Unclaimed Stimulus Checks

Did you receive your federal stimulus check? If you have not received your Economic Impact Payment (federal stimulus check), you are not alone. About 160,000 Louisianans have not received their stimulus checks. You may not have automatically received your stimulus check earlier in the year because you were not required to file a federal tax return, due to low household income. These stimulus checks were authorized by Congress with the CARES Act. You may be eligible for a payment of up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples filing jointly, in addition to $500 per qualifying child. If you have not received your payment, you must provide your information to the IRS no later than October 15, 2020 through either a 2019 tax return or a simplified online form called the IRS “Non-Filer” tool. Applying for and receiving this stimulus payment will not affect your eligibility for assistance programs like Medicaid or SNAP.

Will getting a stimulus check affect my eligibility for SNAP or Medicaid? No. The federal stimulus checks, also known as Economic Impact Payments, are not counted as income in determining SNAP or Medicaid eligibility. For more information about SNAP eligibility, visit http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/page/snap-eligibility.For more information about Medicaid eligibility, visit https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/220.

I never received a federal stimulus check. Is it too late to claim it? No, it’s not too late. Many people did not automatically receive a check (including as many as 160,000 Louisianans) because they were not required to file a federal tax return for 2019 due to low household income. If that’s your situation, you must provide your information to the IRS no later than October 15, 2020, in order to receive your stimulus check.

How do I claim my stimulus check if I didn’t file a federal tax return for 2019?If you have not yet received your payment, you must provide your information to the IRS no later than October 15, 2020, through either a 2019 tax return or a simplified online form called the IRS “Non-Filer” tool.

How do I know whether I need to file a 2019 tax return or use the “Non-Filer” tool to claim my stimulus check? Only use the “Non-Filer” tool if you are NOT required to file a 2019 tax return. To find out whether you are required to file a tax return, use the IRS’s “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” tool at https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-need-to-file-a-tax-return. If you do not need to file a 2019 tax return, you can claim your stimulus check by using the IRS’s “Non-Filer” tool on the IRS website at Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here | Internal Revenue Service.