COVID-19 Resources for NH's Fishing/Seafood Industry

The National Sea Grant Law Center prepared this CARES Act Tip Sheet for Self-Employed Individuals

The tip sheet linked above document was prepared on April 23, 2020. Guidance regarding financial relief for the impacts of COVID-19 is rapidly changing. Please check appropriate state and federal websites frequently for the most updated information.

The tip sheet will answer questions like: I’m a self-employed individual who has lost business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What relief programs are available to me under the CARES Act?

Self-employed individuals are eligible to apply for three relief programs under the CARES Act: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

• The PPP is a forgivable loan meant to cover 8 weeks of payroll and other allowable business expenses.
• EIDL provides low interest loans to small businesses affected by COVID-19.
• PUA provides unemployment assistance beyond standard state benefits.

UPDATE (June 17, 2020) — The SBA resumed accepting applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) from all eligible small businesses on June 15, 2020. For more information and to apply, click here.

In response to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in the United States, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. The federal Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.  $10,000 cannot be used to pay a 1099 employee and the monies must be spent on business expenses from February 2020 until June 2020 for it to be categorized with a NO repayment provision. 

• Find more details from sba.gov
• Sea Grant Law Center 'Quick Takes' about this program
• Beware of fraudulent SBA assistance

UPDATE (August 12, 2020) — NH Fish and Game will disperse funding for marine commercial fishing businesses, marine charter/for-hire fishing businesses, marine aquaculture businesses, seafood wholesale dealers and processors, and tribes in New Hampshire. Eligible applicants for these funds via NH Fish and Game must be residents of New Hampshire (no minors). Currently, New Hampshire is drafting the spend plan to be approved by NOAA Fisheries and is not yet ready to accept applications. For more information about the dispersal of these funds by NH Fish and Game, click here.

All “Fishery Participants” affected by COVID-19 that suffered (1) a greater than 35% economic revenue loss as compared to prior 5-yr average revenue or (2) a negative impact to subsistence, cultural or ceremonial fisheries are eligible for this program. Fishery Participants are tribes, persons, fishing communities, and aquaculture businesses not eligible for the USDA Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, processors or other fishery related businesses. $300 million from the federal CARES Act is available for the entire nation (not just the region or state). The funds will remain available until September 30, 2021.

NOAA Fisheries will allocate funds to its partners—the interstate marine fisheries commissions, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—to disburse funds to address direct or indirect fishery-related losses as well as subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Division will be working through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to finalize the New Hampshire CARES Act fisheries/seafood relief spend plan to be submitted to NOAA Fisheries. $2,732,492 has been allocated to New Hampshire. 

• NH Fish and Game CARES Act page
• ASMFC CARES Act resources page
• NOAA Fisheries press release about allocation of funds (May 7, 2020)
• NOAA Fisheries' COVID-19 page
• Read Section 12005 of the CARES Act 

Update (August 8, 2020) — The Paycheck Protection Program has closed as of August 8, 2020. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is no longer accepting PPP loan applications from participating lenders.

Update (July 6, 2020) — The Paycheck Protection Program resumed accepting applications July 6, 2020, at 9:00 AM EDT in response to President signing the program's extension legislation. The new deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan is August 8, 2020. Full details available at sba.gov, click here. 

Update (June 17, 2020) — Paycheck Protection Program loan applications are available following the passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. Borrowers may now chose to use the original 8-week covered period (for loans made prior to June 5, 2020), OR borrowers may hose an extended 24-week covered period. For more information and to apply, click here.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The deadline for loan applications has been extended until August 8, 2020 (previous deadline was June 30, 2020).

• Find more details from sba.gov
• Sea Grant Law Center 'Quick Takes' about this program
• Sea Grant Law Center PPP Loan Forgiveness Tip Sheet 
• Sea Grant Law Center 'Quick Takes' about the PPP Flexibility Act
• View a webinar about the Payment Protection Program
• Beware of fraudulent SBA assistance

UPDATE (August 12, 2020) — NH Fish and Game will disperse funding for marine commercial fishing businesses, marine charter/for-hire fishing businesses, marine aquaculture businesses, seafood wholesale dealers and processors, and tribes in New Hampshire. Eligible applicants for these funds via NH Fish and Game must be residents of New Hampshire (no minors). Currently, New Hampshire is drafting the spend plan to be approved by NOAA Fisheries and is not yet ready to accept applications. For more information about the dispersal of these funds by NH Fish and Game, click here.

All “Fishery Participants” affected by COVID-19 that suffered (1) a greater than 35% economic revenue loss as compared to prior 5-yr average revenue or (2) a negative impact to subsistence, cultural or ceremonial fisheries are eligible for this program. Fishery Participants are tribes, persons, fishing communities, and aquaculture businesses not eligible for the USDA Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, processors or other fishery related businesses. $300 million from the federal CARES Act is available for the entire nation (not just the region or state). The funds will remain available until September 30, 2021.

NOAA Fisheries will allocate funds to its partners—the interstate marine fisheries commissions, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—to disburse funds to address direct or indirect fishery-related losses as well as subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Division will be working through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to finalize the New Hampshire CARES Act fisheries/seafood relief spend plan to be submitted to NOAA Fisheries. $2,732,492 has been allocated to New Hampshire. 

• NH Fish and Game CARES Act page
• ASMFC CARES Act resources page
• NOAA Fisheries press release about allocation of funds (May 7, 2020)
• NOAA Fisheries' COVID-19 page
• Read Section 12005 of the CARES Act

The State of New Hampshire's Unemployment Benefits are processed through NHWorks. All NHWorks offices are closed to the public due to COVID-19. All claims and questions should be directed to nhes.nh.gov or by calling the Unemployment Assistance Hotline at (603) 271-7700.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, unemployment compensation is available to 1099 employees (crew) where it has NOT been available in the past. The State of New Hampshire's Unemployment Office is experiencing a high volume of requests at the moment, so be persistent if you plan on filing a claim.

To file a claim, visit: https://wfc.nhes.nh.gov/auth/sso/login?execution=e2s1

If you are self-employed and have filed for unemployment benefits:

1. In order to process and complete your claim for unemployment, you will need to provide your wage information. Click on the following links:

• NHES Request for Net Income Amounts: Self-Employed
• NHES Request for Net Income Amounts: Self-Employed LETTER
• NHES Request for Net Income Amounts: Self-Employed FORM

2. You will receive a Denial Message that you may ignore. Your unemployment claim requires time to process as a result of you being self-employed.

3. You will receive a second decision once your wages have been entered.

On June 25th, Governor Sununu announced a new relief effort for the self-employed called SELF, the Self-Employment Livelihood Fund. 

Important Dates & Application Details:

• Application period: July 6, 2020 – July 17, 2020
• Applications can only be submitted using only the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) web portal. The application portal opens on July 6. No hand-delivered or mailed paper copies will be accepted.
• Deadline to file a completed application: July 17, 2020 (by 4:00 p.m.)

To be eligible, self-employed businesses must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be located in NH
• The owner(s) must be the only employee
• The business must be for-profit
• The business can't be permanently closed, not including those that temporarily closed due to COVID-19
• The business can't currently be in bankruptcy
• The business must have had gross receipts in 2019 of less than $1 million

The Self-Employed Livelihood Fund grant award amounts will be calculated similarly to the Main Street Relief Fund, with the maximum award amount a business can receive is $50,000.

The State of New Hampshire is not directing businesses on how to spend the money. Businesses must demonstrate they have experienced or anticipate they will experience a financial loss due to COVID-19 in order to qualify for a Self-Employed Livelihood Fund Grant. It is expected that businesses will use the funds to assist in covering their operational costs and legal obligations.

For more information: www.goferr.nh.gov/covid-expenditures/new-hampshire-self-employed-livelihood-fund-self

Individuals unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to COVID-19 can receive a $600 weekly supplement to state unemployment benefits. Applications must be submitted through state unemployment offices, but in New Hampshire there is nothing you need to do to access these new benefits other than continue to file your weekly claims.

Update from nhes.nh.gov (April 7, 2020) — The Federal CARES Act was enacted Friday, March 27th. This includes an additional $600 per week for all individuals filing in New Hampshire until July 31st. It also provides an additional 13 weeks of eligibility on top of the existing 26 weeks. NHES expects these new benefits to be available very soon and has been working around the clock to implement as quickly as possible. Please continue to file your claims and check this website for updated information. There is nothing you need to do to access these new benefits other than continue to file your weekly claims.

See details in the previous 'NH Unemployment' tab for information about processing unemployment claims in NH.