Resources for Low/No-Income Economic Impact Payments

Please see the following information about Economic Impact Payments from Vermont Legal Aid and the IRS:

The federal coronavirus relief law (called the CARES Act) will give money to most adults in the United States. The IRS will send the money to your home in the form of a check or a special debit card, or they will deposit it in your bank account. (Learn more about the debit card that you might get.)

Some people who have not filed a tax return will need to file a tax form to get the money. The IRS started electronic deposits of the federal Economic Impact Payment (EIP) around April 13, 2020.

Note: if you or your clients are not receiving stimulus checks due to a lack of permanent address or even after using the non-filers portal, contact Zachary Lees of Vermont Legal aid (zlees@vtlegalaid.org).

Be aware of scams!

We are worried about the potential for scams and fraud with the coming stimulus payments. Do not provide your personal information or bank account number to anyone who says they can get an advance on this money. Do not fill out any application to get your money faster. The system does not work that way.

The IRS will not call you, text you, email you or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information — even related to the economic impact payments. Also, beware of emails with attachments or links claiming to have special information about economic impact payments or refunds. Don’t open the emails and don’t click on attachments or links.  Go to IRS.gov for more information about scams

For more information and translated versions from VT Law Help: click here.

The VTLawHelp.org website also has:

1. Detailed instructions for different situations

2. Information about EIP debit cards for some Vermonters who get Social Security or SSI

3. Comprehensive answers to frequently asked questions

4. VIDEO: An April online Town Hall information session about stimulus checks. Watch the video on Facebook or YouTube.

Below are some additional resources from the IRS:

1. Low-income people are eligible to get an Economic Impact Payment

2. Low-income individuals who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or qualifying resident aliens with a work eligible Social Security number are eligible to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Those who do not have a regular filing requirement can use the free, online tool Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info to quickly and easily register to receive their payment. There is also a Spanish language version of the tool available. More Info.

3. New Partner Toolkit for Non-Filers:

4. Economic Impact Payments: Reaching People Who Are Eligible and Don’t Normally File a Tax Return

5. New Customizable e-Poster:

6. If you’re an organization that can help low-income or no-income people use the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov to get an Economic Impact Payment, you can use our new customizable e-poster (Form 15268) to add your contact information before you share the materials with your community.

7. Millions of Americans who don’t usually file a tax return can use the Non-Filers tool until Oct. 15 to receive their Economic Impact Payment

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