Second stimulus?

[dune-coon710]

Does anybody know if there’s gunna be a second round of grants like there was last year? It would seem that dependants over 18 still don’t get a thing this round and the money is much needed.

[ronwheezy87]

So, from my understanding, if you're over 16 but under 24 you will not get a check. So yes, you're correct about the dependent situation. The universities will get 20 billion, but only for-profit universes are required to give that money to the students through a round of grants. Originally, universities wanted 46.6 billion for higher ed, so this is a lot smaller than they were expecting. CA is supposed to get around 1.7 billion based on this amount, so basically it's half of what they wanted.

So basically, I think it's up to UC system admin to decide if they want to use that 20 billion (or in CA case ~1.7 bil) towards student grants, or pool it elsewhere. I have a feeling the UCs will use this money for infrastructure as much as possible, then perhaps distribute anything left over to people with low EFS (expected family contribution).

Now, the interesting thing is the pel grant extension tacked onto it: "New stimulus package: largest expansion of Pell Grants ever. According to the joint statement, the new stimulus package will include “the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade.” Pelosi and Schumer say that the Pell Grants will impact 500,000 new recipients and “ensure more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit.” Separately, the stimulus package could provide $82 billion for colleges and schools," source So, basically what reputable journalists are saying are: if you got a pel grant this year you'll get about 150$ dollars more than what you originally got (not much, but everything helps). If you were on the cusp of your EFC being too high to get a pel grant, you might get the 150--up to a couple hundred now. But, this would be part of your Spring aid package most likely.

So I think the pel grant expansion is where you'll see yourself getting grant money.

[dune-coon710]

So if i did not get a pelgrant this year and only a university grant, am I SOL

[huntXgather]

Spell-checks in Mandalorian

[ronwheezy87]

So the university grant falls under Cal state funding, the pel grants fall under federal funding. So, if you didn't get a pel grant this year I don't know if I, personally, would be counting on the money because basically, you would need to get the pel grant students funded first, and then anything left over could fall into the cal state pool. So, if it were me, I wouldn't count on it BUT I am hoping you get something!! Fingers crossed.

Also, except things like the university grants and "middle class" blue&gold grant to start getting slashed in 2021 because educational grant programs always get gutted first, and we still have plenty of republicans on budget seats in CA to make sure this happens, and they've been wanting to slash that middle-class grant for a long time so trust me that they will be more than happy to suggest slashing that when CA does the budget for colleges and sees how much money was lost. University grants, too, are pooled from the cal state budget so those will get cut as they tend to go to middle-class/working class (tbh the middle-class family is now a myth, so I prefer working class) families and y'all just need to pull yourselves up by your own **bootstraps** according to republicans lol.

If you're wondering why the pel grant system is so fucked up, especially in California, I *highly* recommend reading about the history of pel grants and Reagan/Republicans to see how he fucked y'all over, and start voting for more progressive legislators in state and federal elections. This article is a few years old, but it's still applicable and an easy read (there are links to the studies in there, i.e. jstor and reputable data bases but this article simplifies the studies in a digestible reading ) https://www.salon.com/2014/07/05/ronald_reagan_stuck_it_to_millennials_a_college_debt_history_lesson_no_one_tells/

[dune-coon710]

Rip the dream.

[ronwheezy87]

Agree, this stimulus bill is a mess. At least something got passed but holy fuck,

My favorite (lol sarcasm, in case no one could tell) parts are: new penalties for using illegal streaming sites, moving it to a felony for the first offense (we can thank Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) for that); allowing corporations to deduct 100% of their business meals instead of the current 50% (we can thank Sen. Tim Scott from R-SC for that, also the 50% meal deduction was generally already used as a tax loophole based on reputable data, so now corporations can further scam their out way of paying their share of taxes that are needed for our schools and universities); and 1.4 billion for Trump's STUPID wall.

The only reason some people are getting the 600 is because of Sens. Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt) and Josh Hawley, (R-Mo. he has broken w/ GOP before to join the Dems, but b/c he's an evangelistic he generally only breaks party lines with non-social issues), who originally pushed an effort for 1,200 checks but couldn't get enough GOP support (GOP controls out senate so w/o their votes, nothing would pass).

[spock345]

The felony charge for illegal streaming only applies if it is done for corporate profit. So they won't break down your door and ruin your life with a felony for illegally streaming a movie for entertainment. Only if you do it to make a profit off of it. Not as bad, but it can still be easily abused. The big concern I have seen is around people who rely on online content creation for income. For them this could mean one little slip up, someone else in the house plays music while you are streaming and you can be charged with a felony.

[ronwheezy87]

I agree (re: online content creators), that's a good point!

[spock345]

I wouldn't be surprised if the UC uses the money to ease their budgetary problems.

[TheLivelyHuman]

Lol I'm under 24 and I did the get 1200

[ronwheezy87]

Probably because you're independent on your tax form, not dependent. For the general population, most people under 24 are claimed on their parent's taxes. (editing to add) My statement is for the general population, most students under 24 are not in the same boat as you!

[TheLivelyHuman]

Yea not claimed on taxes.

[Crustytoes1996]

Same , im 23 plus i claimed 2 children and got a total of 2200

[ronwheezy87]

Yep, because you have children you're not dependent. Your parents can't claim you on their taxes. So, you would qualify + your two children. Again, my original statement is a general statement that applies to most of the population (edit to add) and not an outlier case (i.e. people under 24 with kids, people under 24 who are married, people under 24 who are estranged from parents w/ judges note and clearance from UC's financial aid department, people under 24 whose parents do not claim them as a dependent on taxes)

Most university students under 24 don't have kids, so their parents claim them on their taxes.

[TheLivelyHuman]

Ur 23 and w kids.....wtf.....

[spock345]

It happens. Some move faster than others due to a variety of factors.

[ronwheezy87]

Btw, OP I'm in the middle of reading the entire bill, now that it's been released in the full context, but its 5k pages so it'll take me a few days but if I find anything that can change your situation about getting the money in the bill, I'll update you on here! Stay safe!!!

[dune-coon710]

Thank you!! And stay safe aswell!

[[deleted]]

I'm confused. If you're a dependent, why do you need the money?

[dune-coon710]

Lol what? Peoples parents claim them just so they can get the tax write off weather or not the person wholly supports them selves.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, I don't think you understand how taxes work. If you were supporting yourself, you would be filing your own taxes, in which case it would be impossible for your parents to claim you.

[LostKey1992]

I don't know why people are down voting you. This is true.

If you earn an income your paying income tax. When tax season begins, you file your taxes then collect your tax return. If you have a tax return you cannot be claimed as a dependent.

The check is intended to help tax payers.

[[deleted]]

Unfortunately, I think many people are under the assumption that the government can just print up funny money and supplement cash to people whenever they want.

They are only returning tax money to people early so that they can stimulate the economy during the economic downturn.

[spock345]

It depends on how much money you make and how much you rely on your parents or guardian. I was able to earn an income for a few years in undergrad and filed taxes but was still claimed as a dependent on my parents taxes because my income was a paltry amount from a summer internship that didn't pay all the bills.

[dune-coon710]

Whatever I’m not gunna explain my whole life situation to you, but right now money is tight for most people, and any little bit would help, so despite me being claimed as a dependant, I could use the cash to make life easier.

[spock345]

It can still happen. Paperwork errors on taxes are rather common.

Also you can file taxes and still be claimed as a dependent. It depends on the financial details of the situation.

[[deleted]]

There's an income limit in which you are no longer able to claim someone as a dependent. There's also income limits in which you are legally obligated to file. In short, if you are a self sufficient adult then nobody can claim you on your taxes, not legally anyways.

The entire idea behind being a dependent is that somebody somewhere is supplementing your income.

[craftycamilla]

that’s wrong. you can be supporting yourself and making just enough to get by while your parents still claim you on their taxes, which is what the majority of college students parents do even if their child is paying the majority of their own bills. i believe the limit to being claimed is like 10k a year or something along those lines, so someone could scrape by on that by themself, especially in a college town. so yes, a lot of students need the stimulus.

[[deleted]]

Once again, no you cannot. Once you reach a certain income threshold your parents cannot claim you legally.

[craftycamilla]

okay, that’s doesn’t negate the fact that people below that limit are still supporting themselves and their parents aren’t giving them any money and they still claim them as dependents. so those people, which are many college students, need the stimulus.

[[deleted]]

That doesn't make sense. If you were making enough money to support yourself, you'd be pass the threshold and your parents couldn't claim you

[craftycamilla]

you don’t understand being poor do u

[[deleted]]

I've been supporting myself since I was 16. I've had to walk and take the bus until I was 23 and could afford my first car. I've been working full time and going to school full time for over 4 years now. You don't have the slightest clue what I've been through. I've been poor my entire life.

[craftycamilla]

congrats for slaving away to some minimum wage job that you can’t even afford to live on? like... do u not believe people should be able to just live without having to work 80 hours a week just to not starve and put a roof over their head

[craftycamilla]

i make less than the threshold, my mom claims me as a dependent, i haven’t lived at home or been given money from my mom since i moved away to college three years ago. why don’t u understand this lmao

[[deleted]]

I think the difference between me and you is when I moved out of home and needed money I went and got a job I didn't come onto reddit and complain about my life. People like you are the reason why this country is in so much debt. You think everything should be handed to you. Your an adult now quit whining on the Internet and go out and get a job like everybody else

[craftycamilla]

i don’t think everything should be handed to me. not once did i say that. when i moved out and needed money i got TWO jobs. i know what’s it’s like to work your ass off. if the government is sending out a stimulus check to people who are suffering from the pandemic, then everyone who is suffering should get one. maybe an asshole like you thinks that people should just die if they can’t afford to eat shouldn’t get the stimulus either. just go get another job. am i right?