Checks will go out soon to help Americans in the coronavirus situation. There are several questions regarding this. If a question is not answered here, the treasury department will have a website up soon regarding the checks. Here are some of the most popular questions:

How much will I get?

It depends on how much you make. If you made less than $75,000 in 2019, you will be eligible for the full payment of $1,200. Couples who filed jointly and made less than $150,000 will get $2,400. An individual who filed as “head of household” and earned $112,500 or less gets $1,200.

For every child in the household, you will receive an additional $500.

If you made more than that, your payment will be reduced by $5 for every $100 of income that exceeds the limits. So if you made $80,000 in 2019, you will receive $950. The payment decreases to zero for an individual making $99,000 or more or a couple making $198,000 or more.

If you’re a family of four, you’ll be eligible for a maximum of $3,400.

When is the money coming?

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last Wednesday the checks will be sent out “within three weeks” to people for whom the IRS has information. You don’t need to sign up or fill out a form to receive a payment if you’ve been working and paying taxes since 2018. The Treasury Department will also run a “public awareness campaign” with information about the program, including for people who didn’t file a tax return for 2018 or 2019. But experts say it could take longer. In 2001, it took six weeks for the IRS to start sending out rebate checks under a new tax cut, and in 2008, it took three months after a stimulus package was signed into law.

Will there be multiple payments?

No, this legislation only authorizes one-time payments.

How will it be sent?

There is not a clear date to put it simply. If you got a tax refund in the last two years by direct deposit, that’s where the money will be sent. If not, the IRS can mail a check to your “last known address,” and it has 15 days to notify you of the method and amount of the payment. They’ll send a phone number and appropriate point of contact so you can tell them if you didn’t receive it. If you’ve moved recently, it may be a good idea to notify the IRS as soon as possible.

I’m on Social Security and don’t make enough to file a tax return. Will I get a check?

Yes. Even if you didn’t file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 or pay taxes in those years, you will be eligible if you received a Form SSA-1099 for the year 2019. That’s a form that the Social Security Administration sends each year to people who receive Social Security benefits, including retirement and disability.

I’m a disabled vet but don’t pay taxes. Do I qualify?

Yes, although some of the details still need to be worked out. The IRS is expected to set up a system so that disabled veterans don’t fall through the cracks.

I made too much money in 2019 to qualify. But now I’ve been laid off. Am I out of luck?

Not necessarily, but you’ll have to wait. If you made too much to qualify in your last tax filing, you probably won’t be eligible for the cash benefit immediately. But you can apply for it when you file your 2020 tax return if your income drops below $99,000 threshold for individuals (which doubles for couples) this year. The IRS is expected to create a system to ensure help for people who fall into this category.

I’m not an American citizen. Do I qualify?

Yes — as long as you have a Social Security number. That generally includes green card holders and those on work visas, such as an H-1B and H-2A. But it generally excludes people who are in the U.S. illegally.

Are the cash payments taxable?

No

I live in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory. Is that a problem?

Not at all. There’s a special provision ensuring that people living in U.S. territories, even ones that have a different tax system, are still eligible.

What if I’m homeless or recently got out of prison? Will I get help?

As long as you have a Social Security number, you should be eligible to apply for the relief payments under the new system created by the IRS.