Although the coronavirus pandemic is in Green Country and our futures have several unanswered questions, we will rebound.
We've put together the important information you might want to know when it comes to government aid.
Below we have complied information about stimulus payments, aid for rural communities, Oklahoma unemployment claims, etc.
IRS LAUNCH WEB TOOL FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS
Individuals looking for a stimulus check from the federal government now will have access to a new online tool, thanks to the IRS. Officials with the IRS announced that they have launched a news web tool that allows people who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes using direct deposit to receive their payments. Click here to access the new web tool.
IRS FAQs
Q: If two people share custody of a child or children, and they trade each year on who claims the child or children, and both parents received the $500 per child do one or both have to pay back any money.
A: The legal team is working on this... keep checking on the FAQ's for an answer, says an IRS official.
Q: My spouse died, but I got a check for $2,400 - do I have to pay back their half?
A: The legal team is working on this... keep checking on the FAQ's for an answer, says an IRS official.
Q: My check went to an account that isn't mine - why? And how do I get the money back?
A: Go to IRS.GOV to the stimulus check section to report it. The check will go to the last known direct deposit the IRS has on file for the filer's name. You can update your account information with the IRS and report that your check went to an account you no longer have. An IRS official says the legal team is still working on what to do if the check went to what had been a joint account for a couple that is splitting/divorcing etc.
Q: I don't want to wait for a paper check
A: Go to IRS.GOV and put in direct deposit information .. it's not to late for that.
Q: I owe taxes for this year, will my stimulus check be diverted to pay those?
A: No
Q: I can't get information I need on the IRS website.
A: Check back frequently, at times it has been overwhelmed... and the legal team is updating often, as often as every three hours trying to get up new information as they figure out how to deal with all the dilemmas arising from getting the stimulus money out to folks as quickly as possible
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - TOOL TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES DURING COVID-19
Sonny Perdue, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture announced a tool to aid rural communities during the coronavirus pandemic. Officials say the tool is a "one-stop-shop" of federal programs that can be used by rural communities. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities preparing for and impacted by COVID-19,” Perdue said. “This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or any other leadership capacity, understand what federal assistance is available for their communities during this unprecedented time.”
To access the COVID-19 Fedural Rural Resource Guide, click here.
OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has been experiencing issues with people filing for unemployment due to a high volume of incoming traffic via phones.
"We have an overloaded phone system that makes it hard for people to get through," said Cyndi Phillips at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission."We are looking into different ways to improve our communication to make it less frustrating on both ends."
Phillips is advising people who are experiencing issues to email their name, social and a good contact number to OESC.Helps@oesc.state.ok.us. However, she warns that inbox is also inundated, but if people contact them with all the information they need at once, then they can then get them where they need to go and someone can get back to them.
To file for unemployment in Oklahoma, click here.
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Labor have put together a list of federal and state resources for those in the labor workforce.
To access a list of the federal and state resources, click here.
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