A message from Rep. Melissa Wintrow

The Idaho Department of Labor reports 46,500 claims have been filed since March 8; that’s a 4400% increase. They continue to hire more employees to help during this crisis, and were able to answer double the number of calls last week. For those not eligible for regular unemployment insurance, the federal CARES Act created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance with retroactive payments expected to begin in May.  The extra $600 per week for regular unemployment insurance will likely be paid on or before April 24, and no additional claim or filing is necessary for these payments.  For those who have exhausted their regular unemployment insurance, there is an extra 13 weeks of benefits.

Continue to use the FAQ’s on their website about different relief programs available and when they will be available. And just stay persistent in your calls. They are trying.


The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is focusing on mitigation efforts with Health Districts as they work to increase testing. The Crush the Curve private group will be reporting data to DHW and communicating regularly with them. DHW advises following the CDC guidelines on wearing a mask in public. They are working to incorporate new testing procedures and are working with entities to increase testing availability in Idaho.

State’s Coronavirus Website: coronavirus.idaho.gov. 

Coronavirus Cases.  There are 1,210 cases, 15 fatalities and 96 health care workers have been diagnosed as positive for the virus. 

Coronavirus Testing.  Testing remains a weak point in Idaho and elsewhere.  The FDA has approved a quick turnaround test and 50,000 of those test kits are now being produced each week.  Supplies for testing machines are limited.  The FDA has approved antibody testing and production for that is just now ramping up.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Healthcare works, first responders and others need PPE to avoid becoming exposed to the Coronavirus so they can continue to do their jobs.  Idaho’s supply of PPE is being supplemented by the national stockpile and these additional supplies should make their way into our communities by the end of this week.

Hospital Beds.  Idaho has approximately 1,700 hospital beds and 300 ICU beds.

Number of Ventilators: 410.

Healthcare Workers are Idaho’s most limited healthcare resource.  This resource is threatened by the risk of infection.

Masks.  The CDC “recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”  The CDC’s recommendations on making and wearing masks can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.   

SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits.  The number of people receiving this benefit has increased 43%.

Medicaid benefits.  The number of people receiving this benefit is increasing more slowly. 
 

• Reported no more than $75,000 annual adjusted gross income on last federal tax return.
• Cannot be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.
• Has a work-eligible social security number.

• Reported up to $150,000 joint annual adjusted gross income on last federal tax return.
• Cannot be claimed as dependents by another taxpayer.
• Have work-eligible social security numbers.

• Individuals making between $75,000 and $99,000 per year will receive a $1,200 rebate, minus $5 for every $100 they make over $75,000 up to $99,000.
• Individuals filing jointly who make between $150,000 and $198,000 per year will receive a $2,400 rebate, minus $5 for every $100 they make over $150,000 up to $198,000.
• Individuals making more than $99,000 per year and joint filers who make more than $198,000 per year do not qualify for a rebate.