Greetings REACH CYA Team!

We miss you and we hope you are all safe and well. We need to share the following important information with you.

On March 27, 2020 the U.S. federal government authorized the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Within the CARES Act is the Paycheck Protection Program designed to keep small businesses, including nonprofit organizations, such as REACH CYA, afloat during mandated Coronavirus related closures.

REACH CYA was recently awarded participation in the Paycheck Protection Program which will not only help our agency to survive this financial crisis but will enable us to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs. So, although our Child Care Program is still not operating, as of April 20, 2020 we will be able to pay 100% of every inactive staff member’s regular wages for the next 8 weeks.

For Employees who have filed for Unemployment Insurance:

  • As of this date, if you have not filed and have not collected for week 4/20 – 4/26/20 do not do so. You will be paid your regular wages by REACH CYA for the next consecutive 8 weeks starting 4/20/20.
  • For those who have already filed for week 4/20-4/26/20 you do not have to do anything but you may no longer file starting 4/27/20 since REACH CYA will be paying your regular wages.

Please understand that this is not optional, as a condition of REACH CYA’s participation in the Paycheck Protection Program, employees will no longer be able to claim weekly unemployment benefits. Additionally we have been strictly informed by New York State Department of Labor that REACH would be legally responsible for challenging unemployment claims that did not comply with the above filing expiration dates.

For Employees who have not filed or have been unable to file for Unemployment Insurance:

Retroactive Unemployment Insurance may be attainable to you for dates prior to 4/20/20  :
New York State Department of Labor – Unemployment Insurance Assistance: https://dol.ny.gov/unemployment/file-your-first-claim-benefits

To request credit for a period for which you did not file a valid claim, write to:
New York State Department of Labor, Central Support Unit, P.O. Box 15130
Albany, New York 12212

Your letter should include your:
Name, Address, Phone number, Social Security number
Dates for which you request credit
Reason why you did not file a claim at that time
They will investigate and decide if you qualify for benefits.

But remember you cannot file a claim for the week starting 4/20/20.

For Employees having a difficult time filing for Unemployment Insurance:

NYS recently emailed REACH CYA this Unemployment Insurance Form which may include helpful information when filing your claims.

Please continue to be safe and take good care. We hope to see you all real soon!

If you have any questions regarding this information please contact Roseann Miceli, Executive Director at Rmiceli@reachcya.org

Thank You!