By: Kenya Staley

Across the United States, a vast majority of Americans are experiencing financial strain due to COVID-19. As states issue ‘safer at home’ orders, many non-essential businesses have been forced to close, leaving their employees out of income. With families out of work, many have admitted to finding it difficult to buy groceries and pay for bills - leaving them to look to their government for assistance.

As the world began to shift overnight, organizations and activists urged government officials to act quickly and pass a bill assisting those in need during COVID-19. In late March, Congress approved a $2.2 trillion stimulus to aid people and businesses affected by the pandemic. On Mar. 27, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was signed into effect by President Trump, enacting the largest government relief fund in U.S. history.

Although the IRS has ensured a seamless transition, many Americans, especially students, have questions about who is eligible for the money being allocated. According to the Treasury Department, “The CARES Act provides for Economic Impact Payments to American households of up to $1,200 per adult for individuals whose income was less than $99,000 ( or $198,000 for joint filers) and $500 per child under 17 years old – or up to $3,400 for a family of four.”

So, who will not receive money from the recovery package?

Students, immigrants, elderly and disabled people are among the millions of Americans who won’t be receiving a payout.

Many students won’t receive a stimulus check if their parent or guardian claims them as a dependent, which goes to be true for elderly and disabled people as well. Moreover, immigrants who don’t have a social security number won’t qualify for the stimulus check. This leaves a substantial amount of people in the U.S. helpless during one of the worst economic falls in history.

The IRS has emphasized that most Americans who are eligible do not need to take any action to receive money - only those who don’t normally file a tax return. Many questions that are frequently posed are answered on the Internal Revenue Services website. Roughly 50 million Americans are expected to receive their stimulus checks in these upcoming weeks.

Coronavirus Stimulus Checks: Who's Eligible?