Coronavirus Update: Economic Impact Payment Information

Dear Friend,

Many Marylanders have called or emailed my office with questions about the economic impact payments available to them as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Here are some quick answers to many of your questions.

• Are You Eligible? The IRS has already sent millions of payments and will continue to do so over the coming weeks and months. To find out if you are eligible to receive an economic impact payment (most Marylanders are) see here.
   
• What If I Don’t File a Tax Return? People who do not normally file tax returns – those whose gross income does not exceed $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples) – can use the IRS’ new online tool to register to receive an economic impact payment.
   
• Are You a Social Security Recipient? Eligible Social Security beneficiaries will receive economic impact payments automatically.
   
• Are You a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipient? The Social Security Administration announced that SSI recipients will receive economic impact payments. The U.S. Department of the Treasury expects these payments to arrive automatically to SSI beneficiaries by early May.
   
• Are You a Veteran? The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments will automatically receive economic impact payments – without having to file any additional paperwork.
   
• Do You Have Dependents? Eligible taxpayers with dependents will receive an additional $500 per dependent. If you are a Social Security, Supplemental Security Income or VA C&P beneficiary with dependents, you will need to provide information about your dependents in order to receive the $500-per-dependent payment. To do so, please enter your information here by Wednesday, April 22.
   
• Want to Speed Up Your Payment? The IRS has launched a “Get My Payment” web platform that allows taxpayers who filed a tax return in 2018 or 2019 to submit direct deposit information in order to have their economic impact payments deposited directly into their bank accounts, instead of waiting for a check in the mail. The Get My Payment web platform also allows taxpayers to track the status of their payment. It’s updated every 24 hours. You can access the Get My Payment web platform here.
   

Please see below for the latest news and information regarding COVID-19.

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Updates from Washington
 

• Helping Marylanders Access Unemployment Benefits: The Maryland Congressional Delegation offered support and assistance to the Maryland Department of Labor to help ensure that Marylanders receive the expanded unemployment benefits made available by the CARES Act.
   
• Demanding More Money for Maryland Hospitals and Health Care Providers: The Delegation pressed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to send federal dollars to Maryland hospitals and health care providers to buy more testing supplies, personal protective equipment and other medical equipment.
   
• Securing Additional Funding for Maryland Schools: The Maryland Delegation announced more than $45 million to help Maryland school districts and institutions of higher education navigate the COVID-19 crisis. This federal funding will help Maryland educators plan for and coordinate long-term closures and purchase educational technology to support online learning for all students.
   
• Announcing Federal Funding for Maryland Airports: The Delegation secured more than $107 million in COVID-19 economic relief for Maryland airports – including more than $87 million for BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
   
• Supporting Maryland’s Child Care Centers: The Delegation announced more than $45 million in economic relief for Maryland child care centers, which will help them continue to provide child care services for our state’s health care workforce, emergency responders, sanitation employees and other essential workers.
   
• Delivering Critical Benefits to Veterans: Several provisions of the CARES Act have helped deliver important protections and services for our veterans. To learn more about these benefits, see here. For additional COVID-19 resources for veterans, see here.
   
• Federal Dollars for Immunocompromised Populations: The Delegation announced more than $2 million in federal funding to support individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Maryland.
   

Updates in Maryland
 

• Maryland School Closure Extension: Maryland announced that public schools will remain closed through May 15.
   
• Masks and Face Coverings: As of Saturday, April 18, Maryland requires everyone to wear masks or face coverings upon entering grocery stores and retail establishments, or when riding public transportation in our state. Grocery store and retail staff will also be required to wear face coverings. Here’s a step-by-step guide from the Centers for Disease Control on how to make a mask at home.
   
• A Roadmap to Recovery: In consultation with public health officials, Maryland has taken several steps to plan for the reopening and recovery of our state’s economy. Key elements of this recovery and gradual reopening will include expanded testing, increased hospital capacity, sufficient personal protective equipment for health care providers and first responders and robust contact tracing.
   
• Protecting Maryland’s Prison Population, Corrections Officers and Surrounding Communities: The Maryland Congressional Delegation urged Governor Larry Hogan to take steps to address the outbreak of COVID-19 in our state’s prisons. On Sunday, the Governor signed an executive order releasing hundreds of inmates who are close to completing their sentences and at high risk of developing serious health complications from COVID-19.
   

For regular updates and information about the coronavirus, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

For a full list of coronavirus-related resources, please visit my website.
 

Sincerely,

Congressman John Sarbanes
Maryland’s Third Congressional District