Coronavirus Stimulus Checks Now Available to the Incarcerated – October 30th Deadline

Remember those $1,200 checks some people received earlier this year under the CARES Act in response to the coronavirus pandemic? Incarcerated individuals were excluded from receiving them, for no other reason than their incarcerated status.

Thanks to the efforts of Lieff Cabraser & Equal Justice Society, incarcerated folks (and those who were recently released from incarceration) are now eligible for that stimulus money. Lieff Cabraser has set up an FAQ to explain who is eligible, how to apply, how the money will be paid out, and more. Bottom line: if you are a US citizen or legal permanent resident, you did not receive a stimulus check, and you were incarcerated at any time from March 27, 2020 to the present, you are likely eligible. If you filed taxes in 2018 or 2019, you do not need to do anything to receive your check. If you did not, you will need to file a claim by October 30th (November 21st is the deadline for online claims).

The class action case that Lieff Cabraser & Equal Justice Society brought on behalf of the incarcerated to fight this economic discrimination is a great example of the power of public interest law and impact litigation to not only shine light on the inequalities rampant in our legal system, but to also secure concrete results that lessen those inequalities. While we recognize how inexcusable it is that this case ever had to be brought in the first place because incarcerated status does not strip people of their citizenship or humanity, we celebrate the efforts of those advocates who were able to right this wrong and hope that all those who are now eligible for this relief can access it.

If you or someone you know believes you may qualify for a stimulus check, please visit this FAQ.