More Helpful Resources, In One Place
To help you track the Coronavirus relief initiatives that have been signed into law, use this overview of what’s available, along with links to specific programs that could help you overcome current hardship.
Congress has passed two bills, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and the Economic Security (CARES) Act. Outlined below are sections of the laws that can provide assistance to you and your families and small businesses.
- Private healthcare providers are required to cover COVID-19 testing without cost and waives cost sharing under Medicare, TRICARE and the VA. The law also gives states the option to expand Medicare to provide COVID-19 related coverage to those that are not insured. If you or someone you know requires COVID-19 testing, please contact your primary care provider or local hospital for more information and next steps.
- Certain employers are required to provide paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Please contact your employer if you have any questions regarding changes to your paid sick and family leave programs.
Most Americans who pay taxes will receive a one-time direct deposit of up to $1,200, and married couples will receive $2,400, plus an additional $500 per child. The payments will be available for adjusted gross incomes up to $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples. If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) already has your bank account information, it will transfer the money to you via direct deposit based on the recent income-tax figures it already has. You can find your adjusted gross income on Line 8b of the 2019 1040 federal tax return.
Required Minimum Distribution
For the calendar year 2020, no one will have to take a required minimum distribution from any individual retirement accounts or workplace retirement savings plans, like a 401(k).
Use of retirement funds
The CARES Act waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty for distributions up to $100,000 taken in 2020 for coronavirus-related purposes, retroactive to Jan. 1. Withdrawals are still taxed, but taxes are spread over three years, or the taxpayer has the three-year period to roll it back over.
401(k) Loans
The loan limit is increased from $50,000 to $100,000 for loans taken by September 23, 2020.
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides essential food for Americans in need. The program distributes food through foodbanks across the country. If you are interested in this program, contact your state distribution agency at Emergency Food Assistance State Contact Lookup
- The Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program to provide mothers and pregnant women with access to supplemental foods, healthcare referrals and nutrition education. If you are interested in this program, you will need to contact your relevant state agency and set up an appointment. Find contact information for your state agency at WIC State Contact Lookup
- There are several nutrition programs available for seniors, including programs that offer food delivery services for older Americans. Learn more about available options and how to apply for them at Nutrition Programs for Seniors
- Nutritional assistance is also available for U.S territories and Native American Reservations. To learn more about these programs at Territory Nutrition Assistance Programs
- Companies with 500 employees or fewer that maintain their payroll during coronavirus can receive up to 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance. The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with zero-fee loans of up to $10 million to cover payroll and other operating expenses. Up to eight weeks of payroll, mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs can be forgiven. Payments on principal and interest are deferred for six months and up to one year. Small businesses will be able to apply if they were harmed by COVID-19 between February 15, 2020, and June 30, 2020. This program is retroactive to February 15, 2020, in order to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls. Loans are available through June 30, 2020.
- The CARES Act allows employers to delay the payment of their portion of 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act creates a new Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program, called the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP).
- The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act temporarily expands eligibility for SBA economic injury disaster loans (EIDL) and provides an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits harmed by COVID-19 within three days of applying for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). To access the advance, you first apply for an EIDL and then request the advance. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
