Advocacy E-News April 20, 2020
April 20, 2020
LATEST CORONAVIRUS RATES AT N.J. STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS
The number of people who work or live at New Jersey’s four state-run psychiatric hospitals and tested positive for the coronavirus rose 38 percent this week to 387 including 7 patients and four hospital employees. according to the state Department of Health. Policies that have been imposed involving segregating people who have the disease from those who are awaiting test results and people who do not show signs of illness.
IRS CONFIRMS SSI RECIPIENTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY GET STIMULUS CHECKS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed that recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will automatically receive automatic Economic Impact Payments (that’s the official name, although most taxpayers refer to them as stimulus checks).
According to the IRS, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients also don’t need to take additional action: your check will be direct-deposited (or you’ll get a paper check) just as you’d typically get your benefits. The Internal Revenue Service also announced that recipients of VA benefits will automatically receive coronavirus stimulus payments.
Learn more from the Forbes report
RENT INCREASES AT ALL NJHMFA-REGULATED PROPERTIES SUSPENDED
Governor Phil Murphy announced that the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has unanimously voted to suspend rent increases at all eligible properties within the Agency’s portfolio, which includes 36,000 rental units across the state. With this action, thousands of low- and moderate-income families will not have to fear a rent increase. The suspension of rent increases will remain in place until the termination of Executive Order 103.
See the full story from InsiderNJ
A full list of participating housing counselors and more details on the program may be found at:
www.njhousing.gov/foreclosure
LIFELINE CLIENTS TO RECEIVE UNLIMITED TALK AND EXTRA DATA DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS
The Federal Communications Commission shared that three phone companies will start offering unlimited talk and extra data for Lifeline clients in need to support telehealth access during the COVID-19 crisis. For New Jersey, the two companies that will provide these services are Sprint (Assurance) and TracFone (SafeLink). Assurance will offer unlimited talk and text as well as a one-time offer of an extra 20 GB of data until Wednesday, May 20. SafeLink will offer unlimited talk and text, as well as extra 5 GB of data per month, until Tuesday, April 28.
GOVERNOR MURPHY TAKES ACTION ON LEGISLATION
Governor Murphy signed the following bills into law:
S-2333/A-3910 – Provides civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities during public health emergency and state of emergency; facilitates issuance of certain temporary licenses and certifications during public health emergency and state of emergency.
S-2342/A-3915 – Permits nonprofit corporations to allow members to participate in meetings by means of remote communication, and permits nonprofit corporations to hold meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency
S-2349/A-3922 – Changes date of 2020 primary election from June 2 to July 7
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