A Quick Look at What’s In The Stimulus Package

On Thursday, March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law. It provides relief to Americans and industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The BerniePortal Blog describes what’s included in the bill and how it could affect your team:

New Small Business Relief for Restaurants and Bars: According to reporting from NPR, the new stimulus includes $25 billion for a new Small Business Administration (SBA) grant program to help bars and restaurants that have been affected by shutdowns. It includes a program that helps venues that were forced to close.

• Direct Payments: The bill includes another round of direct stimulus payments to qualifying Americans. This time around, payments can total up to $1,400 per person for families earning less than $160,000 per year and individuals earning less than $80,000 per year. Payments will begin to phase out for individuals making $75,000 and families making $150,000. 

• Expanded and Enhanced Child Tax Credit: Qualifying households with children under 6 can receive an annual child tax credit (CTC) of $3,600 per child and $3,000 per child from 6 to 17. The current CTC is $2,000 per child, per year. According to an article reported by CNET, the bill also adjusted how parents access the CTC. Now, families can receive the CTC funds in monthly installments versus one lump sum payment during tax season.

• Food Assistance: People who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would receive a 15% increase in benefits through September 2021 (instead of expiring at the end of June 2021, reports CBS New York).

• Expanded Unemployment Benefits: Federal unemployment benefits equaling $300 per week will be extended through Sept. 6, 2021.&

• Rent Assistance: NPR reports that the bill authorizes approximately $25 billion to state and local governments to help low-income households cover back rent, utility bills, and other rent assistance. Another $10 billion will be set aside to help homeowners pay their mortgages and other housing expenses. An additional $25 billion in rental assistance was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (2021), which passed in December 2020.

• Expanded Eligibility for ACA Subsidies: The legislation makes it easier for families to afford healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by ensuring that enrollees don’t spend more than 8.5% of their income on coverage (CNN reports that the current rate is nearly 10%). The bill also provides subsidies for qualifying lower-income enrollees to eliminate the cost of their premiums.

• COBRA Subsidy: CNBC reports that the bill subsidizes 100% of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for laid-off workers through September 2021, making it easier for Americans to maintain health insurance while they’re between jobs. The relief is not available for employees who voluntarily end employment.
• Pandemic Relief: The bill will provide $350 billion for state, local, tribal, and territory governments to help fight the pandemic, including $130 billion for schools.;

What Else Should Employers Know About the New Relief Package?
The new stimulus package is yet another sprawling piece of federal legislation passed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, many components of the bill may not affect certain employers or their staff at all. However, others, such as the new grant program to support restaurants and bars, could directly aid some employers.