Andy | $aving to Invest

How Many Extra Weeks of PUA and PEUC Benefits in the Latest Unemployment Extension Stimulus – 29 or 25?

[Updated following DOL Guidelines] We finally have an official answer to the question in this article and earlier discussion around how many weeks are actually in the ARP bill that funded the second extension of enhanced unemployment benefits. The Department of Labor (DOL) has acknowledged in program guidelines for state …

Meaning of IRS Codes on WMR Or Tax Transcript For Your Refund Processing and Payment Status

I’ve been receiving numerous concerns from readers about the IRS messages and codes appearing when they check their refund status using the Where’s My Refund (WMR) tracker, the IRS2Go mobile app, or their free IRS transcript. Many filers feel stressed and anxious when they see these codes, wondering what they …

IRS Could Take Several Months to Process Expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Unemployment Tax Break Payments With Focus on Third Stimulus Checks

While many have hailed the new unemployment tax breaks and expanded child tax credit in the Biden Stimulus Plan (ARP) as a boon to lower and middle income households, there is a concern that the IRS will have a tough time implementing and making payments (where applicable) for these new …

Health Insurance Tax Credit Extended Through 2021 Under Biden Stimulus Package covering COBRA Subsidy and Obamacare (ACA) Recipients

Under the now approved Biden administration’s nearly $2 trillion stimulus package, also known as the American Rescue Plan (ARP), provisions have been added to provide relief for lower income and middle class Americans to save on Health Insurance if they are out of a job, and on COBRA benefit from their …

$10,200 Unemployment Income Tax Exclusion – IRS Paying Additional $1,200 Refunds in 2023 For AGI Adjustment

Updated for $15 billion in IRS Refund Adjustments Payments Made in 2023 The IRS announced they have finally completed final corrections for 2020 tax filings for taxpayers who inadvertently overpaid their taxes on unemployment compensation they received in 2020. The additional pandemic unemployment insurance income increased taxpayers taxable income (AGI …

Can I Remain on Enhanced Unemployment If I am Asked to Return to Work? What About Work Search Requirements?

Congress and President Biden have now passed into law the $2 trillion stimulus package, also known as the American Rescue Plan act (ARPA). It includes further unemployment program extensions until September 6th, 2021 for the PUA, PEUC and FPUC programs originally funded under the CARES act in 2020 and then extended via the …

$50 Monthly and One-Time $100 FCC Emergency Broadband Internet Credit For Low Income Households Under COVID Relief Bill

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted unanimously for a $3.2 billion program, approved as part of the $900 billion COVID Relief bill that provides emergency discounts of up to $50 per month toward broadband internet service for low-income households adversely affected by the pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program …

Unemployment Extensions Update to PUA, PEUC and FPUC in Latest Biden Stimulus Bill – When They Start and 2021 Coverage

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) also known as the Biden $1.9 trillion stimulus package has now been passed into law and reflects many of the unemployment extensions Democrats had campaigned on. I have discussed many of these in some recent articles and you can see a summary of the extended …

Child Tax Credit (CTC) Refund Payments Status – Latest Updates and News

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) has see significant changes over the last few years, including recently under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). While the credit amount has been increasing, additional eligibility requirements like the claiming taxpayer and child having a valid Social Security number have also been introduced. See …

Help! My State Unemployment Department Does Not Answer the Phone Around My Claim – How Can I File and Get Paid?

It’s no surprise that the high volume of pandemic-related unemployment benefit inquiries has overwhelmed some states’ call centers and websites, leading to delays and thousands stuck in limbo with the status of their claim and no idea when they will get their current and past benefits. Some are waiting on …

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – 2021 Extension Delays and Zero Weeks Claim Balance

Recently published a video on YouTube looking at the challenges millions of PUA claimants are having around getting access to the eleven week extension of benefits (and supplementary $300 payment) under the latest COVID Relief Bill. The comments I got were confirmation of how widespread the issue was and its …

AMC Stock Rallying Again – Time For Another YOLO?

[May 2022 Update] De-ja-vu. AMC and GameStop stocks are back in the news. As of writing both are up over 15% intraday, off record lows and multiple halts. Are we seeing another meme stock frenzy in the midst of one of the worst stock market downturns in recent times? And …

State Unemployment and Labor Departments Should Start Planning NOW For Further 2021 Extensions of PUA, PEUC and FPUC Programs Under Biden COVID Relief Plan

Update following Biden Extensions to Unemployment Benefits With Enhanced unemployment extension rules under the Biden Stimulus plan now drafted in legislation, it was good to see minimal changes to the PUA and PEUC programs, other than extending them by 24 weeks to the end of August 2021. The FPUC amount …

Updated IRS Non-Filer Tool For Claiming 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit, Missing or Under Paid Stimulus Checks Including For Dependent Payments

[Updated with new IRS tool] The IRS has finally released their updated tool for non-filers to register for the soon to be paid Advance Child Tax Credit payments (see schedule here). Individuals and families who are not required to file a 2020 tax return or have not used this tool …