[NFBC-Info] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - 12/22/2020

[Shannon Dillon]

Please see the legislative alert from John Pare below.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 22:53:25 +0000
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - 12/22/2020
To: "nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>

Dear Fellow Federationists:

Late Monday night Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2021. This bill provides for an "additional 2020 recovery rebate for
individuals" in the amount of $600 per person. Married couples who
file jointly will receive $1,200 and $600 per eligible child (aged 16
and under), if applicable.

Similar to the previous Economic Impact Payments, eligibility will be
based on one's 2019 tax return. Full recovery rebates will go to
individuals with up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income, heads of
household with up to $112,500, and married couples under $150,000.
Individuals with $87,000 or more in income and married couples who
file jointly earning $174,000 or more will not receive any recovery
rebate.

Similar to the CARES Act, individuals who are claimed as a dependent
on someone else's tax return will not qualify for an individual
recovery rebate. As with the stimulus checks sent through the CARES
Act this Spring, you will still need a valid Social Security number in
order to be eligible. This time, however, a spouse who has a Social
Security number who files jointly with a spouse who does not will
still receive their own $600 check. Their children may also qualify,
provided they have Social Security numbers of their own.

Recovery rebates are set to be sent to federal beneficiaries, such as
those who receive income from Social Security, Supplemental Security
Income or Veterans Administration, even if they did not file 2019
returns. The payments will be protected from garnishment by banks or
levies by debt collectors.

Recovery rebates will be considered unearned income and will not
affect one's Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
This spring's economic impact payments did not have an effect on
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, as long as the funds
were used within twelve months of receipt. We anticipate that the same
rule will apply for the additional recovery rebate. We will send
further legislative alerts as we learn more details.

Warm regards,
John

John G. Paré Jr.
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Telephone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2218
Cell phone: (410) 917-1965
Email: jpare at nfb.org

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind.
Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
want.

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-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON
Secretary and Legislative Coordinator
National Federation of the Blind
of California
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind.
Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
want.
www.nfbcal.org