This morning, (4/13/20), the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission voted to authorize an emergency rule creating a rebuttable presumption that an employee who comes down with COVID-19 is presumed to have caught the virus at that work was the reason. This rule not only applies to healthcare workers and first responders but all workers in deemed “essential businesses” by Governor Pritzker’s Stay-at-home Executive Order. To review this new emergency rule by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Click Here. The NACC will be tracking this new ruling carefully since it appears it would make it difficult for employers to defend against these claims. Thank you Rob Karr from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) for this update.
Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Now open for 1099/ Independent Contractors/ Sole proprietors
Starting Friday, April 10, 1099 employees, independent contractors, and sole proprietors can apply for PPP funding through local banks. We were expecting a separate application would be provided ,but learned that the same application would be used. The application for borrowers can be found here.
More Answers to PPP Questions
We just learned that churches are eligible for PPP support. Click Here for the U.S. Small Business Administration FAQ regarding faith-based organization’s eligibility for PPP loans.
For more details about eligibility, Click Here for FAQs on the U.S. Treasury released rules regarding the CARES Act.
How to Spot PPP/ CARES Act SCAMS
We are hearing that many bad actors are out trying to take advantage of our businesses who are desperately seeking help to obtain government assistance to help them during this crisis. Inc.com recently published an informative article on how to protect yourselves from scams while acquiring much-needed support. Click here to get some great tips from Inc.
SBA EIDL Loan Update
We learned on Friday (4/10/20) that the SBA EIDL Loan program is basically out of money. They are waiting for Congress to approve additional funding which they are expected to do this week, along with replenishing the Payroll Protection Program of the CARES Act.
We are told the SBA has not begun distribution of the EIDL loan funds to those who have applied to date. Due to the high volume of applicants, they have begun rationing the currently available loan amounts setting caps of loans at $15,000 and instead of the $10,000 grant promised under the CARES Act, they are providing grant caps at $1,000 per employee of the applicant. The SBA EIDL loans were made available in the Phase II federal economic stimulus package and were one of the few viable loans available for small businesses prior to the CARES Act – which, explains the unanticipated high number of applicants. We will keep you posted when more funds are made available.
Stay tuned for more updates and webinars to keep you and your business up to date on available resources. As someone said in one of my update calls last week – 2 or 3 days is like 2-3 weeks when it comes to available resources. Things certainly change quickly.
Stay tuned for regular updates and do not hesitate to reach out for additional details or resources about the information provided in today’s brief.
Reba Osborne, Director of Government Affairs
(630) 544-3387