There’s no doubt that the pandemic has a dramatic impact on all of us. We have all suffered in one way or another: health-wise, emotionally, and financially. That’s why the federal government came up with the American Rescue Plan: to help Americans recover and get back on their feet.
As devised by the Biden administration, the primary thing that the American Rescue Plan offers is financial relief to those who need it. But it also helps people locate things like vaccine sites and health care. It was designed to help individuals and businesses. And it supports communities as a whole that continue to struggle in the wake of the pandemic.
If you aren’t aware of the full range of services and assistance the plan offers, here are the highlights:
Finding a Vaccine
People may want to get a vaccine, but they don’t know where they can go to get one. The fact is, the great majority of Americans live within 5 miles of a vaccination site. The American Rescue Plan website helps people find out exactly where those sites are.
Getting Health Care Coverage
The American Rescue Plan offers a guide for those currently without health care and/or insurance. If you don’t currently have a doctor, the site can help you locate one. And if you lost your health care insurance, you can find out if you are eligible for assistance through COBRA.
Buying Food
Maybe you need a little something extra to afford the food your family needs. The American Rescue Plan site helps direct you to the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) operating in your state.
Supporting Kids
Anyone who is the primary caregiver of children is eligible for a tax credit. Parents can receive a tax credit for $3,000 for each child 6 years or older, or $3,600 for any child under 6. Eligibility is based on information provided to the IRS when you last filed taxes.
Paying Rent
If you find yourself short on rent or your mortgage payment, eviction doesn’t have to be inevitable. A variety of state and local rental and housing assistance programs are available to help. And if your inability to pay is directly related to pandemic cutbacks, you could be eligible for emergency assistance.
Seeking Unemployment
Perhaps you lost your job due to pandemic cutbacks. Apart from specialized food or rental assistance, you may need funds to help with other everyday expenses. Pandemic-related unemployment assistance, including an extra $300 per week, is currently slated to continue through 9/6/2021.
Getting a Rescue Payment
Families that earn less than $110,000 are eligible for rescue funds. If you filed taxes for 2019 or 2020, you probably already received your allocated economic impact payments. But if you don’t think you got the full amount for which you are entitled, you can look it up.
Offering Paid Time Off for Vaccines
Employers may choose to offer employees paid time off to get vaccinated. To compel employers to do just that, the American Rescue Plan site links to information about tax credits for small- and medium-sized businesses.
Finding Help as a Small Business
Small businesses have suffered especially significant financial losses over the past year-and-a-half. If you have a small business, you could be eligible for assistance to keep yourself, your business, and your employees afloat.
Whether due to pride or principals, some may chafe at the idea of accepting this kind of help from the government. But these are extraordinary times. The American Rescue Plan offers help to those who need it to try and get back to normal.
For more information about COVID-19 and other current events, read all about it on the PeopleFinders Blog.
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