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LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition - April 22-23, 2020 9A Getting benefits can be a challenge BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com As an “independent contrac tor,” Gainesville acupuncturist Steve Collins has found himself on the outside of economic stimu lus money — at least, so far. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a new program funded by federal economic stimulus money, is intended to provide state unemployment benefits to workers who don’t typically receive them, including self-employed and gig workers and independent contractors. The first step for these workers is to file a regular state unemploy ment claim application, which asks about employment history and wages for the last 18 months, the Georgia Department of Labor says on its website. The labor department then works with the Georgia Depart ment of Revenue to verify wages. “Like so many programs recently, access to this one is somewhat confusing,” Collins said. “Apparently, since I applied for Georgia unemployment, I don’t have to reapply for this. But even that point is confusing. I believe that I’m supposed to wait for Georgia to contact me and further determine my need. Why they need to further determine my need, I do not know.” Collins and others may hear soon from the labor department, which is creating the program “from scratch,” state officials have said. Beginning Wednesday, April 22, emails should go out to appli cants potentially eligible for help under the assistance pro gram, according to the labor department. Workers who have already filed a claim “and determined not eligible for state unemploy ment benefits and... potentially eligible to receive benefits under this program do not have to refile a regular state claim, ” the depart ment said. “Once development of the new federal (assistance) program is completed, these individuals will be identified and will receive notification by email with a link to the application or mail contain ing information regarding the PUA application process.” Collins also is waiting for $1,200 stimulus money being given to qualified individual taxpayers. But he has run into the same problems as many Americans when trying to track their status or enter bank account informa tion on the IRS’ online tool, Get My Payment, including being told “Payment status not available.” When paying his 2018 taxes, he sent the IRS a paper check, so he’s concerned the agency will respond by sending him a check in the mail rather than through direct deposit. Reports suggest that checks will be mailed in waves through out the summer, so it may be months before Collins sees that money. “These funds should be easily and quickly dispersed, but for whatever reasons the machi nations of bureaucracy are confounding the process,” he said. “In the meantime, all of us depending on the money to live are suffering and looking at pos sible profound consequences.” Steve Collins is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine at the Spa on Green Street. Photo courtesy Steve Collins Photos courtesy Liz Coates Good News Clinics and Northeast Georgia Health System tested over 300 Hall County adults and children for COVID-19, all at no cost to patients. Good News Clinics, NGHS give 300 free COVID-19 tests Cars lined up outside Good News Clinics on April 19, as the nonprofit’s employees and Northeast Georgia Health System nursing staff implemented free COVID-19 tests for over 300 people. BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com One local group is making sure people with easy access to health care aren’t the only ones getting tested for COVID-19. To help uninsured and low- income families in Hall County, Good New Clinics and Northeast Georgia Health System offered free coronavirus testing for over 300 people on April 19. “This is an injustice we’re happy to be fighting,” said Liz Coates, executive director of Good News. “We know there are sick unin sured people who feel alone. We’re able to give them answers and education.” Cars lined up outside the Good News clinic off of Pine Street, as the nonprofits’ employees and NGHS nursing staff helped patients fill out personal information, have their noses swabbed and receive educational material about proper quarantine protocols in Spanish and English — all while staying in the vehicle. Because of the uncomfortable nature of the tests, which involve a deep nasal swab, Coates said only those who truly needed it offered their specimen. She said most of these patients showed COVID-19 symptoms or had been exposed to the virus. The results are expected to come out on Wednesday, April 22. Coates said the nonprofit would not have the funding to serve such a high volume without the help of NGHS. The health system provided all of the COVID-19 tests, tents and educational materials. “We’re grateful that NGHS real izes and partnered with us because COVID-19 is an equal opportunity virus,” Coates said. “To offer equi table testing opportunities is the right thing to do.” Although she can’t anticipate how the large-scale testing will affect Good News, Coates said she knows the event solidified more relationships with Hall residents. “To us, this was an opportunity for outreach, and to do our part in the community,” she said. “Our motivation for being a host site was to connect patients who do lack in health care.” NGHS said in a statement late Monday that Hall County has the sixth-highest number of cases in the state and is in the “severe” category of infection with a rate of 377 positive cases per 100,000 residents. Northeast Georgia Health System Northeast Georgia Health System is sponsoring coverage directly related to public safety so that it can be made available free to non-subscribers as a public service. News coverage is independently reported. We know that you need accurate and up-to-date information about the effects of the coronavirus in the state and our region. Please consider supporting our work by subscribing to The Gainesville Times. Stic STtmes gainesvilletimes.com Honestly local. Congratulate your Graduate in our Annual Graduation Section! Commemorate your Graduate with a Color Announcement with Photo in the May 16, 2020 Graduate edition of The Times. 2020 >+tax Each 18x24 single sided sign with stake will include their School Logo and their Name ^ HALL HIGH SCHnni C^wptatulatuinb Tlass OF 2020 fBDENTS NAMEss Signs Provided By: Don't Forget Your College Graduates! Reserve your spot today! Megan Lewis mlewis@gainesvilletimes.com or 770-535-6371 DEADLINE MONDAY, MAY 4
