The recently passed $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is 800 pages long. If you’re like me, your head is swimming with all the details floating around and trying to figure out what all of this means to you and your family. Hopefully, this will shed some light.
Housing Provisions – The act allows for mortgage forbearance for borrowers of government-backed mortgages and owners of multifamily properties, and places a moratorium on eviction filings and fees/penalties for tenants for rent nonpayment for properties backed by HUD. There are also provisions for rental assistance for seniors, the disabled and low-income working families, and more. Visit the link below for more details.
How Much Would I Get – Single individuals would receive a one-time payment of $1,200 and married couples would receive $2,400. In addition, parents would receive $500 for each child under 17. Payments start phasing out for individuals making more than $75,000, and those making more than $99,000 would not qualify at all. According to the Treasury Secretary, most payments would be received via direct deposit sometime in mid-April.
For Those Who Have Lost a Job – In addition to state unemployment benefits, which vary by state, the federal government would give jobless workers an additional $600 a week for up to four months. The act also includes a pandemic unemployment assistance program that provides jobless benefits to those partially unemployed, self-employed and others affected by the virus who don’t qualify for traditional benefits.
Help For Small Businesses – Under the stimulus package, the Small Business Association will oversee the Paycheck Protection Program, which will distribute $350 billion to small businesses that can be partially forgiven if the companies meet certain requirements. The loans will be available to companies with 500 or fewer employees.
Student Loan Payments – The Department of Education would suspend payments on student loan borrowers without penalty through September 30.
For more information on the act, click here. I hope that you and your family stay well during these challenging times. If you need someone to talk to – whether it’s about real estate, the news or your favorite new binge watch – I am always here for you. We’re all in this together!