U.S. government authorizes payment of federal stimulus for inmates in Puerto Rico

Those confined in Puerto Rico will be able to receive this year’s $ 1,200 stimulus check and the federal government’s new $ 600 stimulus check for the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Payments will be issued after the U.S. Treasury Department signs the amended plan submitted by the Puerto Rico Department of the Treasury.

He reported this to The New Day the lawyer Diego Alcalá, who submitted state and federal lawsuits for these payments to be issued on the island, in compliance with a ruling by a federal court in California. This resolution ordered the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make these payments available to state and federal prison inmates.

“The right of detainees in Puerto Rico is being complied with, just like in U.S. prisons, as established by law (which created the economic stimulus payment),” Alcalá said.

The California federal court had ruled that inmates were entitled to payment because the text of the economic stimulus law did not exclude them. However, in Puerto Rico the payment does not come directly from the Treasury to the citizens, but through the Treasury, which came to submit an amended plan to eliminate the section that specifically excluded from the benefit the inmates of the island, but had received no reply.

Alcalá said he learned of the approval yesterday, when he spoke by phone and email with the federal Justice Attorney representing the Treasury and the IRS in the federal lawsuit.

“There are some doubts about the process that is coming now, but what is clear is that they will be able to receive both payments,” Alcalá maintained.

Treasury approval emerged last week, but had not been disclosed to date, during a broadcast by Treasury officials via social media.

“Now the Treasury, with the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, must facilitate the mechanisms so that they can apply for benefits,” said Alcalá.

In the virtual broadcast, this afternoon, the Undersecretary of Finance, Roxana Santiago, indicated that in state and federal prisons in the states of the United States the stimulus was already being paid, but the territories were missing.

After submitting the plan in November, Santiago noted today that “it was approved last week. Given the time it was approved, the link for people who are not required to raure (requests) had already been closed. confined are eligible, but will have to use the 2020 income tax return mechanism. “

For his part, Alcalá said that these payments can not only help the needs of inmates in prisons, but their families. He noted that the DCR used to ask people to bring food to share with relatives who are hospitalized, which has been halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also have personal expenses, such as paying to communicate with their relatives and the acquisition of certain items from the prison police station.

“On top of that, they have a lot of relatives who have been affected by the pandemic. They’re not going to have that money with them in there, but it’s going to be used for certain needs, like helping their relatives.” , said Alcalá.

“There are also people detained for debts, such as with ASSUME for pension, so this money can not only help them, but it will benefit a minor who needs it. It’s very useful money,” he said. said Alcalá.