(Boston Orange 編譯)
麻州政府5月19日宣佈第二輪低收入工作者每人發500元補助款計畫。估計將於6月發放總共1億6500萬元給33萬符合資格者。
麻州議會去年12月通過，麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 簽署的法案，要動用美國援救計劃法
(ARPA) 4億元經費中的一部分，發放加給款給低收入的基礎必要工作人員。
第一輪在今年3月發放，共發給48萬人每人一張500元的支票。在發放第二輪後，這法案編列的4億600萬元，將共已支出4億元。
第二輪的領取資格參數和第一輪差不多，並將以各人申報的2021年麻州稅作為是否符合資格依據。若2021年就業收入至少13,500元，總收入額低於聯邦貧窮線的300%，也就是38,640元以下，就符合資格。
已婚並聯合報稅者也可申請，只要已婚兩人的個別情況都符合條件規定，就有資格領取。查詢是否符合資格，可在週一至周五的早上9點至下午4點間，致電洽詢 (866) 750-9803。
Massachusetts Announces Second Round of Premium Payments to Low-Income Workers
$500 payments will be delivered to approximately 330,000 individuals in Round 2
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced its plan for a second round of $500 payments to low-income workers under the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay program, which was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by Governor Baker in December 2021 as part of a $4 billion spending plan for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. These payments will deliver approximately $165 million to an estimated 330,000 eligible individuals in June.
The first round of payments, distributed in March 2022, provided $500 checks to approximately 480,000 people. Individuals in the second round of payments did not receive payments in the first round. With this second round of payments, over $400 million of the $460 million program will have been distributed to eligible individuals.
Click here to learn more about the program and see if you are eligible.
The eligibility parameters for the second round of payments largely mirror those of the first round, but criteria have been updated for annual changes in minimum wage and federal poverty level calculations. Eligibility will be based on filed 2021 Massachusetts tax returns. Individuals will be eligible for payments if their 2021 income from employment was at least $13,500 and their total income put them at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.
The lower bound of this range equates to working 20 hours a week for 50 weeks at minimum wage as of 2021 ($13.50). The federal poverty level is set by the federal government and increases with household or family size. For example, the maximum total income for a single filer with no dependents will be $38,640; a resident who files with a spouse and two dependents, or with no spouse and three dependents, could be eligible with a household income up to $79,500. Married filers can each be eligible, provided each independently qualifies. Based on these parameters, the below chart indicates eligibility for these payments by household size:
Household / Family Size | 2021 Total Income |
1 | $38,640 |
2 | $52,260 |
3 | $65,880 |
4 | $79,500 |
5 | $93,120 |
6 | $106,740 |
7 | $120,360 |
8 | $133,980 |
Individuals who received a Round 1 payment through this program or received unemployment compensation in 2021 will not be eligible for the second round of payments, nor will Commonwealth executive branch employees who received or will receive a one-time COVID-related payment from the state as their employer.
For questions about eligibility, a dedicated call center is available at (866) 750-9803 and is open Monday through Friday, 9am - 4pm.
Click here to view answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).
The legislation creating the Premium Pay program included $500 million for low-income essential workers; this $460 million program comprises the majority of those funds, and $40 million was allocated to fund previous agreements with state employee unions. Additional information on plans to disburse funds remaining after June will be released in the future.
沒有留言:
發佈留言