New Public Health Eviction Ban For Renters
A new federal eviction ban is in place for renters hurt by job loss during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ban, ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), runs from September 4 through December 31, 2020. If you’re facing eviction, you should sign this CDC form attesting to your situation and turn it into your landlord.
The CDC form lists several conditions that you must agree are true:
You've tried to get government rent or housing assistance
You either:
Expect to earn no more than $99,000 in 2020 ($198,000 if you’re a couple filing joint)
Didn't have to report any income to the Internal Revenue Service in 2019
Received a coronavirus stimulus payment
You can't pay your full rent due to significantly reduced income or huge medical bills
You're paying as much towards your rent as you can
If evicted you'd become homeless or have to move in with other people in close quarters
You understand that at the end of the ban, the landlord can evict you if you don't pay all rent owed
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Stimulus Checks for Individuals
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is issuing one-time stimulus checks for many individuals. These payments are authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020.
The IRS has been sending out payments by direct deposit and paper check. In late May, it started issuing payments on prepaid debit cards.
Non-Filers Must Provide Stimulus Payment Information to the IRS by October 15
Some people who aren’t required to file a tax return must provide basic information to the IRS to get their check. These include very low-income workers and some veterans. If you think you’re in this category, go to the IRS page Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here. If you submit your information by October 15, 2020, you should receive your payment by the end of the year.
Learn About Stimulus Payments Sent Via Prepaid Card
The Treasury Department announced May 18 that almost four million stimulus payments will go out as prepaid Visa debit cards. Watch this Economic Impact Payment Prepaid Cards video to learn about activating and using the card.
Payments Made to People Who Have Died Must Be Returned
If a stimulus check arrives for someone who has died, you must return it to the IRS.
Nursing Homes and Care Facilities Cannot Claim Residents’ Stimulus Payments
According to the IRS, your stimulus check belongs to you, even if:
Check Payment Status or Provide Direct Deposit Information to the IRS
Go to the IRS page Get My Payment to check your payment’s status. For more information on what the payment status codes mean, see the IRS stimulus payment information center.
In some cases, you can also enter your direct deposit information in the Get My Payment tool. For help, see the questions and answers about entering banking information into the tool. You can also check the "Update your bank account or mailing address" section on the Economic Impact Payments page.
Most People Don’t Need to Do Anything to Get Their Stimulus Check
You will not have to do anything to receive your payment by direct deposit or check if:
Income Eligibility for Coronavirus Stimulus Checks
Individuals, including Social Security recipients, earning $75,000 or less will receive a $1,200 payment.
Married couples filing joint returns with incomes of $150,000 or less will receive a $2,400 payment.
People with incomes higher than those levels will receive partial payments. Individuals earning more than $99,000 and couples earning more than $198,000 will not receive any payment, unless they have children.
Parents of qualifying children will get a one-time payment of $500 per child.
Food Programs Ease Rules for Coronavirus Pandemic
You may now have an easier time getting food through government meal programs. During the coronavirus emergency:
People can enroll in food programs remotely rather than in person. This applies to programs for pregnant women, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Read about these and other government meal program adjustments during the coronavirus pandemic. To enroll or get other information:
For more information on school meals, check your child's school or school district website.
Temporary Mortgage Relief Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, under the CARES Act, the owners of single-family homes with federally-backed mortgages can get two types of financial help.
Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium
An eviction and foreclosure moratorium that went into effect on March 18, 2020, has been extended again. It now continues until August 31, 2020. During that time, homeowners:
Lenders:
Mortgage Forbearance
Federally-backed home loans can get six months of mortgage help. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) reverse mortgages are eligible too.
If you're having trouble making payments because of the coronavirus pandemic, your loan servicer must:
Defer or reduce your payments for six months if you contact your loan servicer to make arrangements
Give you another six months of mortgage relief at your request
Offer options for how you can make up the deferred or reduced payments. They will discuss these options with you at the end of your forbearance period.
Make sure you know your rights before you contact your loan servicer. Read this consumer relief guide to mortgage payment forbearance and foreclosure protection under the Federal CARES Act.
If you don't know whether your mortgage is federally-backed, see a list of federal agencies that provide or insure mortgages. You can also check the Fannie Mae loan lookup and the Freddie Mac loan lookup to see if either one owns or backs your mortgage. Together, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own nearly half of all mortgages in the U.S.
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Last Updated:
September 8, 2020