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| Greetings,
Last week we passed the latest COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan. This bill is already helping us ramp up vaccine distribution and recover from the economic devastation brought by the pandemic. Here’s how you can take advantage of all that’s included in this bill: Getting your $1,400 stimulus check should be automatic if you received the first two stimulus payment accounts. Like previous direct payments, all individuals who make $75,000 or less will be receiving this round of direct payments. Check on your payment here. If you did not receive any of the last direct payments, but believe you should have, read this information about applying for a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 taxes. Register to get vaccinated. Vaccines are starting to be available at more and more places, and beginning April 5, all Michiganders over the age of 16 will be eligible for the vaccine. Here are some of the places you can register: With your county health department:
At your local pharmacy: Beginning March 24, vaccinations will be available at Ford Field in Detroit. This new mass vaccination site will be able to vaccinate 6,000 people a day, and is open to all Michiganders. Anyone can register now, regardless of whether you are currently eligible for the vaccine, and you will be contacted when you are able to make your appointment. Click here to register for vaccination at Ford Field, which is run through Meijer. You can also receive your vaccination through Sparrow Hospital, which is administering the vaccine at Sparrow clinics, and even at a drive through location in Lansing. Click here to make an appointment through the Sparrow system. Accessing unemployment benefits. Folks receiving unemployment have been getting an additional $300 a week that was passed as part of an earlier COVID relief bill. The American rescue Plan extends that additional $300 a week through September 6, 2021. If you’ve already been receiving unemployment, there is likely no action required to continue receiving the additional $300 benefit, though you should keep an eye out for outreach from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. If you need to apply for unemployment, visit this page. If you are having trouble with unemployment, visit this page. How to make sure you are taking advantage of lower healthcare costs: From now until May 15, we are in a special enrollment period, in which you can shop for healthcare on the Marketplace. Lower rates will kick in on April 1. If you already have Marketplace health insurance, you can also access the lower prices. You will need to specifically re-select your plan or select a new plan on healthcare.gov after April 1 to take advantage of these new lower costs. Click here to learn more. If you have been laid off, you can access subsidies to get COBRA health insurance through September. Resources for renters. At the end of March, Michiganders who have experienced hardship and can benefit from rental assistance will be able to apply for Michigan’s COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program. Check this page at the end of the month to apply. For small businesses and restaurants, there are a variety of new and continued programs to provide relief. Restaurant owners can watch this roundtable discussion about newly created resources and loans.
If you have additional questions — our office is here to help! Give us a call at 517-993-0510 or send us a message here. -Office of Rep. Elissa Slotkin |
the latest COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan
