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Speaker Pelosi’s new #COVID19 relief bill includes a 2nd round of “recovery rebates” & fills the problematic gaps in the first round of payments (created by the #CARESAct).
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For most families w/kids or other dependents, the bill would mean larger 2nd round payments than the #CARESAct provided. Adults are still eligible for $1200, but each dependent (up to 3 dependents) would get the same $1200 amount (instead of $500). 2/
For both the #CARESAct payments & 2nd round rebates, the bill would extend payments to ~15M people in low- & middle-income immigrant families, including ~5M kids, who were left out of the 1st round b/c the #CARESAct required every adult on a tax return to have an SSN. 3/
As a reminder, the #CARESAct denied the rebate even to an adult w/an SSN if their spouse doesn’t have one & they file jointly. And kids w/SSNs – including many U.S. citizen children – were denied a 1st round rebate if just 1 of their parents lacks an SSN. 4/
To read more on this issue check out our latest paper here: https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/future-stimulus-should-include-immigrants-and-dependents-previously-left-out 5/
The immigrant workers left out of the #CARESAct rebates are concentrated in many essential jobs & often are more exposed to #COVID19. Many can’t work from home & don’t receive paid leave or other labor protections. Many who lose their jobs won’t qualify for unemployment. 6/
The Speaker’s proposal recognizes the contributions that immigrants & their families make & would provide rebates to households with IRS-issued ID numbers — which many immigrant workers who lack an SSN use to file tax returns — on the same basis as other households. 7/
For both 1st & 2nd round rebates, the Speaker’s proposal also would include another ~15M people the #CARESAct left out: tax dependents >16, including adult children w/disabilities cared for by family members, & some elderly individuals & older high school & college students. 8/
The bill also makes important updates to ensure that more people can receive their rebates. In recent months, we've highlighted hurdles various groups, including #SocialSecurity & SSI recipients, #veterans, & very low-income households, have faced. 9/ https://www.cbpp.org/blog/next-step-on-stimulus-rebates-automatic-delivery-for-people-receiving-ssi-and-veterans-benefits
The IRS has worked hard to fix some, but not all, of these problems. The Speaker’s proposal would do more, by requiring more robust outreach to non-filers, mandating Treasury to deliver payments automatically to federal benefit recipients & prohibiting garnishment of rebates. 10/
To be clear, #CARESAct rebates were a big improvement vs 2008 payments, which required min earnings & gave no or only a partial rebate to many low-income households. Speaker Pelosi’s proposal would fill remaining gaps & help low- & middle-income families weather the crisis. 11/11
