New England Local COVID-19 Resources

March 24, 2020

Dear New England Local Member,

Please know that during this difficult time, SAG-AFTRA’s top priority is the health, safety and well being of our members. We are aware of the challenges many members face as production has temporarily ceased. SAG-AFTRA is regularly updating its COVID-19 resource page on the website with the latest updates so please continue to check this site.

In addition, it is critical in the coming weeks that we work together and advocate for our fellow members and our local communities. To assist members of the New England Local, we have compiled critical resources available to members living in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut and have listed these below. This will be updated online as needed. If you see something that you think should be added to it, please send it to newengland@sagaftra.org for our local staff to review. Please note that all of the links below are managed by independent organizations and state agencies and that SAG-AFTRA New England is not responsible for the content.

While this evolving situation seems to be moving quickly at times, please know your local staff are working remotely to ensure the union’s core functions, including residuals processing, continue.

Download the SAG-AFTRA member app to be the first to receive the latest news. Sign up for direct deposit so residuals are securely deposited in your bank account. Watch your emails for the latest updates and possible calls to action. Stay safe by following the advice of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the guidance of local government authorities. And please look out for one another.

In unity,

Andrea Lyman
New England Local President

Filing for Unemployment
Unemployment assistance is handled by the state in which you reside and not by the staff at SAG-AFTRA New England. SAG-AFTRA has resources available to help our members in the event they find themselves needing to file for unemployment during this difficult time. All questions regarding unemployment insurance should be directed to the appropriate state agency. The basic information to file for unemployment in New England states can be found on each of the states’ Unemployment Insurance websites (which are listed below). Please go through the information on these sites in detail, as these sites have good instructions and FAQs to answer common questions. It cannot be overstated enough that the more organized you are, the more information you have and the more complete it is, the easier and faster the process will be.

Following is information you will need to gather in order to apply:

Your Social Security Number, or if not a citizen of the US, your Alien Registration Number
Your residential, mailing and email addresses
Your phone number
Your birth date
SSNs and birth dates for your dependents
Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit (which is recommended)
Your employment history (requirements vary by state, please see your state’s Unemployment Insurance website for more details)
Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all your employers
Reason for separation (always enter layoff due to lack of work)
Employment start and end dates for each employer (be as accurate as you can, but estimates will work)

Massachusetts
Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits online
Cambridge Artists Relief Fund
City of Boston Relief Fund for Artists
Exempt Emergency Child Care
FAQs for employees unemployment claims impacted by COVID-19
Information on Unemployment and Coronavirus
List of United Way offices in Massachusetts
Massachusetts AFL-CIO COVID-19 Resources
Massachusetts Cultural Council Relief Fund
Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 FAQ
Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance
Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Insurance Virtual Town Halls
Massachusetts Health Connector
Massachusetts Information on Unemployment and COVID-19
Massachusetts Production Coalition Covid-19 Resource Page
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Gig Workers
State Health Exchange Enrollment
The City of Boston’s Rental Relief Fund
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Welcome Project Fund
Worcester Creative Relief Fund