Who Gets No Help from the Economic Stimulus Checks?
Many students, some immigrants, some babies, some disabled and some seniors were left out. The checks are basically linked to the federal Tax Code, so if you were paying taxes or filing for tax refunds during 2019, you should be in good shape. Otherwise, you may get no help. Yes, it’s kind of crazy.
So poor people who don’t typically file tax returns because they owe nothing may end up getting no relief, not because of Congress’ intent, but because the differing government systems don’t interface well if at all. This may include individuals receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income), Veteran’s Benefits, GR (General Relief), the homeless, people receiving Food Stamps (SNAP). It should be the job of government to identify them and issue their checks. It may become the job of advocates and of community leaders to educate, agitate and assure they receive the stimulus checks to which they are entitled under law.
College students who are claimed as dependents by their parents on their tax returns will get no help. If they are 17 or older, they get no help, and their parents do not get the $500 for them either.
Disabled adults who are being claimed as dependents by their parents get no help and their parents get no help with the costs of their dependent adult children.
Seniors who are living with their children and being claimed as dependents by their children get no help, and their children get no help with the costs of their parents’ expenses either.
For babies born in 2020, their families get no help because the babies were not in the tax system in 2019. ‘
Immigrants without Social Security numbers get no help even though they have been paying taxes.
People with high incomes in 2019 and low or no incomes in 2020 get no help because the stimulus checks are based on their past 2019 incomes.
People with unpaid back child support orders are also out of luck.
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 4/7/20