Most RI Residents Would Get $600 Payments Under Relief Agreement

A new coronavirus relief package including a second round of stimulus checks has been agreed upon by Washington lawmakers, with a vote on the nearly $900 billion deal expected as early as Monday.

For many Rhode Island residents, it means direct cash payments. It also means expanded and extended federal unemployment benefits, a stay on evictions and help for business and schools.

• Stimulus payments for most residents would be $600, half of what was sent out in the spring. The payments will go to adults who made less than $75,000 individually and less than $150,000 as a couple in 2019. Payments will decrease for people who made over $75,000 and won't be available for people who earned more than $99,000. Adults will also get $600 for each child they claim as a dependent. It's unknown when the money will come by, but the CARES Act payments came within two months for most Americans.
• Federal unemployment benefits will provide an extra $300 a week and extend coverage to those eligible for another 11 weeks, running through at least March 14. The benefits also extend to self-employed and gig workers who are drawing from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Many federal benefits were set to expire the day after Christmas. The money is half of the $600 per week unemployed people got under the previous relief package. Rhode Island has faced an unprecedented surge in unemployment throughout the pandemic.
• A federal moratorium on evictions would be extended through Jan. 31. The current moratorium was set to expire at the end of the year.
• There would be more than $284 billion under the Paycheck Protection Program, which has been expanded to help a wider array of businesses.
• Schools would receive $82 billion for HVAC repairs in an effort to help get children and teachers back into school safely.

What they're saying

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse:

Rhode Islanders have made so many painful sacrifices this year to save lives, and those difficult decisions have left many families in need of a financial lifeline. As Americans begin to get vaccinated, this agreement will help workers and families make it through this difficult period. The relief on the way includes cash payments to households, boosted unemployment benefits, and forgivable loans for small businesses. In addition, increased investments in vaccine procurement and distribution will hasten our return to normal.

It is worth noting tonight that Democrats in the House passed multiple relief bills that Leader McConnell held up for months and months. This deal should not have taken so long, and there is still more that needs to be done. While the bipartisan compromise will provide support for schools, transit, rental assistance, and public health programs, states and localities need additional budgetary relief, which I will keep fighting for.

What to read

• What's in the stimulus package? Washington Post
• Is there such a thing as a human eviction? New York Times

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Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.