Biden’s stimulus plan: A second payment, larger Social Security checks and more

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Biden won’t be sworn into office until January, but he says he’ll be ready on Day 1.


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This story is part of Elections 2020, CNET’s coverage of the voting in November and its aftermath.

President-elect Joe Biden, who will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, is already sharing how he’ll address the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s economic recovery. He established a COVID-19 task force and has plans to contain the coronavirus, announcing his strategies at the beginning of a week that has seen more than 150,000 new cases on Thursday and Friday.

Biden’s economic plans, which pulls elements such as new stimulus checks for eligible people from the CARES Act, also include extending more unemployment benefits for out-of-work Americans and other types of financial assistance. Biden released his Emergency Action Plan to Save the Economy prior to Election Day to explain how he might proceed once in office, and he called for more stimulus aid to help struggling Americans during a Nov. 10 press conference. Democrats’ and Republicans’ negotiations for more money appear to be currently deadlocked at the moment.

Below, we examine everything Biden may be planning.


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Biden would send more stimulus checks

The CARES Act, passed in March, was the first stimulus package intended to help people financially affected by the pandemic. One of the most popular aspects of the act was a stimulus check of up to $1,200 sent out to more than 160 million Americans. That direct aid caused a jump in household spending, helped millions at risk of slipping into poverty and allowed others to save

Biden’s plan, like the one President Donald Trump is backing, will include more direct stimulus payments, but it doesn’t specify how many or for how much, or if any of the qualifications would change. Democrats and Republicans are currently negotiating for more stimulus relief that would include another round of direct payments, but the clock is ticking to get a bill passed.

Read moreYou don’t have to be a US citizen living in America to get a stimulus check

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Stimulus checks are just the beginning.


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Unemployment benefits would get extended

COVID-19 lockdowns across cities led to an unprecedented spike in unemployment, with more than 20 million people having lost their jobs back in May. To help those unemployed suddenly, the CARES Act provided a weekly bonus payment of $600 on top of unemployment benefits provided by the states. These extra funds expired at the end of July, and Trump restarted a smaller version of the bonus in August via an executive memo. This temporary relief provided $300 extra for six weeks and has since been exhausted; only a new stimulus package would provide more funds. (Here’s every benefit that dries up if the stimulus isn’t renewed.)

Biden’s plan doesn’t go into specifics about how much funding may be available. It does say a bill would improve unemployment benefits. 

Larger Social Security checks

There were no measures to boost Social Security in the CARES Act or in other relief packages since then. Biden’s stimulus plan calls for an additional $200 to be added to the monthly payments that go to Social Security recipients. 

Forgive federal student loan debt

Included in the CARES Act was a forbearance for student loans. Individuals who owed money wouldn’t need to make payments or see any interest accrue until “the end of September,” according to Biden’s stimulus vision. If implemented in the future, there would, of course, be a different cutoff date.

Back in August, Trump extended the forbearance until the end of 2020. Biden’s plan goes a different direction by offering a loan forgiveness of a $10,000 minimum. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a Democrat and former presidential candidate, outlined a plan to forgive the federal student loan debt back in September.

Other measures mentioned in Biden’s plan

Biden’s plan also includes additional relief:

  • More money for small businesses
  • Emergency sick leave for everyone who needs it
  • Fiscal relief for states
  • No out-of-pocket money for COVID-19 testing, treatment and an eventual vaccine

For more information on the stimulus package situation, read how to calculate your stimulus money, why you might receive an EIP card instead of a check and all the reasons your next check could be bigger.

source: cnet.com