COVID-19 Application For Suspension Of Debt Collection Activity
This application is for persons or businesses that owe (non-medical and non-student*) debts to the State of New York that have been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection and litigation. Any such person or business, or their dependents, that have been financially impacted by COVID-19, or the international, national, and state responses designed to prevent its spread, may complete and submit this application to be considered for certain forms of relief, including relief from collection activity, interest accrual, and the assessment of collection fees.
* NO APPLICATION IS NECESSARY FOR MEDICAL AND STUDENT DEBT - On March 17, 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James initially announced that her office would temporarily halt the collection of medical and student debt referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection, for at least a 30-day period, in response to growing financial impairments resulting from the spread of COVID-19. On April 17, 2020, May 18, 2020, June 17, 2020, July 16, 2020, August 14, 2020, September 4, 2020, October 5, 2020, November 3, 2020 and again on December 31, 2020, Attorney General James renewed the order, which is now in effect until January 31, 2021.
Due to the financial impact of COVID-19 response, I request that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) provide debt relief for a debt that has been referred to the OAG by a State Agency. I understand that, at the sole discretion of the OAG, the potential debt relief available for those impacted by the response to COVID-19 includes the temporary waiver of pre-judgment interest, including State Finance Law interest that may apply 35 days after a demand for payment is sent, the temporary waiver of collection fees, including the State Finance Law collection fee that may apply 95 days after a demand for payment is sent, the temporary tolling of time periods counting toward the 35 and 95 day time periods referenced above, the temporary waiver of post-judgment interest that accrues under the C.P.L.R on filed judgments, the decertification of debts from the Statewide Offset Program (SWOP) that intercepts tax refunds and contract payments to debtors, the temporary cessation of judgment enforcement for accounts in judgment, the temporary postponement of payments due, and the modification of payment agreements previously entered into with the Office of the Attorney General.