As COVID-19 continues to impact everyday life in the United States, Americans have started to receive their individual stimulus checks from the government. These stimulus checks have requirements that not everyone meets, especially students.
People with an income less than $99,000 a year will receive a tax-free stimulus check of $1,200. Any person age 17 to 24 claimed as a dependent on their parent’s tax return does not qualify for the stimulus check.
College students have been affected by these requirements because even if they are supporting themselves, they are not eligible if they are claimed as a dependent. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explains the criteria that make you eligible to receive a payment.
According to the IRS, you are eligible to receive the $1,200 stimulus check if you are a U.S citizen or U.S. resident alien. If you are claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return you are not eligible, which means many college students won’t receive a payment. You need a Social Security number (SSN) that is valid for employment as well as adjusted gross income below an amount based on your filing status.
Many students supporting themselves are out of work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Alyssa Walrath, a medical studies major on ASU’s downtown campus, recently lost her job due to COVID-19.
“I’m disappointed that I did not get the stimulus check,” Walrath said. “Now that I was just randomly put out of work, I had to move home because I cannot afford to live on my own without an income.”
Before COVID-19, Walrath worked as a nanny. She fully supported herself financially prior to COVID-19 by paying for her rent, groceries and any other expenses. The only thing she was not paying for was her school tuition. “My parents are helping me now that I am out of work, but not getting the stimulus check has caused many things to change in my life,” said Walrath.
Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation to expand access to unemployment benefits for people in Arizona being affected by COVID-19. “Arizona will continue to provide support to those in need while we combat the spread of COVID-19,” he said in a press release. “This legislation will waive certain requirements for unemployment eligibility, giving hardworking Arizonans the helping hand they need while we get through this difficult time.”
Thi legislation will help people who are unemployed and also did not receive the stimulus check.
Brooke Nordstorm, a recent ASU graduate, is a sales representative at Liberty Mutual Insurance. She was claimed as a dependent on her parent’s tax return and did not qualify to receive the stimulus check.
“Working full-time and not receiving the stimulus check just because I’m claimed as a dependent is not fair in my opinion,” said Nordstrom. Nordstrom was hoping to receive the stimulus check because she recently became financially independent after she graduated in December. “This is my first year working full-time without any help from my parents and to not get that extra money in my bank account is extremely disappointing,” she said.
Nordstrom said her last resort will be to depend on her parents for money.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic I was making a steady income and supporting myself,” she said. Now, Nordstrom doesn’t know if she will be able to pay next month’s rent.
“It’s always been a rule in my family, once we graduate college we are on our own. I would hate to ask my parents to help me during this pandemic because we are all struggling,” said Nordstrom.
Contact the reporter at setoth1@asu.edu.
