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1.
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Coronavirus Food Assistance Program - Direct Payments to Farmers and Ranchers
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CAA and CARES Act
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This program was designed “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus by
providing support for agricultural producers, growers, and processors impacted by
coronavirus.” The program provided direct support based on actual losses for agricultural
producers where prices and market supply chains had been impacted and assisted producers
with additional adjustment and marketing costs that resulted from lost demand and
short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.
The sign-up period for the program closed on October 12, 2021.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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2.
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COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
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CAA and ARPA
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may reimburse certain COVID-19-related
funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. The Coronavirus Response and
Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the ARPA provide funding for this
program.
Payments range according to a person’s reimbursable expenses. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual. There is a $35,500 per
household limit for this assistance.
FEMA will provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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3.
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COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program
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ARPA
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The Department of Veterans Affairs offered education and training for jobs to veterans
who were unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If an individual was eligible
for VRRAP, they could get:
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Up to 12 months of tuition and fee, and
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A monthly housing allowance based on Post-9/11 GI Bill rates
The program stopped accepting new enrollments on December 11, 2022. If an individual
was enrolled in VRRAP on that date, payments continued.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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4.
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Economic Impact Payments
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CARES Act, CAA, and ARPA
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), on behalf of the Treasury Department, issued first,
second and third rounds of EIPs authorized by Congress in the CARES Act beginning
in March 2020, CAA beginning in December 2020 and ARPA beginning in March 2021.
First round payment levels were up to:
$1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for couples filing jointly, and included an additional
$500 per qualifying child.
Second round payment levels were up to:
$600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples filing jointly, and an additional $600 per
qualifying child.
Third round payment levels were up to:
$1,400 for individuals, $2,800 for couples filing jointly, and an additional $1,400
per qualifying child.
Some people received less than these amounts.
NOTE: On January 26, 2022, IRS announced all third round EIPs had been issued.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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5.
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Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: Loans/Grants to Employers and Self-Employed
Individuals/Grants
NOTE: See SI 00830.622B.2 in this section for EIDL wage payments to employees.
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CARES Act, CAA, and ARPA
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Employers and self-employed individuals could receive grants and loan forgiveness
from the EIDL program. This assistance meets the criteria to be excluded as disaster
assistance.
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January 1, 2022, the Small Business Administration (SBA) stopped accepting new applications
for EIDL loans or advances.
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May 6, 2022, SBA stopped processing EIDL requests, loan increases, and reconsiderations
of previously denied loan applications.
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The COVID-19 EIDL portal closed on May 16, 2022.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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6.
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Education Stabilization Fund
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CARES Act, CAA, and ARPA
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The Department of Education administered the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) which
provided aid for state and institutional COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding efforts
to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus impacts on education and students.
ESF was composed of four emergency relief funds:
(1) the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund,
(2) the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund,
(3) the Emergency Assistance to non-Public Schools Fund, and
(4) the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
Funds available for spending expired September 30, 2024.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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7.
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Emergency Assistance for Rural Housing/Rural Rental Assistance
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ARPA
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This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program provides funding to help people
in rural communities keep their homes during the pandemic. Funds are to be used to
support rental assistance for residents of rural rental properties (subsidized via
the Section 515 or Section 514/516 programs) and to cover unpaid rent for unassisted
tenants in those properties. For amounts, see the entity providing the assistance
for more information. The statutory deadline for the fund is September 30, 2025.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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8.
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Emergency Assistance to Children and Families through the Pandemic Emergency Assistance
Fund
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ARPA
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This program provided supplemental funding to states to assist needy families impacted
by COVID-19. The Department of Health and Human Services provided non-recurring, short-term
benefits to deal with a specific crisis or episode of need. Benefits were not intended
to meet on-going needs, were not to extend beyond four months, and were only to include
expenditures such as emergency assistance and diversion payments, emergency housing
and short-term homelessness assistance, emergency food aid, short-term utilities payments,
burial assistance, clothing allowances, and back-to-school payments. Initial awards
expired September 30, 2022.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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9.
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Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Fund
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CAA and ARPA
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The fund is used to provide financial assistance to eligible households, including
payment of rent, rental arrears, utilities and home-energy costs, and other expenses
related to housing incurred to the pandemic, directly or indirectly.
The US Treasury is providing the funds directly to States, U.S. territories, local
governments, and (in the case of CAA) Indian Tribes or Tribally Designated Housing
Entities, as applicable, and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. For amounts, see
the entity providing the assistance for more information. The first round of ERA expired
September 30, 2022. The second round of ERA is set to expire September 30, 2025.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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10.
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Farm Loan Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
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ARPA
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The program provided debt relief to certain socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
The program allowed USDA to pay up to 120% of certain loan balances, as of January
1, 2021, for Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans and Farm Storage
Facility Loans to any Socially Disadvantaged producer who had a qualifying loan with
FSA.
The program ended on August 16, 2022.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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11.
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Homeowner Assistance Fund
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ARPA
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This fund was established to mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus
pandemic. The funds are provided to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures,
loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing
financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Funds may be used for assistance with mortgage
payments, homeowner’s insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes. The
US Treasury is providing the funds directly to states, U.S. territories, and Indian
Tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities, as applicable, and the Department
of Hawaiian Homelands. Each state has a program and may still have funds. The program
is set to end September 2026 or whenever funds are depleted.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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12.
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Housing Assistance and Supportive Services Programs for Native Americans
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ARPA
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Housing block grants and Indian-community-development block grants for use related
to COVID-19.
July 5, 2022, was the deadline for Tribes to submit a plan for funding.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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13.
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Paycheck Protection Program: Loan Forgiveness to Employers and Self-Employed Individuals
NOTE: See SI 00830.622B.2 in this section for PPP wage payments to employees.
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CARES Act, CAA, and ARPA
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Small businesses affected by the pandemic were eligible to apply for forgivable PPP
loans. These loans enabled employers to sustain payroll expenses for employees who
would otherwise face reduced hours, temporary layoff, or job loss.
Employers and self-employed individuals may have received loan forgiveness from the
PPP. This assistance meets the criteria to be excluded as disaster assistance.
The program ended May 31, 2021.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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14.
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Supporting Foster Youth and Families during the Pandemic
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CAA
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The CAA provided US Department of Health and Human Services additional funding for
several programs authorized under Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act
and required Title IV-E agencies to take several actions to protect and support youth/young
adults currently or formerly in foster care. This program provided temporary flexibilities
and assistance in response to COVID-19. Specifically:
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Prevented aging out of foster care during the pandemic before October 21, 2021;
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Allowed re-entry to foster care for any youth who aged out during the pandemic;
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Allowed states and tribes to provide Section 477 of Title IV-E, services and assistance
to eligible youth until age 27 for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (10/1/19 - 9/30/21);
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Allowed states and tribes to use Section 477 of Title IV-E room and board amounts
for otherwise eligible youth who were aged 18-26 and experience foster care at age
14 or older;
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Allowed states and tribes to provide an otherwise eligible youth aged 15-26 with up
to $4,000 per year in Section 477 of Title IV-E funds for driving and transportation
assistance.
The program expired September 30, 2021.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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15.
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Tribal Payments from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF)
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CARES Act and ARPA
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These programs provided Tribal governments with financial resources to meet pandemic
response needs. The Tribes were responsible for disbursing the funds to Tribal members
and for using the funds to assist their Tribal community with obtaining the critical
resources needed to combat the virus.
The SLFRF expenditure deadline was December 31, 2024.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively
IMPORTANT: Some previously reported Tribal payment(s) paid since March 27, 2020, that were
funded by the COVID Relief Fund, may have been counted as unearned income and resources.
If the payment was previously counted as unearned income or a resource for SSI purposes,
remove the Tribal payment(s) from countable income and resources and document this
type of payment following special processing instructions in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623.
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16.
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Unemployment Insurance Benefits
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CARES Act, CAA, ARPA, and a Memorandum
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This includes several programs that extended eligibility for regular unemployment
and supplemented payment amounts.
Two examples that provided for increased unemployment amounts over and above regular
unemployment were:
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits, which provided emergency
unemployment benefits for qualifying individuals who were out of work because of the
COVID-19 pandemic. FPUC amounts were paid as follows:
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$600 per week beginning March 2020 and ending with payments after July 31, 2020 (CARES);
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$300 per week beginning after December 26, 2020 and ending on or before March 14,
2021 (CAA); and
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$300 per week beginning March 14, 2021 and continuing through the statutory end date
of September 6, 2021 (ARPA).
Lost Wage Assistance (LWA): FEMA was authorized to use the Disaster Relief Fund to
supplement the payment of lost wages because of COVID-19. Participating States had
the option to provide lost wage supplements of up to $400 per week, composed of a
$300 federal contribution from the Disaster Relief Fund and up to $100 from State
funds. The LWA payments were in addition to the weekly benefit amount individuals
received from certain other UC programs.
The program ran from August 1, 2020 until September 5, 2020 when funds were depleted.
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Exclude all unemployment (regular and pandemic) during the
relevant period from income.
The relevant period is defined in SI 00830.623B.4.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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17.
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USDA Assistance and Support for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers, Forest Land
Owners and Operators, and Groups
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ARPA
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USDA may provide grants, training, and education for socially disadvantaged farmers,
ranchers, forest landowners, or other members of socially disadvantaged groups. The
funds support:
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Outreach, financial training, cooperative development and capacity building, and other
technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups;
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Grants and loans to improve land access, including heirs' property issues, and aid
former farm loan borrowers that suffered adverse actions or past discrimination or
bias;
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The creation and activities of equity commissions; and
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Research, education, and extension activities at minority serving institutions, including
scholarships, internships, and pathways to Federal employment for students; eligible
institutions include 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Colleges
and Universities, Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving
Institutions, and Insular Area Institutions.
Funds were available until depleted.
NOTE: Funding for the program, reauthorized under section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction
Act, are not pandemic-related disaster assistance.
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Pandemic-related disaster assistance excluded from income and resources.
Follow special processing instructions to develop and document income and resource
exclusions for this program in SI 00830.623 and SI 01130.623 respectively.
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