$600 Payments Coming To Most MD Residents Under Relief Agreement

MARYLAND — A new coronavirus relief package that includes a second round of stimulus checks has been agreed upon by bickering members of Congress, with a vote on the nearly $900 billion deal expected on Monday.

For millions of Maryland 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.

Here's what it could mean for you:

• 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. Pennsylvania 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. Gov. Larry Hogan initially issued an eviction moratorium on March 16 that was twice extended, most recently on Oct. 16 for an unspecified amount of time.
• 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. There is no word on how much Maryland schools might receive.

What they're saying

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: "The bipartisan emergency COVID-19 relief bill is overdue and falls short in many areas, but it will provide a vital lifeline to struggling families, workers, and small businesses, and support vaccine distribution. I will support it and then work with the Biden Admin to do more."

Rep. Steny Hoyer: "I’m pleased we have reached an agreement on COVID-19 relief and an omnibus, which I expect we’ll pass tomorrow and send to the Senate. In order to provide time to prepare the bill for consideration, the House will meet at 6:30 p.m. to consider a one-day continuing resolution."

Rep. Kweisi Mfume: "It took the Senate Republicans 7 months to work w/ Democrats to address the #COVID crisis. This short-term aid is BY NO MEANS ENOUGH. I'll support this round of aid as a first step & look forward to working w/ the Biden-Harris Admin to provide add’l relief for hurting Americans."

Gov. Larry Hogan on Saturday: "86% of Americans, including overwhelming majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents want Congress to act and pass the compromise COVID-19 relief bill. Congress has been stuck in gridlock for over eight months. It's past time to get this done."

With reporting by Mike Caraggi of Patch