On Sunday, December 27th, the second COVID-relief stimulus was signed into law. The $900 billion legislation aims to help Americans who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, provide aid to struggling businesses, and support vaccine distribution efforts. Here are the major elements in the new act.
Paycheck Protection Program
The new stimulus adds $285 billion to the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to aid small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
The PPP, created under the CARES Act, was criticized earlier this year for giving out a large portion of PPP funds to a small fraction of borrowers. Data shows that while 92% of loans were $250,000 or less, over 25% of PPP funds were distributed in loans upwards of $1.5 million.[i]
The new legislation brings numerous changes to help combat the unpopular elements of the original program:
- New loans are capped at $2 million (previously $10 million)
- New loans are available only to borrowers with fewer than 300 employees who have experienced at least a 25% reduction in sales from a year earlier for at least one quarter
- Borrowers may deduct PPP expenses paid for with PPP funds
- $15 billion of PPP funding is set aside to support entertainment-related venues such as small theaters and music venues, which have been closed for the majority of 2020
- $12 billion of PPP funding is set aside for minority-owned business
Individual Stimulus Payments
Adults with an adjusted gross income of up to $75,000 (based on 2019 earnings) will be receiving $600. Couples earning up to $150,000, or heads of households earning up to $112,500, will receive $1,200. Eligible families with dependent children may also qualify to receive an additional $600 per child. As in the previous stimulus, the benefit declines for those who earned more income and cuts off entirely for individuals who earn more than $99,000.
Unlike the last round of stimulus payments, the new legislation allows some spouses of undocumented immigrants to claim this benefit. Payments will not be denied to citizens married to someone without a social security number.
Unemployment Benefits
Currently, the national unemployment rate is at 6.7%, which is lower than in recent months but still higher than in February of 2020.[ii] While the CARES Act provided a $600 weekly unemployment benefit, the new legislation offers a weekly benefit of up to $300 for 11 weeks. This benefit applies in addition to available state benefits. The new stimulus also extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program aiding freelancers and independent contractors, providing an additional $100 weekly benefit.
Vaccine Funding
$70 billion is set aside for a range of healthcare measures including:
- $20 billion for the government to purchase and develop vaccines
- $8 billion for state and local governments, and underserved populations, for vaccine distribution
- $20 billion to help states continue their test and trace programs
Rental Moratorium Extended
The rental moratorium protecting tenants struggling to pay their rent from evictions is extended by another month and will be in effect until January 31st, 2021. The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a similar moratorium protecting homeowners from mortgage foreclosures until February 28th, 2021. The act also provides $25 billion in rental assistance.
Climate Change Support
$35 billion is allocated to fund clean energy such as wind and solar. The new act also includes regulation for hydrofluorocarbons, a greenhouse gas found in air conditioners and refrigerators.
Ban on Surprise Medical Bills
The new act makes it illegal for hospitals to charge patients out-of-network rates for services such as emergency treatment, transport in air ambulances, etc. Patients often don’t have a say in accepting such treatments. Once these changes take effect in 2022, patients will only be required to pay their usual in-network deductibles and co-payments that they normally would under their insurance.
Food Access and Support
The new act includes $13 billion for increased nutrition assistance – $400 million of that will go to food banks and $175 million for other nutrition programs. Starting on January 1st, food stamp benefits will also increase by 15% for six months.
Broadband Infrastructure
As so many Americans are forced to work, attend school, and see their doctors remotely, the new act includes $7 billion for expanding access to high-speed internet. Of that, $3.2 billion will go toward helping cover monthly internet bills for low-income families and $300 million is set aside for building out infrastructure in areas with historically low internet speeds.
We’re All In
If you have any questions about the new stimulus, how these changes may impact you, or anything else, we’re here for you. You can contact us by filling out the form below or call us at (410) 363-7211.
[i] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/business/dealbook/ppp-loans-data.html
[ii] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, any tax or legal advice. You should consult your tax or legal adviser prior to making any decision based on any specific information contained herein.
Tags: Coronavirus, covid-19, ppp, Stimulus