CARES Act/American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes many parts of the original CARES Act of 2020 and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This information is updated as new policies and actions are approved, or as deadlines change.
SD CARES Housing Assistance
- Applications for Assistance are being accepted, additional rounds of funding are also available if you have been assisted in the past:
- Program Details from the SD Housing Development Authority
- Frequently Asked Questions for eligibility
- Apply for Assistance (online application)
- This program has been extended until 2022.
- Program Details from the SD Housing Development Authority
Stimulus Check Info / Economic Impact Payments
- The third stimulus bill, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, was finalized and the United States Treasury began disbursing American Rescue Act stimulus payments in March, 2021.
- Checking Status
- Check your status or add your direct deposit information
- If you are not able to check your status online:
- call the IRS Economic Impact Payment number: (800) 919-9835. The call volume is heavy, so you may be on hold for a long time.
- call United Way’s Economic Impact Payment Helpline at (844) 322-3639.
- For the last round of stimulus payments:
- You can still receive your Economic Impact Payment (stimulus) even though the tax deadline has passed. Go to https://www.getyourrefund.org/211-stimulus where you can file your taxes yourself (with the DIY tool); review and file with the help of an IRS certified volunteer; find answers to your stimulus questions; ask a general tax related question.
- Childcare tax credit is also increased.
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- In-depth information is available here.
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Rent Moratorium Info
- Eviction Moratorium (Updated 9/1/2021)
- The United States Supreme Court blocked the CDC's extension on evictions for renters in counties with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission levels.
Mortgage Forbearance Info - Apply Now for FHA Relief
- FHA-Insured Mortgage Forbearance
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency has ruled that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac backed mortgages will not be able to file a first notice of foreclosure, in most cases, before December 31, 2021. Full details here.
- Forbearance will postpone your mortgage payments for a set amount of time, allowing you to make a repayment agreement and avoid foreclosure.
- For Consumers who are not familiar with a forbearance, here are the recommended Steps:
- Contact your lender to disclose the recent change in your employment as soon as possible – before your payment is due.
- Ask your lender about the assistance options they have for customers impacted by COVID-19. *Don’t let them skip over any details when discussing modification and forbearance options*
- Visit the Consumer Finance page for more guidance.
Small Business Info
- Federal Information:
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which required employers to provide paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave expired on December 31, 2020.
- Tax credits may be available to employers who voluntarily continue to provide paid sick leave or paid family leave for COVID-19 related reasons between January 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021.
- The American Rescue Plan Act added three more reasons for the qualified paid leave:
- Obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination
- Recovering from an injury, disability, illness or condition related to the immunization
- Getting or waiting for the result of a COVID-19 test or diagnosis if the employer has requested the test or diagnosis
- A summary of the ARP Act paid leave provisions is available here.
- Information about claiming the tax credits for paid sick leave or paid family leave wages can be found on the IRS website.
- Modifications to the PPP that impact small business owners, self-employed and contract workers
- The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is closed to new applications. The Small Business Administration is continuing to process applications received before the deadline
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which required employers to provide paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave expired on December 31, 2020.
- State Information:
- COVID-19 Resources
- Reemployment Assistance Tax for Businesses
- Unemployment Claims: Tips for Businesses
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Updated Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans (December, 2020)
Unemployment - Expanded Benefits Ending June 2021
- South Dakota ended the enhanced supplemental unemployment benefits of $300.00 per week effective the week ending June 26, 2021. The benefits were originally set to terminate on August 29, 2021.
- South Dakota’s participation in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for gig workers, freelancers, independent contractors, self-employed and others not covered under traditional unemployment also terminated early, on the week ending June 26, 2021. Benefits were originally available for a maximum of 50 weeks.
- South Dakota is ended its participation in the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation that provided an additional 13 weeks of payments after traditional state benefits are used. That program also closed the week ending June 26, 2021.
- Regular state unemployment claims will continue to be paid.
- Go to South Dakota Department of Labor for unemployment information
Nutrition Assistance
- Nutrition Assistance
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits raised by 15% for six months.
- SNAP eligibility is not expanded
- Use 211 Helpline Center Guided Search for specific county information
- Health Care Assistance for the Uninsured
- The American Rescue Plan Act expanded the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (known as ACA or the Marketplace ) through August 15, 2021
- These plans have expanded subsidies to reduce the cost of premiums for new and existing enrollees
- The expanded subsidies are in place for 2021 and 2022
- Visit HealthCare.gov to apply
