Covid-19 Help For Individuals - The Cash Payments

For Individuals:

• Unemployment Insurance
• Cash Payment Relief
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paying Rent and Mortgages
• Student Loans
• Food and Nutrition Resources
• Veterans

Unemployment Insurance

Resources for those facing unemployment due to COVID-19 from the WA State Employment Security Department click HERE.

• Information on how to file for unemployment insurance.
• Information on how to file for workers' compensation. 

Visit this list of resources from King County to help navigate different agencies and how to file for unemployment or workers’ compensation.

The CARES Act, recently signed into law, expands and enhances unemployment insurance. Specifically, the bill:

• Creates a new Pandemic Unemployment Insurance (UI) program to provide unemployment insurance (UI) to individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance (such as gig-workers, part-time workers, and the self-employed)
• Increases weekly unemployment benefits by $600 per week (on top of normal benefit) through the end of July.
• Expands the maximum number of weeks a beneficiary can receive UI by 13 weeks – so workers who exhaust regular benefits would be eligible to receive an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Cash Payment Relief

FAQ about cash payment relief Information from the IRS about cash payment relief 

ABOUT CASH PAYMENT RELIEF 

Most American adults will receive a cash payment from the federal government in the coming weeks to help alleviate the economic impact of the Coronavirus crisis. The payment is $1,200 for each adult, plus an additional $500 for each dependent under 17 years old. There is no minimum income threshold or requirement to receive the rebate. However, the rebate phases out for individuals with incomes of: $75,000 (if your income tax filing status is "single"); $112,500 (if your income tax filing status is "head of household"); and $150,000 (if your income tax filing status is "married filing jointly").

All adults with a Social Security Number who are U.S. residents and meet these income thresholds are eligible, including individuals on Social Security, receiving disability benefits, and receiving unemployment compensation.

HOW YOU'LL GET YOUR CASH PAYMENT RELIEF

The cash payment is not something you need to apply for. It will be distributed to you automatically.

If the IRS already has your bank account information because you filed your taxes in 2019 or 2018, you don't need to do anything. The IRS will transfer the money to you and figure the amount based on the recent income tax data it already has. If the IRS has your bank account information on file, you will receive the money through direct deposit. If the IRS does not have your bank account information on file, a check will be mailed to the address provided to the IRS on your most recent tax return.

If you have not filed taxes in the last two years, consider doing so immediately, as it will speed up the process for you to get your rebate. Alternatively, if you were not required to file your taxes in the past two years and thus did not file, there will be a form for you to submit to claim your rebate - more information on this process will be available in the coming days.

Read More here at Congressman Adam Smith's page.