Center for Disabilities Studies

Disability advocacy groups and lawmakers are calling on the federal government to ensure Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries are able to receive economic stimulus checks without filing a tax return. SSI, which is available to people with disabilities who have very low household income, is administered by the Social Security Administration but is not currently covered by the Treasury Department’s pledge that individuals on Social Security will not need to file a tax return to receive the stimulus check.

As schools began closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised about how to continue delivering food to the estimated 22 million children who receive free- or reduced-price meals at school. School districts have taken steps to distribute food to families in central locations, often with enough for more than one meal, to reduce risk to both families and school staff.

Delaware will receive about $7 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package signed last month. The money is scheduled to be split between helping hospitals and treatment centers, aiding Delaware’s homeless, and assisting those with compromised immune systems, who could be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Delawareans submitted a total of 48,626 unemployment claims from March 15 to April 4, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. This is almost five times higher than the state’s previous record, set in Jan. 2002. Nationally, about 16.8 million Americans filed for unemployment over the same three-week period.

Taking an in-depth look at medical professionals’ daily practices and concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, this feature describes how strictly limited visiting hours have led nurses to double as patients’ emotional supporters, making calls to loved ones and setting up video chats. While the extra requirements for protection against contagion can leave doctors and nurses feeling isolated from their families, the precautions and preparation have them feeling prepared to handle a surge of new cases.