Some social media users say President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 billion COVID-19 relief bill includes a $ 21,000 bonus for every federal employee. This is false.
A report with the claim here reads: ‘Pelosi’s $ 1.9 billion bailout gives every federal employee a $ 21,000 bonus check … they never lost their jobs! ‘. Other reruns can be seen here
The U.S. Rescue Plan Act, signed on March 11 (here), is one of the largest economic stimulus measures in U.S. history. The measure provides $ 400 billion in direct payments of $ 1,400 to most U.S. citizens, $ 350 billion in aid to state and local governments, an expansion of the child tax credit and increased funding for the distribution of vaccines.
Reuters searched the full text of the bill (visible here) for words related to the claim made in the reports, and found no evidence of the bonus described in the social media posts.
A spokesman for the House Committee on Supervision and Reform told Reuters in an email that the claim, which was circulating on social media, was false.
The claim appears to be a misinterpretation by the Emergency Federal Employee Leave Fund (here), which is allocating $ 570 million for the use of paid leave for employees who are unable to work due to reasons related to COVID-19.
With this September 30 emergency benefit, full-time employees can receive a maximum amount of $ 21,000: up to 600 hours of paid leave, with a maximum of $ 2,800 fortnightly payments. The bill also says that part-time and other workers can have proportional access to this benefit.
An article published by Forbes outlines the calculation: ‘Full-time federal employees can take up to 30 hours of paid leave on September 30, up to $ 35 per hour and $ 1,400 per week. This is 15 weeks for a 40-hour employee. ”
Under this provision, a federal employee is eligible for this paid leave if he or she is subject to federal, state, or local quarantine of isolation, advised by a health care provider to have self-quarantine, or experiences symptoms of COVID-19.
It is also available to employees who care for a son or daughter, a family member with a mental or physical disability, or who are 55 years or older and unable to self-care, if schools or providers are closed or not available after COVID-19. The full list of qualifications can be seen here.
As reported by the Washington Post here, most federal workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave within 12 months of the birth, adoption, or placement of a child.
Reuters had earlier leaked similar posts on social media claiming the bill included a bonus for members of the House of Representatives here.
VERDICT
Untrue. The COVID-19 relief bill does not give every federal employee a $ 21,000 bonus. Full-time employees who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19 (such as quarantine, self-isolation, or family member care) may receive up to $ 21,000 in paid leave.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.