Individuals and Families
Unemployment Insurance
The American Rescue Plan extended unemployment benefits until September 6, 2021 with a weekly supplemental benefit of $300 on top of the regular $400 benefit. These benefits are available immediately.
The first $10,200 of unemployment benefits will be tax-free for people with incomes less than $150,000.
Economic Impacts Statements for Families and Individuals
Individuals making less than $75,000, heads of household making less than $112,500, and married couples filing jointly that make less than $150,000 qualify for $1,400 direct payments. Individuals making up to $80,000, heads of household making up to $120,000, and couples making up to $160,000 will receive partial payments. Those with dependents will also receive $1,400 per person, including college students and seniors claimed as dependents.
These payments will be issued by the IRS via direct deposit or mailed as a check or debit card. This will be based on 2020 or 2019 tax returns or 2019 Social Security statement.
If you were eligible and didn't receive a first or second Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts, you may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, but you'll need to file your 2020 tax return.
Veterans who receive non-taxable VA benefits but did not file tax returns for 2019 or 2020 will automatically be issued payments.
For VA beneficiaries who filed a Form 1040 for 2019 or 2020, those payments will also be automatic. No further action is needed. They can track the status of their payments on the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov. For non-tax filing VA beneficiaries, please note their information will be loaded on this tool within the next few weeks.
Check your payment status, confirm your deposit information and your payment type here.
Earned Income & Child Tax Credit
For individuals without children, the American Rescue Plan raises the maximum Earned Income Tax Credit from roughly $530 to close to $1,500, raises the income limit for the credit from about $16,000 to about $21,000, and eliminates the age cap for older workers, for 2021. This step will benefit more than 17 million low-income workers like cashiers and delivery drivers.
The American Rescue Plan’s expansion of the Child Tax Credit will substantially reduce child poverty by supplementing the earnings of families receiving the tax credit. For individuals with children, the American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit for 2021 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. It also raised the age limit from 16 to 17. The IRS will begin sending regular periodic payments to families beginning in July 2021.
The American Rescue Plan also makes several improvements to the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for 2021, including increasing the amount of the tax credit from 35 percent to 50 percent of child and dependent care expenses and increasing the amount of expenses that are eligible for the credit to $8,000 for one qualifying individual and $16,000 for two or more qualifying individuals (such that the maximum credits would now be $4,000 and $8,000). This credit is also refundable.
Health Insurance
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 as much as $200 per month.
If you or a member of your household have lost health insurance coverage, there are several ways to stay covered:
If you had insurance through a job, your employer may continue it or you may be eligible to pay for it through a program called “COBRA.” Ask your employer about how to sign up and how much it will cost or call 866-487-2365. The American Rescue Plan provides a 100 percent federal COBRA subsidy through September 1, 2021 – ensuring that those who lose their jobs or their health coverage due to reduced hours don’t lose their health insurance.
To learn about other options, go to HealthCare.gov and follow instructions to see if you or your children quality for your state’s Medicaid program. For people who qualify, Medicaid programs are very low cost.
Through HealthCare.gov (or call 800-318-2596), you can also find out about low-cost insurance through your state’s health care exchange.
Food Assistance
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, ensures that Americans receive the food they need, especially if they are newly unemployed. The American Rescue Plan included funding to increase SNAP benefits 15 percent – up to $100 more per household – through September 2021.
In order to apply for SNAP, contact your state SNAP office or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food & Nutrition Services regional offices near you.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) provides access to nutritious foods to low-income pregnant women or mothers. The American Rescue Plan allocates $800 million for WIC and temporarily boosts the value of WIC Cash Value Vouchers for vulnerable mothers and their children. WIC recipients with special dietary needs have been added to the list of individuals eligible for the increase in Cash Value Vouchers as well.
To see if you are eligible for WIC benefits here. To learn more about how to apply for WIC click here. To learn about WIC in your state, click here.
USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. The American Rescue Plan temporarily expands the age of eligibility for CACFP at emergency homeless shelters to ensure more young adults can access needed nutrition support.
To find a participating child care center or adult care center near you, please contact the agency office in your state.
Energy Assistance for Low-Income Families
- This legislative package includes $4.5 billion to help low income Americans and their families heat and cool their homes. To learn more about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in your state, click here.
Emergency Broadband Assistance
- The American Rescue Plan included $3.2 billion to the Federal Communications Commission to establish an Emergency Broadband Benefit to provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible families can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers. To learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit and to enroll visit GetEmergencyBroadband.org.
Funeral Assistance
Families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 may be eligible to receive assistance for funeral expenses. FEMA has begun processing applications for financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 up to a maximum of $9,000 per funeral, provided under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To be eligible for funeral assistance the death must have occurred in the United States; the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020; and the death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. There is no requirement that the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien.
To apply for FEMA funeral assistance, people should call 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual services are available.