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COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay program. The Legislature allocated $460 million for premium payments to Massachusetts workers
On December 13, 2021 Governor Baker signed into law the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay program. The Legislature allocated $460 million for premium payments to Massachusetts workers.
The law provided for the Administration to design the program and develop eligibility parameters that will ensure this critical support is provided quickly to deserving workers across the Commonwealth.
$500 payments will be delivered to 500,000 people in March. These payments represent the first round of funds to be distributed as part of the program.
In order to be eligible to receive a Round 1 Premium Pay check:
You must have:
Filed a 2020 tax return;
Been a Massachusetts resident in 2020, or a part year resident that lived in Massachusetts between March 10, 2020 and December 31, 2020;
Earned income of at least $12,750 in 2020 employment compensation; AND
Had a total household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in 2020 (see table below).
And you must NOT have:
Received any unemployment compensation in 2020; OR
If you are an employee of the Commonwealth’s Executive Branch, received a one-time COVID-related payment from the Commonwealth as your employer.
All eligible individuals will automatically receive a check in the mail. If you do not receive a check, you may be eligible for a future round of premium payments.
Based on filed 2020 Massachusetts tax returns, individuals will be eligible for a $500 payment if their income from employment was at least $12,750 and their total income put them below 300% of the federal poverty level.
Individuals who received unemployment compensation in 2020 will not be eligible for the first round of payments, nor will Commonwealth executive branch employees who received or will receive a one-time payment from the state as their employer.
$12,750 equates to working 20 hours a week for 50 weeks at minimum wage as of 2020 ($12.75). The federal poverty level is set by the federal government and increases with household or family size. For example, the maximum total income for a single filer with no dependents will be $38,280; a resident who files with a spouse and two dependents, or with no spouse and three dependents, could be eligible with a household income up to $78,600. Married filers can each be eligible, provided each independently qualifies.
Based on these parameters, the below chart indicates eligibility for these payments by household size
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