WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STIMULUS CHECKS: DO YOU APPLY?

Following the shutdown of businesses and industries across America, the U.S. Congress passed a $2 trillion stimulus bill in late March in hopes of boosting the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Direct payments to many recipients began this week, in a process expected to last for months.

Most adults are anxiously awaiting the $1,200 individual payment due – but many college students may not qualify to receive a stimulus check.

If you did not file a 2019 federal tax return due to the fact that someone else claimed you as a dependent (i.e., a parent/guardian), you will not be eligible for a stimulus check.

The IRS.gov website says students are ineligible if “You can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return. For example, this would include a child, student or older dependent who can be claimed on a parent’s return.”
[Further background, from the New York Times: “Usually, students under the age of 24 are dependents in the eyes of the taxing authorities if a parent pays for at least half of their expenses.”]

Non-dependents who didn’t file a federal return in 2019 (the filing threshold for a single individual was $12,000 in gross income) – considered “non-filers” – must register at IRS.gov to receive a stimulus check: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here

If you’re filing as a single adult and making more than $99,000 per year without children, you also won’t be eligible. This likely won’t apply to many college students, however.

NEED TO KNOW

If you find that you are eligible for the stimulus check, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) does not require any action from you to receive your check.

The agency will be using your most recent filing address to send out mail. If you have used direct deposit in the past to receive your return, the IRS will be using that information to deposit your stimulus check.

If instead you have received tax refunds by mail, the IRS will soon launch a web portal in which to safely post your bank account information to allow direct deposit of the stimulus money (not yet operative, at Advocate press deadline April 16).

It’s vital to know: You should register ONLY with the IRS. Do not respond to any other email or requests for tax/bank account information or “special information” from any other source.

The IRS is urging people to look out for scams during this vulnerable time. Being in the middle of a pandemic can be disorienting, but know that the IRS will never call, text, email, or use social media to contact you in regards to personal banking information.

MHCC ASSISTANCE

If you are not eligible for a stimulus check, you may still qualify for financial relief funds from MHCC. In order to apply for these funds visit www.mhcc.edu/Coronavirus-Resources/ and follow the link at the top of the page labeled, “Contact Student Support Services.”

This will lead you to an application on which you can select the option to apply for student emergency fund support.