CARES ACT: Stimulus Checks

WHO WILL RECEIVE A CHECK?

  • Individuals whose income are within the required threshold
  • Individuals with children under the age of 17 years old
  • Individuals receiving social security (SSN)
  • Individuals with green cards H-1B or H-2A visas
  • Expatriates with social security numbers and file taxes in the US.
  • Disabled individuals who receive SSA or Veteran (receive SSA 1099 or RRB-1099) – do not have to file tax return (cannot be claimed as a dependent)
  • Individuals who do not have to file taxes due to income falling below $12,200 for singles or $24,400 for couples.


DETERMINING FACTORS:

  • Tax Returns for 2018/2019: If taxes were filed for the previous year (2019), the IRS will use that information to determine the amount of your check. If taxes were not yet filed for 2019, your stimulus check amount will be based on your 2018 status.

Single: $1,200           Married Filing Joint (MFJ): $2,400         Head of Household (HH): $1,200

  • Income Thresholds: Based on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reflected on taxes

Households with an AGI that exceeds the minimum threshold will have $5 subtracted for every $100. For example:  A single household without an AGI of $76,000 will have $50 subtracted from its check. The amount received will be $1,150. If the AGI exceeds $99,000, a stimulus check will not be given.

  • Dependents: $500 for every child under the age of 17 years old


WHO DOES NOT GET A CHECK:

  • Individuals over the income threshold
  • Children or anyone claimed as a dependent
  • Individuals without SSN (ITIN does not qualify; temporary workers, illegal immigrants)
  • Disabled adults claimed as dependents
  • Seniors claimed as dependents
  • Individuals behind on child support – will either receive a partial check or no check at all.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • Refund will not be taxed and there is no clawback (will not be asked to pay back funds)
  • Funds will be sent via Direct Deposit or Check Mailed
    • Direct Deposit: if direct deposit or debit was used when taxes were filed, stimulus check will be direct deposited and received by April 20th. 
    • Checks Mailed: if tax refund or tax owed was mailed, a check will be mailed between May and September.
  • Split Custody: Whoever claimed the child(ren) last
  • Recently Divorced or Estranged: last address or account on file will receive $2,400 direct deposit or check mailed.
  • Scams & Hoax: Avoid anyone or organization charging for a quick turnaround to receive stimulus check

CARES ACT: Unemployment Benefits

Qualification:

  • Individuals laid off
  • Individuals with reduced work hours due to COVID-19
  • Individuals who are furloughed due to COVID-19
  • Individuals caring for children or dependent from home
  • Self-employed workers unable to work due to COVID-19
  • Individuals scheduled to begin work but has been delayed due to COVID-19
  • Individuals who are now head of household due to previous head of household passing away of COVID-19
  • Part-time employees unable to work
  • 1099 employees


Benefits:

  • Amount is determined by state
  • Oklahoma’s maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA) for the year 2020 is $539. The amount that an individual qualifies for is based on wages earned from covered employers during the base period. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. You can access information about your claim by visiting unemployment.ok.gov.
  • CARES ACT adds an additional $600 every week

Length of Unemployment:

  • The additional $600 through the CARES ACT ends July 31, 2020
  • Has been extended by 13 weeks. The normal 26 weeks has increased to 39 weeks.



FILING


  • Organizations with 50 employees or more were encouraged to contact the unemployment office to process information instead of each employee.
  • If unemployment benefits have already been exhausted, go ahead and reapply again. There is a possibility that benefits may be approved.
  • After you have filed your application for benefits, you must file weekly claims in order to receive benefits. The filing week begins on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and end on Saturday at midnight. You cannot file a weekly claim until after the week is over. If you attempt to file before the week has ended, your claim will not be accepted.


Below is contact information for filing unemployment:

Online: https://unemployment.state.ok.us

OR

Telephone:  Inside the OKC calling area use: (405) 525-1500
Outside the OKC calling area use: (800) 555-1554


When asked if you completed your required job searches/applications for the week, answer YES. Due to the multiple situations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this requirement is being waived.


Oklahoma Unemployment Office is behind on its processing of applications due to increased submissions so benefits may be delayed.