Workers impacted by virus have options

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MARYVILLE, Mo. — As communities across the country work to slow the spread of COVID-19 through stay-at-home orders and other measures, many businesses and their employees struggle to keep their heads above water.

Congress has passed multiple pieces of legislation to expand unemployment for those who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure those who are sick, are caring for sick loved ones or are caring for children whose schools have closed are able to take paid leave from their workplaces.

Economic impact payments

The $2 trillion CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, signed into law by President Trump last week, will provide direct cash to most individuals making under $99,000 per year, or couples making less than $198,000 per year.

For each individual whose 2018 or 2019 tax return — whichever is the most recent on file with the IRS — shows an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 will receive a one-time payment of $1,200 from the federal government.

Each individual up to the $99,000 threshold will also receive a check, but the amount scales down as the income approaches $99,000.

Married couples would each receive a check, and families would receive another $500 per child.

A family of four that is earning less than $150,000, for example, will receive $3,400.

The IRS said on its website Tuesday that most Americans will not need to do anything in order to receive the payment, which will be deposited into the same banking account reflected on the tax return. If that information has changed or was not included in the tax return, the IRS said that the Treasury Department plans to deploy a web-based portal for people to provide updated banking information “in the coming weeks.”

Those who receive Social Security benefits and don’t file a tax return are also eligible, but they, along with others like low-income taxpayers, some veterans and individuals with disabilities, will be required to file a simple tax return in order to receive the payment. Information on how to do that will be provided “soon,” the agency said, at IRS.gov/coronavirus.

Tuesday, the IRS said the payments are planned to begin within the next three weeks, and can be claimed through the end of 2020 if not received immediately.

The latest information is available from IRS.gov.

Sick leave

Under guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division on March 28, most workers employed in the private sector in a company that employs fewer than 500 people and more than 50 is eligible for paid leave if affected by COVID-19. The guidance stemmed from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law on March 18 by President Trump.

Employers with more than 500 employees are exempt from the requirements, and small businesses with fewer than 50 people can file an exemption if providing the leave outlined in the law would prevent the business from operating as a going concern. Otherwise, all employees — full-time and part-time — are eligible for the leave provided for in the act.

If you show symptoms of COVID-19

You’re eligible for up to two weeks (80 hours) of sick leave paid at your regular rate of pay if you are quarantined or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and awaiting a diagnosis, and cannot work or work from home.

If you have to care for a loved one because of COVID-19

If you need to care for someone who is under quarantine for COVID-19 or care for a child whose child care provider or school is closed because of the pandemic and cannot work or work from home, you are entitled to up to two weeks (80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds your regular pay rate. If you have been an employee of that business for at least 30 calendar days and have a child out of school that you must care for, you are eligible for an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds of your regular pay rate.

More information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor website, DOL.gov.

Expanded unemployment benefits

As part of the CARES Act, unemployment benefits across the country will be extended, increased and available to more people than before.

Under the act, gig workers, freelancers and self-employed people — who are usually not able to apply for unemployment — will be eligible through the end of the year.

Additionally, the legislation added 13 weeks of unemployment insurance on top of each state’s maximum limit. In Missouri, that means that the limit will rise from 20 weeks to 33 weeks total. And an additional $600 may be paid on top of weekly unemployment benefits for up to four months until July 31.

The process for filing for unemployment remains largely the same, including eligibility. Workers who voluntarily quit, for example, remain ineligible. That includes if the employer offers sick leave or other leave options related to COVID-19 in lieu of layoffs and an employee quits rather than take the sick leave.

One difference is the state is in the process of waiving the “waiting week” requirement to first file an unemployment claim if the claim is filed as a result of the pandemic.

However, on Wednesday, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ website said that the program is not ready to be implemented yet, with more guidance still required from the U.S. Department of Labor.

More information is available at labor.mo.gov.

Editor’s Note

COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. To help our community combat the outbreak, we are providing this content for free. Please consider supporting our efforts in providing local coverage by subscribing to The Maryville Forum.