4 Ways to Get Cash During COVID-19

Public spaces are closing down, the grocery store lines are going around the block and for some reason, toilet paper has become the most valuable good around. With the coronavirus spreading in the United States, these are definitely strange and stressful times.

Unfortunately, people still need to pay their bills and fill their fridges in a pandemic. Luckily, there are some options to keep the money flowing. If you’re looking for a quick way to put money in your wallet and pay your upcoming bills, consider the options below.

1. Sell Your Junk Car For Cash

Do you have a junk or damaged car sitting in your driveway, taking up space? If you want to get rid of your junk car, get paid for it and minimize contact, your best option would be selling that car online — to CarBrain! We specialize in buying less-than-perfect cars and can complete the entire process online. You never have to leave your home.

All you have to do to get a quote is:

1. Click "get an offer"
2. Fill out information about your car
3. Upload pictures of your car and its VIN
4. Check out your quote!

If you like the price, we can help you schedule a FREE pickup and FREE title transfer. When the tow truck driver arrives, he or she will hand you a check on the spot for your car. You can cash your check remotely with most major banks, minimizing the need to go outdoors.

Our offers are guaranteed for seven days, so you have time to think it over if you aren’t 100 percent sure you want to sell just yet. We offer fair market prices for vehicles, taking into account the year, make, model, trim and more.

There’s no haggling, there’s no hassle and there’s no fees. CarBrain is the secure, modern and fast way to sell your car for cash. Selling your junk car is a simple way to get fast cash and take another chore off your list.

2. Take Up Delivery Driving

Numerous businesses are moving towards to-go and delivery-based sales, closing up their in-store areas to prevent spread of the virus. However, those delivery orders aren’t magically going to arrive at peoples’ doorsteps alone. Demand for delivery drivers has exploded.

If you have a car, a license and some spare time on your hands, consider becoming a delivery driver. Right now, you can get paid to drive for one of the companies listed below:

• Amazon
• PostMates
• UberEats
• DoorDash
• GrubHub

A lot of these jobs offer flexibility, allowing you to pick your hours and giving you more freedom to plan your day. Demand is definitely high as people lock themselves in their homes and avoid going out, so you’ll have plenty of work to do.

Concerned about coming into contact with other people? Companies are taking fears of the coronavirus into account as they ramp up their delivery services.

Many restaurants are going out of their way to sanitize goods before sending them out. DoorDash and UberEats are supplying many drivers with additional sanitary materials. Finally, delivery services have adopted “contactless delivery,” minimizing physical interaction between you and customers to avoid transmission.

3. Review Available Relief Programs

If you’ve been laid off or your hours have been seriously cut, you may be eligible for new benefits, including guaranteed sick leave.

One of the new laws passed guarantees paid sick leave to employees of companies that employ less than 500 people. To qualify for the expanded benefits, one of the following must be true:

• You are being tested for the coronavirus
• You are being treated for the coronavirus
• A doctor or government official has ordered you to self-isolate
• You are caring for a family member diagnosed with the virus
• You are caring for a child who is now out of school

Parents caring for children can get up to 12 weeks of paid leave at up to $200 per day. Those caring for a family member get up to $200 per day for two weeks, while those diagnosed with or exposed to the virus get up to $511 per day for two weeks.

However, there are some exemptions to the law, which you can learn more about here.

Congress has also recently passed a bill granting a $1,200 to most working Americans who earn up to $75,000, with an additional $500 per child. Unless you have already filed your 2019 taxes, the checks will be written and sent based on your 2018 tax returns. You can learn more about that new law here.

Other benefits you may be eligible for include:

• Unemployment Insurance
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid

4. Find Your Unclaimed Funds

Have you ever looked into searching for unclaimed funds? You might be surprised at what you could find. From deposits to 401(k)s to dividend payouts, there are lots of ways you could have money waiting for you somewhere.

If you’re stuck at home with no job to go to, it may be worthwhile to take an afternoon and complete a hunt for missing money. You can complete the search online. Use websites such as:

• IRS.gov, to check the status of your tax refund
• MissingMoney.com, to check multiple state treasury databases at once
• TreasuryHunt.gov, to check for savings bonds, Treasury notes and more
• USA.gov/unclaimed-money, for a full list of potential source of unclaimed funds

You could even find unclaimed pensions or life insurance payouts. There is no guarantee you will find anything, but searching doesn’t take a long time. When you do perform your search, keep the following in mind:

• Search for funds in every state you’ve lived in
• Search under all versions of your legal name, including your maiden name
• Search for funds from deceased parents or grandparents

In some cases, you can claim funds from a deceased relative if you are the rightful heir. Make sure your search is thorough — eventually, many funds you might miss can be claimed by local or federal government bodies.