The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: How It Helps American Workers
By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, Career Development Specialist, The Bryant Library
4/1/2020; UPDATED 4/2/2020
For the most up-to-date information on these issues, please visit: https://bryantlibrary.org/adults/job-search
During the 20+ years I have spent as a career development specialist my job has been to help people earn a living. There are two components to this. One is to help individuals find work that is enjoyable and fulfilling. The other is to make sure they can get paid for that work. If we didn’t need money, we wouldn’t have to worry about that second component.
Everyone has to be able to at least put food on the table, have a place to live, and pay the bills. Suddenly, with the arrival of coronavirus, away went the ability of many of us to earn a living. Businesses laid off or became unable to pay their workers, many people couldn’t work because they were ill or had to take care of a sick family member, and others had to be on quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19. Unfortunately, you still need to be able to put food on the table and pay at least some of your bills.
That’s where the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) comes in. President Trump signed this bipartisan law on March 27, 2020 after it was passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
The primary intent of CARES is to help lessen the financial hardship that many Americans are already facing and will continue to deal with during this pandemic. Among its provisions are a stimulus payment for which most people are eligible, expanded student loan relief, and expanded unemployment benefits. We’ll take a look at each of those provisions here. To learn more about CARES, here is the complete text of the law.
The recovery rebate, more commonly called the stimulus payment, is possibly the part of The CARES Act with which Americans are most familiar. It consists of a one-time payment of $1200 that most people will receive. Here are some things you should know about it.
The IRS will use your 2019 tax return, or if you didn’t file it yet, your 2018 return, to calculate how much your stimulus payment (aka recovery rebate) will be. Individuals with adjusted gross incomes* of up to $75,000 will get $1200 and married couples filing a joint return with a total adjusted gross income of up to $150,000 will get $2400.
Families will get an additional $500 for each child under 17 years of age. Payments to individuals who earned over $75,000 but no more than $99,000 will receive a reduced payment calculated on a sliding scale. The same goes for married couples who earned over $150,000 but not more than $198,000.
Individuals who file taxes as heads of household, for example single parents, will get the full amount as long as their adjusted gross income is no more than $112,500 a year. Anything above that, but only up to $136,500, will be calculated at a reduced rate on a sliding scale.
According to a decision made by the Treasury Department late on April 1, Social Security recipients who have not filed a tax return do not have to file one to receive a payment. A direct deposit will automatically be made to the account where they receive their monthly benefits.
Find out how much you’ll be getting. Use this calculator from the Washington Post.
*To find your adjusted gross income, look at Line 8b of your 2019 Federal Income Tax Return or Line 7 of your 2018 return.
Who Isn’t Eligible for the Recovery Rebate?
Not everyone will receive the stimulus payment. The CARES Act deems some people ineligible. That includes nonresident aliens, estates and trusts, and adults who can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer. Sorry! If your parents claim you as a dependent on their tax return, which includes most people between the ages of 18 and 23, you won’t be getting a check.
If You Are Eligible, How and When Will You Get Paid?
You don’t have to do anything to apply for a payment. If you filed a 2019 tax return and provided direct deposit information, the IRS will send your money to the bank account you indicated. If you didn’t give that information, you will get a check in the mail. The IRS has announced plans to build a web-based portal that will allow taxpayers to enter updated banking information. As of this writing, it is not yet available.
Didn’t file your 2019 return yet? The deadline for filing tax returns for 2019 has been postponed from April 15 to July 15, but you can file one right now if you wish. Those with income that is below $69,000 can use a free online filing tool from the IRS. Free fillable tax forms are available for higher earners.
The IRS can also use your 2018 return to determine where to send your check. If you changed your address or bank information, try to complete your 2019 return now in order to update that information or enter it on the web-based portal when that goes live. Keep checking the IRS Coronavirus Relief page for an announcement but keep in mind that the government, even in calmer times, moves at a glacial pace. You will probably be able to get your 2019 return filed faster than the IRS will get that tool up and running.
As for when you will see your payment, Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin has said that most people can expect to receive their direct deposits by April 17. The IRS has also stated it will mail a paper notice to recipients a few weeks after payment is made.
Expanded Unemployment Insurance Benefits
While getting your recovery rebate requires little effort on your part, accessing the expanded unemployment insurance (UI) benefits provisions of the CARES Act will be more of an endeavor. You will have to apply to receive benefits, but if you are eligible, you’ll receive them.
What is Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
Pandemic Unemployment Assistant expands unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who are not entitled to regular UI benefits such as independent contractors, have a limited work history, or are self-employed, as well as others. Anyone who meets the following criteria qualifies for PUA:
Has the illness or has a household member who does
Is caring for someone with COVID-19
Can’t get to work because of a quarantine related to the public health emergency
Has children who can’t attend school or another facility because of closures due to COVID-19
Quit their job because of COVID-19
Has become the major breadwinner because the head of the household died from COVID-19
Can’t start a new job as scheduled because of the COVID-19 public health emergency
Can’t work because their employer is closed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency
Workers who employers will pay to do their jobs remotely or who are on sick leave or other paid leave do not qualify for PUA.
What You Need to Know About UI Benefits
Your regular benefit amount will be based on your recent earnings but in New York State will not exceed the maximum amount of $504.
Everyone who qualifies for UI benefits or PUA will receive $600 per week in addition to their regular benefit amount until July 31, 2020.
All UI benefits recipients, including those who qualify for PUA, will receive an extra 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits beyond the normal 26 weeks. This means you can receive a total of 39 weeks of benefits. Anyone who exhausted their benefits after July 1, 2019 can apply for the extra weeks of coverage.
If you qualify for PUA, there will be no waiting period after you are approved to receive UI benefits. You will begin receiving them as soon as they are processed.
Partial benefits may be available to workers whose hours were reduced due to COVID-19, as well as to part-time workers. You must work less than four days a week and earn $504 or less.
How to Apply for UI Benefits in New York State
As you might imagine, many people are trying to apply for UI benefits right now. If you are currently receiving benefits, you don’t have to do anything other than continue to certify weekly. The NYS Department of Labor requests that you DO NOT CALL since it will tie up the lines for those who are filing initial claims. You are automatically eligible for the expanded benefits as provided by the CARES Act.
Those who are not currently receiving benefits will have to file a claim. Remember that this is also for individuals who are not eligible for traditional UI benefits. Please read the section on PUA above to see if you are eligible and check the PUA page on the Department of Labor website.
File your claim online by going to labor.ny.gov/signin/. This is preferable to calling but if you don’t have internet access, call 1-888-209-8124. There are reports that it takes quite a while to get through. The NYS Department of Labor is taking calls six days a week: Monday through Saturday. Patience is required.
Those filing a claim may do so based on their last name as follows:
Missed your day? File Thursday-Saturday
People who live in New York but worked in another state should file their claims in the state where they were last employed. While New York was fairly quick to put a plan in place to help people file PUA claims once The CARES Act went into effect, other states have been slower to respond. If you worked in multiple states, please contact the NYS Department of Labor for help with filing. Be prepared to wait a long time for assistance if you call. Please see careeronestop for links to unemployment benefit information in other states.
Expanded Student Loan Relief
Student loan payments are often a burden for both recent and not so recent college grads during normal times. It’s the last thing you want to have to worry about during this crisis. The legislators recognized this when writing the CARES Act. If you are paying back a federal student loan, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Your loan won’t be among your worries for now.
There will be automatic payment suspensions until September 30, 2020. Remember, this doesn’t apply to loans from state or private lenders although they may have similar suspensions in place. You will not accrue interest on your federal student loan during the suspension period. Keep an eye out for a notice from your loan servicer. You will also receive additional notices after August 1 as the suspension period draws to a close.
Sources and Additional Information:
The following sources were consulted for compiling information for this article. They are also excellent resources for further information.
Still, Ashlyn, et al. “Calculate How Much You’ll Get From the $1,200 (or more) Coronavirus Checks.” The Washington Post. March 27, 2020.
Nevius, Alistair M., JD. “CARES Act Tax Provisions Aim to Stabilize Pandemic-ravaged Economy”). Journal of Accountancy. March 25, 2020 (Updated March 27, 2020)
Bernard, Tara Siegal & Lieber, Ron. “F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Plan.” The New York Times. March 31, 2020
NYS Department of Labor. What You Need to Know and Do About the Cares Act, Unemployment Insurance Benefits: Updated FAQs, and Relief for Workers Affected By Coronavirus Act: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
US Department of Treasury. Press Release: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments. April 1, 2020.
I am a career development specialist who assists clients with their career planning needs at The Bryant Library. Even though the Library is closed now, you can still get help with your resume. I am offering virtual resume reviews. Send me an email at [email protected] to find out how to set up an appointment.