overcome debt problems can use this amount to get out of debt. A person in debt knows the significance of an extra earning opportunity. To earn extra, you can look for summer jobs or event-oriented jobs. Some retailers employ extra people during Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day sales since they have to cater to a comparatively large number of customers. You can look for these jobs to earn some extra dollars.

Live with debt for some time –A person who has solved his/her debt problems knows that he/she will have to accept the situation of being in debt and have to live life with it for some time. This doesn’t mean that he/she has to focus only on paying off debt. Definitely, getting out of debt will be one major aspect but he/she has to pay attention to other day-to-day things, too.

So, if you’re struggling to overcome your debt problems or want to avoid falling in debt, practice these strategies and you can be assured that you’re on the right track of managing your finances effectively. You can also look at contacting businesses such as CreditAssociates to help you manage your debt in the best way possible for you.

Related Articles

Unpaid Debt and the Statute of Limitations

Debt Collection Calls

Debt Collector’s Calling?

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

What Debts Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Wipe Out?

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  • Credit Card Debts
  • Hospital Bills
  • Most Lawsuit Judgments
  • Wage Garnishments
  • Payday Loans
  • Utility Bills
  • Foreclosure Deficiency Balances
  • Vehicle Repossession Deficiency Balances

In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, the remaining balance of these debts, if any, is WIPED OUT after making monthly payments for 36-60 months.  Schedule your free bankruptcy consultation to learn more.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

How Do I Qualify For a Chapter 13?

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    • I Have Regular Income
    • I Don’t Qualify For A Chapter 7 under the Means Test
    • I want to Save a House in Foreclosure
    • I want to Save A Car From Repossion
    • My Unsecured Debts (Like Credit Cards) Are Under $419,275*
    • My Secured Debts (Like Mortgages) Are Under $1,257,850*  

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

  • *As of April 1, 2019

UnPaid Debt and Statute of Limitations

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There are two statutes of limitation (SOL) clocks involved in protecting consumers who have defaulted.

The first clock controls debt collection and the second clock controls credit reporting. The clocks are completely separate and do not influence one another whatsoever.

The First Statute of Limitations is how long the creditor can file a lawsuit for the unpaid debt . Consumers can accidentally restart the SOL clock on previously time-barred collections. For example a consumer living in FL decided to make a payment on the debt (rather than paying or settling the debt in full) this restarts the the SOL clock for debt collection allowing the creditor another five years to sue.

Certain types of debt, such as federal student loans and tax liens, will never become time-barred. There is no SOL clock and no expiration date for the collection of these obligations. Consumers with defaulted federal student loans can have their wages garnished, their tax refunds seized, and even their estates can be responsible for satisfying the unpaid debt in the event of their death. Some people may attempt to hide from this debt by moving home and changing their name records, but many firms specialize in skip trace services that debt collectors can use to relocate the absentee debtor. These checks can use anything from utility bills to job applications to help them track down an absentee debtor, and are usually very thorough and successful. It can be horrible to find yourselves in debt and not knowing what to do about it. That’s why it is important for you to know that you can find debt relief options here to help you have a clearer understanding of what you can do to control the debts that need to be paid. In an even worse case scenario, you can find yourself with multiple debts that need to be repaid, this is where an Unsecured debt consolidation loan comes into place. This way, you can have help paying off the multiple debts you acquire whilst also slowly paying off your loan in instalments. Be sure to search for the right debt relief option for you, depending on your current situation.

The second statute of Limitations is how long your credit report is affected. The credit reporting SOL clock is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA dictates when an item must be purged from a consumer’s credit report based on the type of account or financial obligation.

# of Years an Item Is Allowed to Remain on a Consumer’s Credit Report: Type of Item:
Indefinitely
  • Unpaid Tax Liens
  • Unpaid Federal Student Loans
10 Years
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcies (10 Years from Date Filed)
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcies (7 Years from Discharge Date, 10 Years Max)
7 Years
  • Charge-Offs
  • Judgments
  • Collections
  • Foreclosures
  • Repossessions
  • Released Tax Liens
  • Late Payments
# of Years Before a Debt Becomes Time-Barred: State:
15 KY and OH
10 IL, IN, IA, LA, MO, WV, WY
8 MT
6 AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, GA, HI, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, NV, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OR, SD, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI
5 * FL, ID, NE, OK, RI, VA* Deficiency on Mortgage in FL is 1 year after Final Judgment of Foreclosure
4 CA, PA, TX
3 DE, MD, MS, NC, NH, SC, Washington D.C

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

In Debt? Need A Way Out?

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Can Bankruptcy Wipe Out Your Debts? Are you having trouble making ends meet?

Do you feel like this:

Behind on bills and can’t afford to catch up?

Can’t afford more than the minimum payment on your cards?

Harrassed by bill collectors?

Being sued for unpaid debts?

Car reposed?

Wages being garnished for unpaid debts?

Stressed out to the max?

Don’t know how you are ever going to get out from under all this debt? You could see available services here.

Get the help you need, and stop feeling this way! It’s not hopeless! We can wipe out your debts by filing a Chapter 7 or reduce them by filing a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Millions of Americans file bankruptcy each year, you are not alone. Call me for a Free Consultation today, (727) 410-2705.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate