Friends of Justice

The Dobbs Wire:  Time sensitive request.  Do you have a friend or loved one who is locked up in jail, prison or a sex offense civil commitment facility?  They may be eligible for a $1,200 stimulus payment and not know it, or unsure what to do.  Please send them information and forms so they get a chance at a check like everyone else!  Get the materials to them quickly as time is short.  For individuals who need to file a form to get a payment, the postmark deadline for paper filings is Nov. 4.  For those with internet access the deadline for online filings is Nov. 21.

The IRS had been falsely claiming incarcerated individuals were not eligible for payments.  A class action lawsuit exposed what the IRS was doing and there’s important news – a federal court has ordered the IRS to stop interfering with the checks and start making the payments.  Now the information needs to get inside as soon as possible.

Here’s the list of what to send –

1. A note or letter.  This can be brief, let them know you’re sending materials so they can take action if they wish and to make sure they know about the Nov. 4 deadline.

1. Frequently Asked Questions.  Details from lawyers for the class action.  Print on both sides of the paper if possible, here’s the link:  https://www.lieffcabraser.com/pdf/CARES_CASE_FAQ.pdf

1. Sample IRS Form 1040 with notations explaining how to fill out a blank form.  Print on both sides of the paper if possible, here’s the link:   https://www.lieffcabraser.com/pdf/updated_1040.pdf

1. IRS Form 1040 – for those who need to file a form, this is the one that gets filled out. Print on both sides of the paper if possible, here’s the link:  https://www.lieffcabraser.com/pdf/EIP_Form_no_color.pdf

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The best website for information and updates, set up by lawyers for the class action:  CARES Act Prison Case – https://caresactprisoncase.org/

Below are some news stories about the case.  There’s a big push around the country on this, your help is needed and appreciated.

–Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire  If you would like to join The Dobbs Wire email list, drop us a line:  info@thedobbswire.com  We’re on Twitter:  @thedobbswire

NOTE – some of these stories were written before the court extended the postmark deadline to November 4.

Detroit Free Press | Oct. 19, 2020

Nov. 4 deadline near for prisoners to apply for COVID-19 stimulus checks

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/10/19/stimulus-checks-prisoners-in-michigan/3653109001/

Los Angeles Times | Oct. 12, 2020

Federal stimulus checks must go to prison inmates, U.S. judge in California rules

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-10-12/stimulus-checks-prison-inmates-federal-judge-california

New York Times | Oct. 15, 2020

Prisoners cannot be denied virus relief payments, a judge rules.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/15/world/covid-coronavirus#prisoners-cannot-be-denied-virus-relief-payments-a-judge-rules

Prison Policy Initiative | Oct. 5, 2020

Update: Court says IRS can’t deny economic stimulus payments to incarcerated people.

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/10/05/checks-update/

Excellent background

The Appeal | July 8, 2020

Prisoners Face ‘Undue Punishment” as the IRS Claws Back Their Stimulus Checks

Politicians and advocates say the IRS is illegally denying CARES Act payments to incarcerated people.

https://theappeal.org/prisoners-stimulus-checks/