Premium Pay for Employees
A one-time Employee Premium Pay Program is being implemented in Massachusetts. Essential workers will receive 500,000 $500 one-time cheques from the state. More information can be found here.
Massachusetts has put aside $460 million for critical worker premium payments. Low-wage workers across the state will receive the cheques.
To be eligible, you must:
- You must have submitted your tax return for the year 2020.
- Having spent the year 2020 in Massachusetts
- having a minimum annual wage of $12,750 in 2020 employment compensation
- In 2020, had a total household income of less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level
You are not eligible for this round of checks if you received unemployment benefits in 2020.
Unemployment compensation in 2019 or 2021 has no bearing on first-round eligibility. A cheque will be mailed to everyone who is qualified.
