Home > The Classroom > Tips on entering unemployment or stimulus income

Whether a consumer is applying for the first time or already is covered through Maryland Health Connection, they may have new types of income to enter, including:

  • Unemployment Income
  • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) $600 unemployment bump
  • One time federal recovery rebate or stimulus payment ($1,200 per adult and $500 per qualifying child)

When filling out their income information, use the chart below to help them complete their application.

Type of Income Include in Current (Monthly) Income? Include in Projected Annual Income
Unemployment extension up to 39 weeks of benefits Yes, regular unemployment should be reported in the month in which it is received Yes, have them make the best prediction about their yearly income accounting for how long they expect to receive unemployment benefits
$600 FPUC bump No, consumers should not include this amount in their current monthly income Yes, they should add the $600 per week when estimating annual income. Someone who receives unemployment benefits from early April through July 31 will receive about $10,000 from this bump
One-time recovery payment ($1200 per adult and $500 per qualifying child) No, consumers should not include this amount in their current monthly income No, consumers should not include this amount in their current yearly income

 

Tips for entering income:

If a consumer is applying or updating their income, they should enter their monthly income as it is right now, without the $600 in additional unemployment income. From there, the consumer should enter expected yearly income based on what they think they will make over the course of the year.

When entering their yearly income, consumers should consider how much they have earned so far this year, add any severance pay, plus unemployment (including the extra $600 per week), and include what might be earned if and when they return to work later this year.

If the consumer’s income changes later, update their income information again so it is as correct as possible.

If they are eligible for a qualifying health plan with an APTC to lower the cost of coverage, they can adjust the amount they take by using the APTC slider after plan selection. It is a good idea for the consumer to take the least amount of credit they can afford because all tax credits received during the year will need to be reconciled when the consumer files their tax return next year. Any unused credits can be claimed during tax filing.