{"id":1231,"date":"2021-05-04T01:31:14","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T01:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/?p=1231"},"modified":"2021-05-26T19:31:28","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T19:31:28","slug":"governor-bryan-1400-stimulus-checks-going-out-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/news-post\/governor-bryan-1400-stimulus-checks-going-out-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Bryan: $1,400 Stimulus Checks Going Out This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

$600 Distribution Completed With Checks Going to 92 Percent of 2019 Tax Filers<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014\u00a0Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced at Monday\u2019s Government House weekly press briefing that the $1,400 stimulus payments from the American Rescue Act will begin going out to tax filers who are eligible this week, following the completion of the $600 stimulus payments from the CARES Act II.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) sent out $600 checks to 41, 524 \u2013 or 92 percent \u2013 of the approximately 45,000 Virgin Islanders who filed their 2019 tax return.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe vast majority of the remaining individuals either did not qualify because their income is too high, or they have an issue their 2019 tax filing,\u201d Governor Bryan said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Persons who did not receive a $600 stimulus payment and believe they meet the qualifications for eligibility, should contact the Burau of Internal Revenue at their hotline number: 340-714-9325.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cI know that many in the public have expressed frustration with getting inContact with someone on the hotline. As you can imagine, there is an overwhelming volume of calls received daily,\u201d the Governor said. \u201cSo, I encourage you to visit the Bureau at their offices on St. Croix in Sunny Islae and on St. Thomas in Red Hook.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

P-EBT 3<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Also during Monday\u2019s weekly press briefing, Human Services Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez announced that her department has submitted a state plan for a third round of P-EBT \u2013 or Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer \u2013 food assistance for children and students in K-5 through 12th<\/sup> grade enrolled in public and eligible private schools offering free lunch programs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThis was the most comprehensive plan our Division of Family Assistance has submitted thus far as it seeks to cover the entire 2020-2021 school year, from August 2020 to September 2021,\u201d Commissioner Causey-Gomez said. \u201cWith this plan, we are serving an additional 4,000-plus children, increasing the number of children served from 13,000 to more than 17,000.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition to students in public and eligible private schools, the third issuance of P-EBT will be extended to current SNAP families with children younger than 6. SNAP families do not need contact local SNAP offices to receive these benefits as they will automatically be added to their accounts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For more information about P-EBT, visit the Department of Human Services (DHS) website at www.dhs.bov.vi<\/a>, call the P-EBT customer service number at 340-772-7120 or send an email to pebt@dhs.vi.gov<\/a> with the subject \u201cP-EBT.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Medicaid In-home Care Business Opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Commissioner Causey-Gomez also announced the launch of a new program to help small businesses grow, and new businesses get off the ground, through the DHS Personal Care Attendant In-home Service Program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) assist DHS clients with activities of daily living, such as personal grooming, light housekeeping, walking, positioning, meal prep, shopping, feeding and other necessities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The program is available to 501(c)3 churches, nonprofits, medical organizations and entrepreneurs, and any able-bodied persons with a clean background check and at least a high school diploma can become a PCA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThis program will benefit one of our underserved populations: our senior citizens, as well as the USVI business community, the disabled and the entire Virgin Islands community,\u201d Commissioner Causey-Gomez said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

DHS will host virtual information forums on Friday, May 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon and on Tuesday, May 11, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. To register for one of the information sessions, contact the DHS Medicaid Division at 340-772-7100 ext. 7186 or send an email to pcamap@dhs.vi.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Pop-Up testing sites<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This week, pop-up testing sites will be at the following locations:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n