The Department of Insurance (DOI) has orders insurers to make premium refunds for March and April, 2020 because of COVID-19 because of curtailed activities of policyholders.  These refunds are for private auto insurance, commercial auto insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, commercial multiple peril insurance, commercial liability insurance, medical malpractice insurance, and any other line of coverage where measures of risk have become substantially overstated because of COVID-19.

Insurers can reclassify exposure or reduce the exposure base (miles driven, payroll receipt etc) without prior approval of rates or rules by DOI if done consistent with the insurer’s existing rate plan.

Insurers may refund premium without prior DOI approval if they apply a uniform premium reduction for all policyholders in an individual line of insurance.  The amount of the refund can be an average percentage based on estimated change in risk and/or reduction in exposure base.

Alternatively, insurers can reassess the classification and exposure bases of affected risks on a case-by-case basis. For example, an insurer could reclassify a personal automobile exposure from commute use to pleasure use and reduce estimated miles driven accordingly for the duration of COVID-19.

Insurers must provide each affected policyholder a notice of the amount of the refund, and a check, premium credit, reduction, return of premium or other adjustment within 120 days.  Insurers must report to DOI actions taken and planned to refund premiums within 60 days. (Bulletin 2020-3, April 13, 2020.)

SSI recipients will receive the federal individual stimulus payments automatically.  The payments will be made by direct deposit, Direct Express debit card or paper check depending on how the recipient normally receives their SSI benefits.   SSI recipients should receive the payment by early May.

SSI recipients who have dependent children will need to register on the Internal Revenue Service portal or file a tax return to receive the payment for their dependents.

The individual stimulus payment will not be considered income for purposes of SSI and will be excluded as a resource for 12 months.  (Department of the Treasury Press Release, April 15, 2020.)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a web tool to allow registration to receive individual stimulus payments for people who do not normally file a tax return. The web tool asks for information including Social Security Number, name, address and dependents. Entering bank or financial account information will allow for direct deposit of the payment.

The web tool is available to people who are under the income limit for filing a tax return which is single filers who made under $12,200 and couples who made under $24,400 in 2019. It is also available for persons who receive SSI or veterans benefits. IRS states it is exploring ways to make payments automatically to SSI and veterans benefits recipients. The web tool is also available for Social Security, Social Security Disability and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries to receive the $500 dependent payment for each qualifying children under age 17.

IRS expects to release another web tool on April 17 to allow people to track the status of their stimulus payment and to provide bank account information for direct deposit. (IR 2020-69, April 10, 2020.)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued information regarding the federal individual stimulus payments.  The payments will be up to $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples and $500 for qualifying dependents.  The payment amount will decrease for annual incomes over $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples.  Single filers with annual income over $99,000 and married couples over $198,000 are not eligible.

IRS will use 2019 tax returns for people who have already filed them. IRS will use 2018 tax returns for people who have not yet filed 2019 tax returns.  The money will be deposited into the account on the tax return for direct deposit.  If the tax return does not have a direct deposit account, the check will be mailed.  IRS will implement a web-based portal to provide banking information for people to get direct deposit who have not already provided account information on their tax return.

People who receive Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability and derivative benefit, do not need to file a tax return because IRS will use their SSA-1099 or RRB-1099 to make the payment.  However, people receiving Social Security benefits who want the $500 for each dependent will need to file a tax return.  People receiving SSI only will need to file a tax return.

People who have not filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 can still do so to receive a payment. The payments will be available until the end of 2020 for people who file tax returns.

Although not in the guidance, please note that persons without a Social Security Number, couples with one person who does not have a Social Security Number (except when one person is a veteran), 17-18 year olds, college students age 19-23 are not eligible for the payment and non-resident aliens (a tax term that basically means persons without a green card).  (IR 2020-61, March 30, 2020, updated April 1, 2020.)