How to apply for the stimulus check

The American Rescue Plan is delivering direct relief to the American people, rescuing the American economy, and starting to beat the virus. For a full overview of what’s in the plan, click here.

Help is here withthe American Rescue Plan

Learn more about how to access your benefits here:

• I need help finding a vaccine.

  I need help finding a vaccine.

  90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a vaccination site.

  Click here to find a vaccination site near you.

  You can also text your ZIP code to: GETVAX (438829) / VACUNA (822862)

  Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel.

• I need help getting health care coverage.

  I need help getting health care coverage.

  Lower your costs and sign up for health care:

  Healthcare.gov or call: (800) 318-2596

  If you lost your insurance, you may be eligible for assistance with the cost of COBRA coverage.

  Learn more about COBRA or call: (866) 487-2365

• I need help buying food.

  I need help buying food.

  There is extra money available for food. Find your state’s SNAP program.

  Sign up for SNAP or call: (800) 221-5689

• I have kids.

  I have kids.

  • Get a $3,000 tax credit per child for children 6 and over
  • Get a $3,600 tax credit per child for
    children under 6 years old

  Start accessing this money by filing your taxes with the IRS.*

• I need help with rent.

• I lost my job.

  I lost my job.

  Get an extra $300 per week and
  unemployment benefits extended until 9/6/21.

  Find your state’s Unemployment Benefits and sign up:

  Search Services By Location or call: (866) 487-2365

• I need help getting a rescue payment.

  I need help getting a rescue payment.

  A typical family of 4 with a household income of $110,000 is eligible for an average of $5,600 in rescue funds.

  Claim your eligible funds.

• I want to offer my employees paid time off for vaccines.

• My small business needs help.

* How to file your taxes with the IRS: Visit IRS.gov for general filing information. Haven’t filed your taxes? Here’s information for non-filers. If your income is less than $72,000 you may be eligible to file your taxes for free, or call (800) 829-1040.

How does direct relief work under the American Rescue Plan?

Here’s what you need to know about the direct relief the American Rescue Plan provides to working families:

• Single people making less than $75,000, heads of household making less than $112,500, and married couples filing jointly making less than $150,000 qualify for stimulus checks. People making up to $80,000 will receive partial payments. 
• Those with dependents will receive $1,400 per person, including college students and seniors claimed as dependents. 

Resources

• To learn how working Americans will receive their direct payments, read this blog. 
• Track the status of your payment with the Internal Revenue Service’s Get My Payment Tool. 
• Recover direct payments from past stimulus payments you did not receive but qualified for when you file your 2020 taxes with the Internal Revenue Service’s Recovery Rebate Credit form.

• For those without children, the American Rescue Plan increased the Earned-Income Tax Credit from $543 to $1,502.
• For those with children, the American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and $3,600 for children under the age of six – and raised the age limit from 16 to 17.
• The American Rescue Plan also increased and expanded the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, making more people eligible and increasing the total credit to $4,000 for one qualifying individual and $8,000 for two or more.

• The American Rescue Plan extended unemployment benefits until September 6 with a weekly supplemental benefit of $300 on top of the regular $400 benefit.
• The first $10,200 of unemployment benefits will be tax-free for people with incomes less than $150,000.

Resources

• Learn more about how to file for unemployment insurance at the U.S. Department of Labor’s resource page.

• The American Rescue Plan will provide emergency grants, lending, and investment to hard-hit small businesses so they can rehire and retain workers and purchase the health and sanitation equipment they need to keep workers safe. 
• The American Rescue Plan also includes a Small Business Opportunity Fund to provide growth capital to main street small businesses in economically disadvantaged areas, including minority-owned businesses

Resources

• For small business guidance and loan resources, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s resource page. 

• The American Rescue Plan will lower or eliminate health insurance premiums for millions of lower- and middle-income families enrolled in health insurance marketplaces. This will help well over a million uninsured Americans gain coverage.
• A family of four making $90,000 could see their monthly premium come down by $200 per month. 
• The American Rescue Plan provides a 100% federal continuation health coverage (COBRA) subsidy through September 1, ensuring that those who lose their jobs or lose their health care due to reduced hours don’t lose their health care. 

Resources

• President Biden opened a special health care enrollment period through May 15. You can sign up for health insurance at healthcare.gov. 
• Learn more about COBRA at the U.S. Department of Labor’s resource page. 

How is the American Rescue Plan helping people like you?

• Avery

  • Occupation: Part-Time Clerk
  • Income: $25,000
  • Filing Status: Single
  • Dependents: 0

  Avery

  At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avery’s employer transitioned to working from home and reduced her role to part-time. Since then, she has been struggling to pay for usual household expenses like rent and utilities.

  Impact of The ARP

  • $1,400 stimulus check

• Chris

  • Occupation: Small Restaurant Owner
  • Income: $65,000
  • Filing Status: Married
  • Dependents: 0

  Chris

  For the last year, Chris’ restaurant has been struggling to keep its doors open. They have been left out of previous PPP loans parameters and are now at risk of closing permanently without immediate support.

  Impact of The ARP

  • Two stimulus checks totaling $2,800
  • Access to new grant program for restaurants

• Sam & Lee

  • Occupation: Bus Driver and Electrician
  • Income: $100,000
  • Filing Status: Married
  • Dependents: 2 children under six

  Sam & Lee

  Sam and Lee are essential workers who have been struggling to maintain their working hours while managing their children’s schooling from home. They are in need of an emergency financial boost to cover the cost of childcare.

  Impact of The ARP

  • Four stimulus checks totaling $5,600
  • An additional $3,200 in Child Tax Credits

• Jesse

  • Occupation: Small Business Owner
  • Income: $60,000
  • Filing Status: Single
  • Dependents: 0

  Jesse

  Jesse owns a hardware store with ten employees. She was able to hold off on layoffs for the past year, but without urgent financial support, she will need to layoff half of her staff by the end of spring.

  Impact of The ARP

  • $1,400 stimulus check
  • Funding for work sharing programs to avoid business layoffs
  • Access to flexible grants to get back on their feet and come back stronger

• Jamie

  • Occupation: Teacher
  • Income: $55,000
  • Filing Status: Head of Household (Single Parent)
  • Dependents: 3 children over six

  Jamie

  Jamie has been teaching her classes from home while overseeing her three teenage children’s at home schooling and helping care for her elderly parents. She is in need of an emergency financial boost to help cover the cost of rent, utilities, and food.

  Impact of The ARP

  • Four stimulus checks for a total of $5,600
  • An additional $3,000 in Child Tax Credits
  • Safely reopen schools

• Charlie

  • Occupation: Retired
  • Income: $0
  • Filing Status: Married
  • Dependents: 0

  Charlie

  As their family has struggled through the pandemic, Charlie and his partner have been supporting their grown children financially, and are now struggling to pay ends meet themselves.

  Impact of The ARP

  • Two stimulus checks for a total of $2,800