Policy Corner: March 27, 2020

House Debates Senate Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the $2 trillion stimulus package passed earlier this week by the Senate in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19).The CARES Act, S. 3508, is the third bill passed to address the impact of the virus on individual Americans, hospitals and public health, state and local government, large corporations and small business, education, and the federal safety net. The bill includes more than $850 million to ensure seniors and people with disabilities can receive services, including nutrition services, in their homes, as well as resources to protect nursing home residents from the virus. With regard to all residents, the bill provides:

• An additional $600 per week payment to each recipient of unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for up to four months;
• The creation of a temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program through December 31, 2020, to provide payment to those not traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits (self-employed, independent contractors, those with limited work history, and others) and who are unable to work as a direct result of the coronavirus public health emergency;
• An additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits through December 31, 2020, to help those who remain unemployed after state unemployment benefits are no longer available;
• $1,200 to individuals and $2,400 for married couples with an adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples, who are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work-eligible social security number. In addition, individuals are eligible for an additional $500 per child; and
• Waiver of the 10% early withdrawal penalty for distributions up to $100,000 from qualified retirement accounts for coronavirus-related purposes made on or after January 1, 2020.

Many provisions to assist individuals with disabilities or those who are elderly were not provided in the bill, with a few exceptions. The bill does ensure all people are eligible for rebates and emergency income relief provided in the CARES Act; people on means-tested and other disability programs, such as Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid are not included in the bill. There may, however, be additional barriers, since they are primarily tied to tax returns. The legislation also provides more funding for Centers for Independent Living.

The legislation did not provide additional funding for Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) or for personal care attendants and direct support professionals as hoped by advocates. Other provisions that advocates supported would have ensured access to medications, other than under Medicare. While advocates encouraged Congress to permanently reauthorize Money Follows the Person, the bill extended the program, along with the HCBS Spousal Impoverishment protections, through November 30, 2020.