A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make stimulus payments previously denied to people in prison and jail. Those impacted by the ruling have only a short window to apply. Applications must be received no later than Oct. 15, 2020 for non-tax filers. Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton of the 9th Circuit District Court, certified a nationwide class action of incarcerated individuals denied federal stimulus checks and issued a preliminary injunction requiring the IRS and Treasury to stop blocking such payments and expedite previously denied payments. The judge noted Congress did not specifically exclude prisoners from receiving a stimulus payment, although it had the opportunity to do so.
Prisoners Eligible for $1,200 Stimulus Checks
