New proposed $2K per month COVID-19 payment includes college students, dependents over 16

Economic stimulus checks are prepared for printing at the Philadelphia Financial Center May 8, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One hundred and thirty million households are eligible to receive a tax rebate check under the $168 billion economic stimulus plan. less Economic stimulus checks are prepared for printing at the Philadelphia Financial Center May 8, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One hundred and thirty million households are eligible to receive a tax rebate ... more Photo: (Photo By Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) Photo: (Photo By Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close New proposed $2K per month COVID-19 payment includes college students, dependents over 16 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

New legislation proposed by representatives Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) Wednesday would expand stimulus payments to millions of Americans while the nation battles the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Khanna and Ryan are responsible for proposing the initial $1,200 stimulus check plan.

If passed, the new Emergency Money for the People Act would mean all single Americans over the age of 16 earning less than $130,000 would be given a monthly $2,000 check "until employment returns to pre-COVID-19 levels." Married Americans earning less than $260,000 jointly would be given $4,000 per month, and families with children would receive an extra $500 per child, up to three children. These payments would be untaxed and guaranteed for at least six months, and would continue until the unemployment (of those over the age of 16) falls to pre-pandemic levels.

Notably, the legislation also includes a check for those who had no earnings in 2018 or 2019, as well as college students and adults with disabilities who are claimed as dependents.

“A one-time, twelve hundred dollar check isn’t going to cut it,” said Khanna, who represents parts of the South Bay Area. “Americans need sustained cash infusions for the duration of this crisis in order to come out on the other side alive, healthy, and ready to get back to work.”

The legislation also addresses the fact that not everyone eligible for the stimulus checks has a permanent physical address or a bank account. The act allows for expanded methods of payments, including not just direct deposit and check, but pre-paid debit card or digital methods like Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.

The bill has 17 other co-sponsors in addition to Khanna and Ryan, including Rep. Barbara Lee, who represents Alameda County.

“The economic impact of this virus is unprecedented for our country. As millions of Americans file for unemployment week over week, we have to work quickly to patch the dam – and that means putting cash in the hands of hard-working families,” said Ryan. “Now it’s time for Congress to get to work on the next step to provide relief for those who have been hardest hit in this pandemic.”

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate digital editor. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira

