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Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I hosted a telephone town hall and Facebook LIVE event to directly answer your questions regarding the ongoing COVID-19 public health and economic crisis.
If you were not able to tune in last night, watch the full event by clicking HERE or on the image below.
Some of the questions from central Arkansans that were addressed included:
My neighbors have received their $1,200 Economic Impact Payment, but I have not. I am not sure if I am eligible. How can I check my eligibility and find out when my check will arrive in the mail?
Last week, over 80 million Americans received their economic impact payments. With over 170 million Americans eligible, this means that many of the payments are still being sent out.
If you are not sure if you are eligible, have questions on how you will receive your payment, or want to know when you can expect your payment, check the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Information Center HERE.
If you do not file taxes, use the "Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here" application, which you can access HERE to provide simple information so you can get your payment.
If you receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), survivor benefits, or Railroad Retirement benefits, you do not need to take any action. If you receive these benefits, the IRS already has your information, and you will receive $1,200.
If you do file taxes, use the "Get My Payment" application HERE to:
- Check your payment status.
- Confirm your payment type: direct deposit or check.
- Enter your bank account information for direct deposit if the IRS doesn't have your direct deposit information and the IRS hasn't sent your payment yet.
If you do not want to receive your Economic Impact Payment via direct deposit and have moved since you last filed taxes, you can change your address HERE.
If you receive an error message or a message saying that the IRS does not have sufficient information, please be patient. The IRS has been notified of this issue and is working to address it.
I have lost my job due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since I am self-employed, I have not been able to file for Unemployment Insurance (UI) in Arkansas. When will that system be ready and how do I apply?
The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) has created a new informational website to answer questions about filing for UI benefits in Arkansas.
To access that website, click HERE.
Additionally, the ADWS has expanded their unemployment hotline hours. They are now open Monday through Saturday, from 6:00AM until 4:00PM CT. Their hotline number is (844) 908-2178.
The ADWS is currently implementing a new system based on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines to include groups specified in the CARES Act such as those that are self-employed, working part-time, or employed in the gig economy. Unfortunately, this means that it will be a few more weeks until the ADWS is able to issue benefits for those applying under these new guidelines.
However, the ADWS has an alert system to notify these individuals when the application is available. Sign up here:
These benefits, along with the federal UI supplement of $600 will be backdated from when the claim was filed.
I am a small business owner in Arkansas and I have lost my source of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic; when will the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan be available again?
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are critical to providing relief to families and small businesses struggling during this crisis.
Through Arkansas banks, the PPP approved over 14,000 loans totaling more than $2.1 billion. This helped Arkansas businesses and nonprofits retain their employees and keep their businesses functioning during the current public health crisis.
EIDL and PPP loans have made it possible for millions of Americans to get federal support and to retain their jobs, which is why it’s unacceptable that these successful and bipartisan programs ran out of money and why I urged Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to put country over party and stop stalling the delivery of funds to protect millions more paychecks.
Thankfully, the Senate just passed legislation, which the House will take up on Thursday to restore funds to these vital programs and support our small businesses and their workers through this unprecedented public health and economic crisis.
I am a veteran receiving VA disability benefits. I have not received my Economic Impact Payment yet, and am concerned. Are there any actions that I need to take?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has stated that the Economic Impact Payments will be issued automatically to recipients of non-taxable VA benefits who did not file annual income tax returns for 2018 or 2019.
The VA and the IRS have been collaborating since the passage of the CARES Act. This collaboration ensures that veterans will receive their CARES Act payments without any additional action or paperwork required.
It is an honor to serve as your representative in Congress. If you have any additional questions or need assistance with any government agency, please reach out at Hill.House.Gov, or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
