SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $7.6 billion coronavirus relief package into law on Tuesday, providing grant money and other benefits to California small businesses as well as stimulus payments to low-income residents.
The so-called “Golden State Stimulus” package will give at least $600 one-time payments to 5.7 million people, the majority of whom will get the money by claiming California’s Earned Income Tax Credit on their state tax returns.
California Department of Finance representative H.D. Palmer answered some frequently asked questions ABC10 has received from viewers on other coverage areas of the Golden State Stimulus, like people experiencing homelessness, those on disability, and more.
“[People] will fall into any number of different categories based on their income, living status, whether they’re enrolled in an assistance program, etc.,” Palmer said. “The important thing to bear in mind is that the eligibility threshold for individuals or families is whether they a.) qualify for the EITC or are an ITIN filer, and /or b.) if they are enrolled in one of the defined benefit programs – CalWORKS, SSI/SSP, or CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants).”
Here is how he responded to the FAQs:
Q: If you had no income in 2020 and don't have anything to claim for 2020, can you still get a stimulus check?
Palmer: Under these circumstances, an individual would not be eligible.
Q: Are the homeless eligible to receive a stimulus check?
Palmer: If a homeless individual is currently receiving CalWORKs, SSI/SSP, or CAPI, he or she would be eligible for a one-time $600 grant payment.
Q: Will people who are on disability, but not on SSI, SSP, or CALworks, be eligible to receive a stimulus check?
Palmer: If an individual is on disability and also qualifies for the EITC, he or she would receive a $600 one-time credit after filing his or her tax return. To qualify for EITC, income must be lower than $30,000.
Q: Are people who are on EDD disability eligible to receive a check?
Palmer: If they are eligible for the EITC, then they would be eligible after filing their tax return.
Q: I am on Social Security Disability (SSDI) collecting $14,328 in 2020. I was not eligible for the California Earned Income Tax Credit. As a low-income disabled senior citizen, would I still be eligible to receive a stimulus check?
Palmer: In this case, if the individual is receiving SSI/SSP or CAPI, he or she would be eligible.
Read more from ABC10
WATCH ALSO: Gov. Newsom signs Golden State Stimulus Bill
