The Coronavirus pandemic is having a severe impact on numerous low-income households in Georgia. Fortunately, community leaders and organizations are stepping up to help out struggling families during this difficult time.
Organizations are providing local residents with Coronavirus relief assistance in Georgia communities. If you have been impacted by Coronavirus and are struggling, check out our list below to find help near you. Several companies and local organizations are providing:
- Free Wifi Hotspots
- Waived Late Fees
- Free Unlimited Data & Internet
- Free Meals to Children
- Grocery & Home Supply Pickup
- Home Delivered Meals to Seniors
If you have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic, there is help available to you. For more information on the Coronavirus Relief Assistance in Georgia near you, continue reading below.
Coronavirus Relief Assistance in Georgia
We’ve compiled a list of companies, nonprofits, and local organizations in Georgia that are providing help to households struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are facing financial or food insecurity and have been impacted by Coronavirus, find help available to you below.
Coronavirus Utility Assistance
There are several companies offering relief to households impacted by COVID-19. For a list of companies offering assistance with home and utility bills, continue reading below.
Residential Housing
All residential evictions have been halted for 60 days to support Georgia households during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Georgia Power
Beginning on March 14th, the utility company is suspending residential power shut off for 30 days. They plan re-evaluate the policy and timeframe as the situation develops.
Atlanta Gas Light
Atlanta Gas Light is suspending shutoffs due to nonpayment for seven days starting on March 18th. They will assess the situation and next steps after the 7-day period. This applies to both residential and commercial customers.
Comcast
Comcast is offering free access to Xfinity Wifi hotspots to everyone for 60 days. They are also proving unlimited data to customers, zero late fees, and are not disconnecting service for lack of payment.
Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance
The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) provides low-income households with help paying their heating and energy bills. The Energy Assistance Program provides up to $350 in assistance to qualified households per month.
To learn more about LIHEAP and to see if you qualify, click here.
Coronavirus Phone Assistance
There are several companies offering relief to individuals impacted by COVID-19. For a list of companies offering financial assistance with phone service, continue reading below.
AT&T
AT&T is pledging to “Keep Americans Connected” by not terminating service or adding late fees for wireless, home phone, or broadband service to customers for the next 60 days. Public wifi hotspots are also available to everyone.
Home internet customers will also receive unlimited internet data. In addition, qualifying low-income households can get unlimited AT&T internet access for only $10 a month.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon wireless residential and small business customers impacted by COVID-19 will have all late fees waived.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile customers will receive unlimited cellphone data for the next 60-days. The company also stated that any customers with past due amounts will be waived late fees.
Sprint
Like AT&T, Sprint has taken the “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” and has promised to waive late fees and not stop service for anyone unable to pay their bill for the next 60 days. Customers will also be getting a free 20G mobile hotspot of data and complimentary unlimited data.
Metro
Metro by T-Mobile customers will be given unlimited smartphone data for the next 60-days. They are also providing free international calling to the CDC “Level 3” impacted countries.
Conoravirus Food Assistance
There are several companies offering relief to individuals and households impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. For a list of companies offering food assistance such as hot meals, supplies, and grocery delivery, continue reading below.
Atlanta Community Food Bank
Atlanta Community Food Bank is providing food assistance to households that need help during the Coronavirus pandemic. They are providing households with hot meals and food supplies. To get help, visit their website here.
Salvation Army of Atlanta
The Salvation Army of Atlanta is providing low-income households affected by the Coronavirus with cleaning supplies, protective gear, food products, and much more. For assistance with food, basic needs, or shelter, please contact the Atlanta Salvation Army at 404-486-2900.
Click here to learn more about how the Salvation Army can provide help.
America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia
The ASH of South Georgia is providing households with mobile food delivery for seniors, bagged lunch meals for children, and food pantry items to households. Click here to find help near you.
Georgia Food Banks
If you have been effected by the Coronavirus and are facing insecurity, there is help available to you. Many Georgia Food Banks are providing individuals and households with emergency food assistance during this uncertain time.
Click here to find the Georgia Food Bank near you.
Get Help Near You
If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the Georgia Coronavirus help hotline. To contact the hotline, please call their phone number at (844) 442-2681. Help is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Stimulus Checks
The $2 trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill signed into law by President Trump will provide households with $1,200 stimulus checks. Adults with an annual income up to $75,000 should expect to receive a $1,200 payment from the government in April.
Who will receive checks?
- Adults that make up to $75,000 per year will receive $1,200
- Married couples that make up to $150,000 per year will receive $2,400
- Adults listed as “Head of Household” will receive their payment above, plus an additional $500 for every child under 17
- Adults that make $75,000-$99,000 per year will receive a reduced payment ($5 deduction for every $100 in income above $75,000)
Who won’t get a check?
The majority of people excluded from receiving a payment are the wealthy, “nonresident aliens” and “dependents” who can be claimed on someone else’s tax return.
When will payments go out?
For most Americans, stimulus payments are expected to arrive starting April 17th via direct deposit. Mailed checks may take longer to receive.
The stimulus payment schedule will be released on a tiered basis. Payments are expected to be released starting at low income levels, as they are considered most at-risk.
Increased Georgia SNAP Benefits
In response to COVID-19, Governor Kemp announced that Georgia food stamp recipients should expect to receive extra benefits. On average, recipients will receive an additional $100 in SNAP benefits. This benefits increase will be included with your regularly scheduled April food stamps.
To learn more about the increased SNAP benefits due to Coronavirus and find out exactly how much you will receive, click here.
Coronavirus Relief Assistance Summary
We hope this post on the Coronavirus Relief Assistance in Georgia was helpful to you. If you know of companies and local organizations offering assistance to households impacted by COVID-19 in Georgia, please let us know in the comments section below.
To learn more about how the Coronavirus pandemic effects food stamps recipients, check out our previous post here.
If you have lost your job due to COVID-19, click here to find out how to file for Unemployment in Georgia.
For more updates on how COVID-Q9 impacts you, stay tuned to our blog. We will continue to update this post as more Coronavirus relief assistance becomes available to you.
Find out how to shop online with Georgia EBT while you are home during COVID-19.
I’m on disability, & have temporary custody [court ordered} and have been cut off of her medicaid, my medicaid, foodstamps as well has been cut off. I’ve resubmitted an online application numerous times. I would get a phone interview time and date mailed to me, than once the call came in I would answer my phone than it would hang up on me. I instantly called back & the caseworkers # had a voicemail full for 3wks. I called her supervisor still no return call. I received a letter to reschedule my interview cause I missed my Interview they said. OK So I called to rescheduled the phone app. & told the person I spoke with the same as above. STILL NO RESPONSE FROM ANYONE!!! I as well called caseworker again voicemail still FULL!