$40 Million in Stimulus Checks Projected to Go Out in February For Public Sector, March For Private; Persons Making Over $70,000 Not Qualified

Essential public sector workers as well as those in the private sector who earn more than $70,000 per year will not qualify for the one-time stimulus payment that will be provided to those who had to continue working despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For the public sector employees and actually private sector as well, the Premium Pay is a one-time payment that is based on guidelines established by Treasury; you cannot go over a certain amount. If you make more than $70,000 you cannot qualify to receive any Premium Pay at all,” said Jenifer O’Neal, director of the V.I. Office of Management and Budget during a hearing in the Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure Wednesday. Ms. O'Neal was responding to a question posed by Senator Kenneth Gittens regarding the number of people who are expected to benefit from the $40 million payouts.

“There are some salary guidelines that we have to bear in mind and it is a one-time payment that will be done. We will provide the plan once it is complete to this body but we do have specific guidelines that we have to follow once it is Premium Pay, and we will continue to read through the 437-page rule document to make sure that we stay in compliance with Treasury,” she said.

Governor Albert Bryan spoke about the stimulus to the Consortium during a Monday interview. "We have prioritized money to make direct payments to people because we know people in the community have been adversely impacted by Covid," the governor said. "It's actually for people that have worked directly with the public."

Mr. Bryan mentioned funding going out at the end of January to school lunch employees as an example of what to expect.

"All those people in our community like tellers, grocery store workers, restaurant workers — all the people who couldn't stay home during the pandemic — police officers, nurses. Of course there are guidelines on how we distribute any compensation, but those people who had to go out and work when everybody else stayed home, we're looking to see how we could reward those people," he said.