Category Archives: Income Support

House Passes Fourth Coronavirus Package

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On May 15, the House passed its fourth coronavirus package, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R.6800) with a vote of 208-199.

This package includes:

  • Increased federal funding for home and community based services (HCBS) under Medicaid
  • Expanded eligibility for economic impact payments to adult dependents and another round of payments
  • Paid leave eligibility for family caregivers of adults with disabilities, including siblings and grandparents

See The Arc’s statement. Now we need the Senate to pass legislation that includes the critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support professional workforce. Contact your Senators now.

Fourth Coronavirus Package Under Development

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Congressional leaders continue work on another COVID-19 package that could be voted on this month. House Democrats are expected to release a package soon that will provide funding for state and local governments to address revenue shortfalls. It is also expected to include an additional round of direct payments and more funding for Medicaid, nutritional benefits, and unemployment insurance. The Arc’s priorities for that measure are:

  • Grants to support access to home and community-based services (to minimize the risk of people with disabilities being forced into institutions) and to support the direct support professional (DSP) workforce
  • Personal protective equipment for DSPs
  • Paid leave and sick days for family caregivers of adults with disabilities
  • Economic impact payments for all people with disabilities, including adult dependents

IRS Announces Economic Impact Payments Deceased Individuals Should Be Returned

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On May 6, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that deceased individuals are not eligible for economic impact payments authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The IRS states: “A Payment made to someone who died before receipt of the Payment should be returned to the IRS by following the instructions in the Q&A about repayments. This is not consistent with IRS practice regarding previous stimulus payments. Read The Arc’s updated fact sheet on economic impact payments.

Interim Coronavirus Bill Enacted; Other Package Under Development

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On April 24, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill includes $310 billion for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, $50 billion for disaster loans, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion for testing. Meanwhile, Congressional leaders continue work on another package that could be voted on some time in May. The Arc’s priorities for that measure include:

  • Grants to support access to home and community-based services (to minimize the risk of people with disabilities being forced into institutions) and to support the direct support professional (DSP) workforce
  • Personal Protective Equipment for DSPs
  • Paid leave and sick days for family caregivers of adults with disabilities
  • Economic impact payments for all people with disabilities, including adult dependents

Income Support: Bill to Improve Unemployment Insurance Benefits Introduced

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On May 1, Representative Dan Kildee (D-MI) introduced the Strengthening UI for Coronavirus Impacted Workers and Students Act (H.R.6680). This bill would make several improvements to unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, including exempting them from income for all means-tested programs. This would allow people with disabilities to receive UI benefits without complicating eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or the Supplemental Nutrition Insurance Program (SNAP). The Arc supports this bill. See The Arc’s fact sheet on unemployment insurance.

Income Support: IRS Sets May 5 Deadline for Stimulus Payments for Dependents of SSI Recipients

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) set a deadline of May 5 for SSI recipients who do not file taxes to register their dependent children to receive $500 payments authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. SSI recipients who do not have dependents do not need to take any further action. Read The Arc’s statement and see the updated fact sheet.

Treasury Department Announces Automatic Stimulus Payments for SSI Recipients

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On April 15, the Treasury Department announced that people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will automatically receive stimulus payments authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Treasury Department’s initial plan was to require individuals receiving SSI to file or have filed tax returns for 2018 or 2019. Payments will be made via the same method by which an individual receives SSI. Read The Arc’s statement and see the updated fact sheet.

Congress Weighs Fourth Coronavirus Bill

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This week, Congressional leaders continue to consider a possible fourth coronavirus response package and what should be included in it. The Arc’s priorities include:

  • Grants to support access to home and community-based services (to minimize the risk of people with disabilities being forced into institutions) and to support the direct support professional (DSP) workforce
  • Personal protective equipment for DSPs
  • Paid leave and sick days for family caregivers of adults with disabilities
  • Allowing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to receive their Recovery Rebates without filing needless paperwork

Read The Arc’s blog for more information.

The Arc Releases Updated Fact Sheet on Stimulus Payment for Individuals

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The Arc released an updated fact sheet on the stimulus payments authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, detailing changes announced by the Treasury Department and the Social Security Administration that payments will be made automatically to Social Security beneficiaries. Unfortunately, these changes do not extend to SSI beneficiaries. The Arc and many other organizations wrote to the Social Security Administration and the Treasury Department, asking the agencies to fix this glitch and automatically pay SSI beneficiaries.

Congress Approves COVID-19 Stimulus Package

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Last week, both houses of Congress approved and President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion bill to address the economic and other impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. The final bill addresses some priorities of the disability community by allowing non-profit organizations that serve people with I/DD to receive small business loan assistance, allowing direct support professionals (DSPs) to accompany people they support in hospitals, extending the Money Follows the Person program, and providing additional funds for education (which can be used for special education) and housing. However, the bill missed the mark by failing to include more funding for home and community based services, address the shortage of medical equipment or DSPs, or fund paid time off for family caregivers of people with disabilities. Furthermore, while people receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be eligible for recovery rebates without risk of losing their benefits, the bill requires them to files taxes, regardless of income level. Learn more about recovery rebates here. Read The Arc’s statement.