HEROES Act: All About The Second Round Of Stimulus Check
Updated : December 1st, 2020

The House of Representatives recently passed a $3trillion bill known as The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. This bill would provide relief for Americans who lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The HEROES Act is a second stimulus check passed ever since the pandemic began.
The HEROES Act aims to provide a $1,200 base payment to eligible individuals and $2,400 for married couples filing a joint return. It would also provide an additional $1,200 for each dependent ( maximum of 3 dependents). For instance, a married couple with 2 children could get benefits up to $4,800.
The HEROES Act bill exceeds the cost of the $2 trillion CARES Act, the largest stimulus package in the history of the United States. Though the House has approved the bill, it is now up to the Senate to pass this second round of stimulus check.
What’s Included In The HEROES Act?
The second stimulus check or the HEROES Act includes several key provisions. Some of them are:
1. Hazard Pay
The HEROES Act aims at providing stimulus for essential workers. The bill would create a $200 billion “Heroes’ Fund” to provide hazard payment to the eligible workers. That is, the essential workers would get a $13 per hour pay premium in addition to their regular pay earned for total hours worked in essential sectors through the end of 2020. Essential workers earning less than $200,00 per year can get up to $25,000. And those who are earning more than $200,000 per year can receive up to $5,000 hazard pay.
2. Extended Unemployment Benefits
About 36.5 million Americans have lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and about 30+ million have filed for unemployment benefits. The HEROES Act would extend the financial measures from the CARES Act. This includes extending the extra $600 weekly unemployment benefit through January 2021. The second stimulus package will also allow the self-employed, gig workers, independent contractors, and part-time workers to take advantage of unemployment benefits through March 2021.
3. Changes To The Employee Retention Credit
The HEROES Act includes several provisions to the employee retention credit. The Act would increase the maximum credit amount from $5,000 to $36,000 per paid worker. It is also expected to change the 100-employee rule for determining wages for large employers. Under the HEROES Act, an organization with more than 1,500 full-time employees and gross receipts of more than $41.5 million in 2019 will be considered as a large employer.
4. Expansion Of The Paycheck Protection Program
The CARES Act has introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that allows small businesses to borrow a loan up to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll cost. This program was expected to end on June 30, 2020. The HEROES Act would extend the PPP through the end of 2020 and increase the 8-week loan use period to up to 24 weeks. The Act would also allow small businesses with 10 or fewer employees to get access to PPP.
5. Rental And Mortgage Assistance
The renters across the country have received little federal support since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. The HEROES Act would offer more support by providing about $100 billion for rental assistance. The benefit would be distributed through an existing nationwide grant rental assistance program. The rental program would cross-verify a tenant’s inability to pay rent and provide vouchers to cover the cost of the rent. The Act would also $75 billion for homeowners’ assistance funds meant to avoid mortgage defaults and property foreclosures.
6. Student Loan Forgiveness
The CARES Act suspended payments and interest for most Americans with federal student loans through September 30, 2020. The HEROES Act extends suspension through September 2021 and expands it to all federal student loans. This includes Federal Perkins Loans and HEAL loans not owned by the Department of Education. It also cancels up to $10,000 for some private and federal loan holders.
Closing Thoughts
The HEROES Act can provide additional financial relief to the people who have lost their jobs or are experiencing reduced work hours if approved by the Senate. But will the Senate pass the second stimulus check? Let’s wait and watch!
Related Tags : HEROES Act
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I lived in ga in 2019 and move to florida in 2020 and work for the xmas months in nov-dec. I was told to do a combine wage claim. my question is which state do i file the claim in?
Alisa,
Please consider filing from the state where your last employment was based.
I filed for pua in Ohio back in October 2020.My claim has been in ajudacatuon since 11/1/20.So 2 to 6 weeks is a total understatement! When I call.i am told to basically hurry up and wait some more.I have recently been redetermined and my claim is allowed.but I have one pending issue.How long is too long?
Nicole,
Unfortunately, nobody has an answer. There are perhaps thousands of pending applications. Please consider the option of visiting an office in the vicinity if safe and feasible.
If you claim your weeks for unemployment and for the next 2 months you still have not received your money. Where can you go in volusia county to talk with a live person
Melinda,
Please consider the option of visiting an office in the vicinity if safe and feasible.
On NYS DOL website, my claim is saying current yet the information is for my old claim with 0 days remaining despite receiving 2 weeks of payments on the new claim and I was able to certify last night. I haven’t received anything; no letters or emails.
Ellina,
Have you tried calling the Unemployment Office in this regard?
I was disqualified for UI benefits for not providing an ID and other forms of identification. How do I fix this?
Manuel,
You can consider filing an “Appeal”. Details will be available on the official website.
What is the procedure if it appears a pension amount has not been applied to Unemploymemt claim?
Jerry
Jerry,
Please speak to a member of the Claims Center for assistance.
My name micheal powell79 i. Been trying to file for a weekly but it wont let me !!can someone please help
Michel,
Please let us know how we can help you.
Hi Mike, I’m in NYS and was at the end of my BYE on 3/14, I was still certifying but wasn’t getting paid. I found out I had to file a new claim because my other was exhausted. I’m still waiting on approval. Maybe you have to file a new claim. I hope this helps.
I help I have no job
Arsenal,
Please let us know how we can help you.
They say 2-6 weeks it’s more accurate to say 2-6 months; and when you call many of them are rude and unwilling to assist!
Ronald,
They might be swarmed with calls and inquiries.
someone needs to look into Sharon L. Anton gillette, wyo. or dickinson, nd she is a fraud and has done so many fraudulent things and please look into her
Annette,
Please report it to the Fraud Division of the Unemployment Office in your state. You can report on the website.
I worked part time for thee years here in florida. I’m currently not working. I’m also retired and collects social security.
My question is
Am I qualified to file for unemployment ?
Ruby,
To be eligible, you’re required to have sufficient hours and earnings. Please use the “Benefits Calculator” available on this website.
So adjudication takes 8 to 12 weeks. Oh okay, that explains why I havent received payment since July. That surely helps just like the rest of the information that you give. And by the way. What’s the NEW reason you can’t get through to the Call Center.
I am having problems applying for benefits online. any suggestions? possibly a direct link?
Robert,
I hope you were able to get to the bottom of it.
No. I was hoping to see a contact number or site for reporting fraud.
Steve,
You will find it on your state’s Unemployment Office website.
I Would like to apply for my unemplyment.
Deidre,
You can easily apply for UI benefits on the official website of the Unemployment Office in your state.