# Will Unemployed Americans Get $$$? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 20, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854 "2020-03-20T00:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/1 "2020-03-20T00:23:26Z")
I’m not talking ones that were just fired or laid off, but for those who haven’t been able to find a job for years? ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/2 "2020-03-20T01:41:33Z")
I think news reports I’ve read said they would use 2018 tax returns so possibly? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/3 "2020-03-20T02:22:17Z")
> [@pool](#): > > I think news reports I’ve read said they would use 2018 tax returns so possibly? Keep in mind that each check will be limited to what the person/couple paid in tax on their 2018 return, if it is less than $1200 (2400 for a couple). “What if I didn’t have a job in 2018 so I didn’t pay taxes?” Then they are supposed to go by the 2019 return. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/4 "2020-03-20T06:36:36Z")
Those with lowest income (if any) will be least likely to receive any money. Long-term unemployed? Homeless? Student? Busker? Hooker? Itinerant worker? Right. Those outside the mainstream get zilch. Who (beside corporate giants) will receive anything? Folks with homes, addresses, bank accounts, tax returns. Folks with something to lose, who’ve not yet lost it. They get a little. Dylan sang, “If you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.” Beware when those with nothing to lose get desperate. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/5 "2020-03-25T19:36:34Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Keep in mind that each check will be limited to what the person/couple paid in tax on their 2018 return, if it is less than $1200 (2400 for a couple). > > “What if I didn’t have a job in 2018 so I didn’t pay taxes?” Then they are supposed to go by the 2019 return. you’re aware that 2019 returns are not complete ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/6 "2020-03-25T20:05:05Z")
As I understand it, yes - all American adults who earned under $99,000 last year or last-last year will qualify for stimulus checks. That encompasses the unemployed. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/7 "2020-03-25T20:34:12Z")
I was laid off two years ago, didn’t apply for unemployment. I didn’t file for 2017,2018 because my employer never sent me my forms. I have them now, I assumed I get no money ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/8 "2020-03-26T01:58:15Z")
you might ask IRS if you file now? ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/9 "2020-03-26T02:22:03Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Keep in mind that each check will be limited to what the person/couple paid in tax on their 2018 return, if it is less than $1200 (2400 for a couple). > > “What if I didn’t have a job in 2018 so I didn’t pay taxes?” Then they are supposed to go by the 2019 return. I went back to review bill, and if you didn’t file in 2018, IF you’ve already filed 2019 then you’re covered ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/10 "2020-03-26T02:25:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > As I understand it, yes - all American adults who earned under $99,000 last year or last-last year will qualify for stimulus checks. That encompasses the unemployed. I went back to review bill, and you’re correct that $99,000 is top limit; however, the limit for full 1200 is 75,000. Between 75,000 and 99,000 will be prorated check less than 1200 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/11 "2020-03-26T05:52:20Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I was laid off two years ago, didn’t apply for unemployment. I didn’t file for 2017,2018 because my employer never sent me my forms. I have them now, I assumed I get no money I believe the point of the stimulus package is to aid those whose income was potentially disrupted by this crisis. If a person had no reported recent income then on paper it looks like no disruption occurred. This is just my understanding of the intent, I am not 100% certain of this however. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/12 "2020-03-26T11:25:26Z")
What about people working part time and in the gig economy? In 2019 I earned $2,500 as a background actor. I do strictly local productions, traveling less than thirty miles. It’s not a big part of my income, but it gets a line item on my budget. We talk a lot on set about jobs though, and a lot of the background actors are much harder working than I and will travel hundreds of miles for a job, earning at least a subsistence income. All of those productions have gone into hiatus now. You can add in things like Uber drivers, dog walkers, most people who cut hair are treated like contractors who rent chairs in salons, there’s a lot of folks out there who never qualify for unemployment because they don’t work a steady 40 hour week. Is there any provision for these guys? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/13 "2020-03-26T15:27:12Z")
> [@fedman](#): > > I went back to review bill, and you’re correct that $99,000 is top limit; however, the limit for full 1200 is 75,000. Between 75,000 and 99,000 will be prorated check less than 1200 Is that based on gross income or AGI? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/14 "2020-03-26T18:19:17Z")
Terry works and Terry’s paycheck supports spouse Drew; Drew does not work. Do both Terry and Drew get a $1200 check? ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/15 "2020-03-26T21:11:39Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Terry works and Terry’s paycheck supports spouse Drew; Drew does not work. Do both Terry and Drew get a $1200 check? if you filed joint return, as long as you had salary, then you would get $2400 for couple ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/16 "2020-03-26T21:39:16Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is that based on gross income or AGI? Various new reports/analyses I’ve seen say AGI. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/17 "2020-03-27T00:09:44Z")
> [@fedman](#): > > if you filed joint return, as long as you had salary, then you would get $2400 for couple Drew has no salary; only Terry earns income. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/18 "2020-03-27T00:30:46Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Terry works and Terry’s paycheck supports spouse Drew; Drew does not work. Do both Terry and Drew get a $1200 check? I believe they don’t both get a check, but Terry can claim Drew as a dependent and that check is a bit more because of it. I have heard/read conflicting info on how this will work though so don’t hold me to it. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/19 "2020-03-30T00:37:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is that based on gross income or AGI? tgi ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854/20 "2020-03-30T00:57:32Z")
I’m going to respond to various posters based on bill summary published in Cleveland’s Plain Dealer: RioRico–“the bill adds 600 a week for 4 months, also adds 13 weeks of coverage for those who have exhausted their jobless benefits” Atmasama–for couples who have gross income of 75000 or less, they will get 2400 plus 500 for each child Bill Door–“The bill would create a temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for those not eligible for jobless benefits-(gig workers)- through Dec 31” what bothers me is that the bill lets employers not pay matching contributions to Social Security, so SS is going to take a hit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-unemployed-americans-get/849854.md?page=2)