A delicate piano melody plays in the background. The classic white Google search engine dominates the screen. Keyboard strokes ring out as an invisible computer user types out words that have largely come to define the pandemic — or, rather, life — for most people this past year: quarantine, social distancing, school closings, and lockdown.
But it’s what follows that appears to have struck a chord with many. The Google advertisement was first aired during the NCAA Final Four game on Saturday and those on social media were quick to note how it made them “emotional” or even “cry” for the message it conveyed.
Tell me why the Google commercial for the covid vaccine just made me emotional during this Final Four game
— #1 Leia Fan Account (@FoxtrotMcCoy) April 3, 2021
Am I the only one Watching a google commercial during the the Final Four and crying!?!? Wow!
— Scott Rains (@scottrains) April 4, 2021
I wasn’t expecting a Google commercial to make me feel feelings during a Final Four game, but what even are the rules anymore?
— aimee (@LAimee76) April 3, 2021
After the brief but stark reminder of the toll the virus has taken, the music picks up in speed and familiar sounds emerge — school bells ringing, chatter amongst a group of people, laughter from a crowd — as words are highlighted and promptly deleted from the search bar and Google Calendar. Happy hour and play dates are no longer virtual, weddings no longer postponed, nor sports seasons canceled. And a theater and restaurants displayed on Google Maps switch from being “closed” to “open.”
It ends with a simple message, also the title of the commercial: “Get back to what you love.”
But it’s also a call to action: Get vaccinated. The final clips display a user typing out the words, “covid vaccine near me,” and following, a link to cdc.gov encouraging the audience to learn more.
When Amanda Litman, the cofounder and executive director of Run for Something, said she was “absolutely furious” that a Google ad made her “tear up,” Marvin Chow, vice president of global marketing at Google, quickly responded.
“Whatever it takes to make us all safe,” Chow wrote back.
Watch the advertisement for yourself:
Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @shannonlarson98.
Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:
Tesla (TSLA) – Tesla delivered nearly 185,000 vehicles during the first quarter, a record for the company and more than 10,000 about consensus forecasts. The stock jumped 7.6% in the premarket.
GameStop (GME) – The video game retailer announced plans to sell up to 3.5 million shares in an “at-the-market” offering, with plans to use the proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet and accelerate its ongoing transformation. GameStop also said sales for the first nine weeks of its current quarter were up 11% from the same period a year ago. GameStop tumbled 15.1% in premarket trading.
Roblox (RBLX) – Shares of the video game development platform company’s stock jumped 3.5% in premarket action, as Goldman began coverage with a “buy” rating and Morgan Stanley initiated coverage with a rating of “overweight.” Both firms cite robust growth prospects, with Goldman noting that Roblox is able to outsource game development costs to creators.
Royal Caribbean (RCL), Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH), Carnival (CCL) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance for resuming U.S. cruise ship sailings, although it did not set a specific date for resumption. Royal Caribbean gained 1.5% in the premarket, with Norwegian up 2.5% and Carnival higher by 2.2%.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – J&J will take over manufacturing at a plant owned by contract manufacturer Emergent Biosolutions (EBS) after a quality control issue ruined a batch of J&J’s Covid-19 vaccine. The Wall Street Journal reports that in order to accommodate the switch, production of AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Covid-19 vaccine will be moved elsewhere. Separately, J&J expanded a trial of its Covid-19 vaccine to include 12- to 17-year-olds.
Tribune Co. (TPCO) – Tribune received a $680 million takeover bid – worth $16.50 per share – from Choice Hotels Chairman Stewart Bainum and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss. That tops a $635 million deal that the newspaper publisher had previously agreed to with hedge fund Alden Global Capital.
Pinterest (PINS) – The image-sharing website operator is in talks to buy photo app company VSCO, according to The New York Times. A potential deal price could not be determined, but VSCO was most recently valued at $550 million. Pinterest shares rose 1.6% in the premarket.
General Motors (GM), Ford Motor (F) – Wells Fargo began coverage of both automakers with ratings of “overweight,” pointing to Ford’s faster turnaround under new CEO Jim Farley and GM’s leading position in electric vehicles and connectivity. GM shares added 1.7% in premarket action, while Ford rose 1.5%.
Pioneer Natural (PXD) – Pioneer Natural struck a deal to buy privately held rival shale producer DoublePoint Energy for about $6.4 billion, continuing the consolidation trend in the shale industry. Pioneer shares fell 4.4% in premarket trading.
Moderna (MRNA) – Moderna received Food and Drug Administration approval to fill Covid-19 vaccine vials with up to 15 doses, up from the previous 10 doses. Moderna said it expects to begin shipping the 15-dose vials within a few weeks, and its stock rose 1.5% in premarket trading.
Morgan Stanley (MS) – Morgan Stanley said it would increase its dividend as soon as restrictions are lifted by the Federal Reserve. The Fed is scheduled to release the next round of bank stress test results in June. Morgan Stanley rose 1.4% in the premarket.
Planet Fitness (PLNT) – The fitness chain is planning to add up to 100 new locations in the coming fiscal year, adding to its current total of more than 2,100. CFO Tom Fitzgerald told The Wall Street Journal the company also wants to boost investment in its app.
Lamb Weston (LW) – Shares of the foodservice company gained 1.9% in the premarket after Bank of America Securities upgraded it to “buy” from “neutral” and raised the price target to $100 per share from $84 a share. BofA said the company is poised to approach pre-Covid business levels, with demand improving.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bryson DeChambeau was going to obliterate Augusta National last fall. He was coming off a convincing 6-shot win at the U.S. Open, overpowering famed Winged Foot. He arrived at the Masters with a plan to do the same.
But a funny thing happened on the way to a green jacket.
DeChambeau hit it far at Augusta, but wide. The underrated short game that also had helped him at Winged Foot let him down. He did make 18 birdies and an eagle on the week — that’s 20 under par, which was the record-setting winning score by Dustin Johnson. But … DeChambeau also made 11 bogeys, two doubles and a triple.
“The stress of the tournament, just the spotlight, the whole thing,” he said. “It all took a toll. It was a combination of a few things that escalated my brain.”
And now he is back again, a bit leaner, with a better understanding and appreciation for both the diet he embarked on to gain weight and distance and the need for precision around a golf course that demands it.
But that does not mean he will tiptoe among the dogwoods and azaleas at the Masters this week, carefully navigating his way around Augusta National.
Bryson DeChambeau again plans to try to blister the place.
“I had to look back on what went wrong, what happened, what didn’t allow me to perform at the highest level I did at the U.S. Open,” DeChambeau said this spring as he was also trying to fine-tune his body. “My driving wasn’t the longest at the U.S. Open, but I putted amazing, I wedged it amazing. My iron play was incredible and I drove it pretty well.”
That, though, didn’t happen after he drove down Magnolia Lane.
“I look at Augusta … there were plenty of opportunities that I missed with wedging, putting and iron play,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it was necessarily the driver that got me into trouble for the most part, but definitely there were times where my putter and my wedges and my iron play did.”
DeChambeau has a simple solution: Keep working on it. Keep trying to increase club-head speed. Keep trying to add distance.
Even if it didn’t work out the first time he brought his scientific methods to Augusta National, DeChambeau walked away still having gained some ground on the field.
He’s got others thinking about him and looking at their own games. While he gets better and follows his plan, others have tried to emulate it and lost their way.
Rory McIlroy presented the best example. While the four-time major champion was never going to become a voracious eater and attempt to gain some 40-odd pounds, as DeChambeau did, he certainly saw the benefits of trying to get more speed in his swing in an effort to hit the ball farther.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t anything to do with what Bryson did at the U.S. Open,” McIlroy said after missing the cut at the Players Championship. “I think a lot of people saw that and were like, whoa, if this is the way they’re going to set golf courses up in the future, [distance] helps. It really helps.”
Since the middle of February, McIlroy has two missed cuts and was bounced early from the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after his worst loss in a decade. He does have two top-10s, but even those came with warning signs — he shot 72-76 over the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and closed with 71 at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession. Both times he had a chance to win. Both times he faltered on the weekend.
“I thought being able to get some more speed is a good thing, and I maybe just — to the detriment a little bit of my swing,” McIlroy said. “I got there, but I just need to maybe rein it back in a little bit.”
McIlroy is not alone.
“You would be stupid if you said what [DeChambeau is] doing to golf courses doesn’t make it easier,” Justin Thomas said. “I think it’s extremely underrated and not talked about enough how straight he hits it for swinging at 135 mph. I can hit it pretty damn crooked at 116 or 117 mph. He hits it really straight at 135. And he putts it really well.
“For me, it’s being able to find that extra 10 or 15 or 20 [yards] if I need it or if I can do it. I would love to fly it 330 every time. No offense to Bryson, I’m not going to put on 40 pounds. I don’t have the build or stature for that. I’ve always been about getting the most out of what I can.”
DeChambeau has put a lot of thought and effort into this over the past two-plus years. He didn’t just start drinking protein shakes and lifting heavy weights one day. Under the guidance of trainer Greg Roskopf, who also works with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, he started to put in place a plan more than two years before he embarked on it in the fall of 2019.
The results were swift. An initial 25-pound weight gain. Added length off the tee that now sees him lead the PGA Tour in driving distance at 320.8 yards. (For the record, McIlroy is third at 319.1).
DeChambeau admits he might have gone too far with all the meat, potatoes, eggs and other food he was consuming. His daily allowance had reached 6,000 calories. The realization that it was time to fine-tune his diet came at the Masters.
In November, DeChambeau said during the tournament and again weeks afterward that he just did not feel right. He was having some balance issues. He even wondered if he had contracted the coronavirus; he took a COVID-19 test prior to the third round. It came back negative.
“I actually went to multiple doctors, multiple people, trying to figure out what this was,” he said. “I got a couple MRIs. Went to an inner-ear doctor, eye tests, eye pressure, ear pressure, even did ultrasound on my heart, ultrasounds on my neck to see the blood flow and how things were moving through the different areas of my body. Everything came back really, really well.”
DeChambeau also explained that he saw some pretty significant changes in his stomach, specifically inflammation. He started working on what he called “gut health” to alleviate the issues.
That meant altering his food intake a bit. So he returns to Augusta National a bit leaner but still carrying the same distance and same plan to attack. The preparation, this time though, is different.
Before the event in November, he took a month off from the PGA Tour and focused only on the Masters. He contemplated using a 48-inch driver to try to gain even more distance to try to shorten Augusta National even more.
While he’s still focused on distance, this time he will have worked extensively on other parts of his game. He will come in with positive results, too. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and was in contention down the stretch at the Players Championship.
Distance is an advantage at Augusta National. DeChambeau knows that. It is not, however, imperative to being atop the leaderboard come early Sunday evening. Recent winners such as Patrick Reed (287.4 yards off the tee, 182nd on tour) or Danny Willett (292.9, 129th) prove you don’t need extra length to take home a green jacket. But it is a big help to be able to drive the bunker at the first hole, or drive the green at the par-4 third, or have short irons into the par-5 13th and 15th holes. At Augusta National, all parts need to be working.
Consider this: DeChambeau played with 63-year-old Bernhard Langer in the final round in November. Langer won both of his Masters before DeChambeau, 27, was born. When they were paired together, Langer was 80 yards behind DeChambeau off the tee. Langer shot 71; DeChambeau shot 73.
“I was in awe just watching how they swing and how hard they hit it, and every once in a while I had to tell myself, go on, stop watching and play your game and figure out what you have to do,” said Langer, who also played with McIlroy during the third round.
DeChambeau seemingly spends every waking moment doing the same thing. That certainly is how it appears when he is at a golf tournament, often under floodlights on the driving range, searching for the right combination of shafts, lofts, swing speed and whatever else is necessary to launch the ball into orbit.
And now comes another shot at the Masters with his go-for-it plan still in place.
“I’m just trying to accomplish winning tournaments,” he said. “I don’t really care too much about what people think. It’s just about if I can do it. Look, if I fail, I’m going to work my hardest to figure out why I failed. So whether the skeptics are proved wrong, I’m not worried about it. I appreciate the skeptics, those that actually makes me think more about — is this actually right? — and makes me go down the rabbit hole even deeper.”
In these times of COVID-19, giving a handshake might spark anxiety. Here are some tips on how to politely avoid the handshake!
Buzz60
To hug or not to hug?
For the last year, we’ve been advised by the Centers for Disease Control to avoid physical contact with anyone not in our immediate household in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. For those living alone, that meant the total absence of physical touch. Don’t shake hands, don’t hug anyone and definitely don’t kiss anyone.
The lack of physical touch has been trying, but many have gotten used to newer, more creative ways of greeting each other whether it’s a friendly wave from six feet away or an elbow bump. And though we still don’t have a pandemic end-date, as more Americans get vaccinated and are able to abide by the new CDC guidelines, we may be able to go back to hugging, shaking hands and cheek kisses soon. But should we?
The pandemic has taken the pressure off forced interactions and allowed us time to reevaluate boundaries around physical touch, experts say.
“It’s been helpful in the sense that people get to have a little more personal autonomy, you don’t have to follow that social contract that has been set up of how you are supposed to greet people,” says Ashely Peterson, a licensed psychotherapist.
Shafia Zaloom, a health educator at the Urban School in San Francisco, says this social contract has caused some people to minimize their discomfort in the past “and just accept that physical greetings like handshakes and hugs because they are the perceived norm.”
“Many get the message that … it’s only a handshake and it would be impolite to offer anything otherwise,” Zaloom says, adding this idea is ingrained in us from childhood.
Kids are often told to give people hugs
It’s a common tale: An adult relative comes over and a parent tells a child to greet that person with a hug or a kiss. But as physical touch vanished during the pandemic, the pressure put on kids to physically greet people waned, and experts say its a practice we should stick with post-pandemic.
“We want our kids to trust their intuition, especially when it relates to body autonomy. We also want kids to have a sense of agency when it comes to their intuition and their bodies, which is an important part of their emerging sexuality,” Zaloom says.
Peterson agrees children should have personal autonomy, but she notes each household’s cultural background will play a role in whether the lack of emphasis on physical greetings sticks.
Physical greetings can vary greatly from culture to culture. In Sudan, it’s common to go in for a hug, two kisses on the cheek and end the greeting with a handshake (yes, all at once) while in Miami it’s not unusual to see people air kissing hello.
Peterson says now is a perfect time for parents to have that discussion with their kids and help guide them in making decisions about how they’d like to greet people. The idea is not to cancel hugs for relatives but rather to lessen the pressure put on kids; if the child wants to go for the hug, they should. But it should be up to them.
“Everyone doesn’t view children as being able to make their own decisions even though … they should definitely be able to say who they want to touch, hug and all those other things with their bodies.”
More: Why we’re scared for the pandemic to end
Everyone has physical boundaries
Adults too are encouraged to be open and communicative about their physical boundaries.
Hugs, kisses and handshakes may not immediately disappear and they don’t have to, but we can be more cognizant of how people want to be treated and respect that, Zaloom says.
“Instead of thinking about if we should do away with this or add that, I think our energy is better spent shifting the culture to be more accepting of what feels acceptable to both people who are engaged in the greeting,” Zaloom says.
Though some people may be yearning for physical touch, the pandemic has shown us handshakes may not be the best remedy.
“I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again,” Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Joe Biden’s Chief Medical Adviser,said in May 2020. “We’ve got to break that custom. Because as a matter of fact, that is really one of the major ways that you can transmit a respiratory illness.”
Instead of handshakes, Zaloom suggests “an enthusiastic or meaningful verbal salutation, a bow, a head nod and smile, or drop a beat on your greeting and do a mini dance.”
Peterson says physical touch is important especially for people who rely on non-verbal validation or affection. Things like shaking someone’s hand while looking them in the eye show you’re listening and an embrace from someone you care about can be reassuring if physical touch is your love language.
“It’s the nonverbal communication that I think people miss as well, because now you’re not getting affirmed if people don’t say it. And if you’re not a person that is able to effectively communicate how you’re feeling, then you are able to rely on those nonverbal displays of affection,” Peterson says.
As important as physical touch is, she hopes the pandemic has allowed people to take a pause and think about how others may feel about touching.
“It would be helpful if (post-pandemic) we’re able to kind of recognize that we all don’t have to follow the exact same path of interacting with people,” Peterson says. “So if it’s something that you are looking forward to or something that you want to do, then yes, you should be able to do it.”
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On paper, antibody tests sound like a good idea to measure immune response in respect of vaccination. But it’s not absolutely neccessary to get one done. Unless you are specifically advised, getting antibody tests pre/post vaccination may not be actually needed.
However, even if you do get one, it’s important to know that the results may not be entirely foolproof.
Some experts worry that the antibody tests available to the public right now may not be able to specifically map out the vaccine-generated antibodies. Secondly, if it is to be deployed for larger sections, it may not be economically feasible as well.
For those opting to get antibody tests prior to scheduling their appointments, experts advise to not fully rely on the test results. Since natural immunity with COVID is confusing and may diminish, getting vaccinated, whether or not you do get sufficient antibodies is crucial, and considering the surging cases, the need of the hour. It may help you delay or schedule your appointment a tad bit later, but it’s still wiser to get the jab.
As long as you get your two doses on time, follow all requisite precautions and practice basic hygiene, you will have sufficient protection from the deadly virus.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis said he would “never offend any group of people” after tweeting an anti-Asian slur Sunday night, prompting swift backlash.
Davis tweeted “Gotta stop letting g—- in Miami” before deleting the message, according to ESPN. He wrote that he thought the slur-part of the message meant “lame.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“I would never offend any group of people,” the 24-year-old wrote in an apology. “You reporters can look for another story to blow up. The term was directed towards a producer claiming he ‘ran Miami’ With that being said I’ll retire that word from my vocabulary giving the hard times our Asian family are enduring.”
The first tweet was accompanied by an internet definition.
“I used a term that from where I come from has always meant ‘lame’ but I did not realize it has a much darker, negative connotation. I have learned a valuable lesson and want to apologize to anyone that was offended by seeing that word because we need to focus on helping each other during these tough times,” he added.
FORMER JOHNNIES’ STAR QUARTERBACK JACKSON ERDMANN WORKING TOWARD NFL DREAM WITH MINNESOTA PRO DAY APPEARANCE
Attacks against Asian Americans have ramped up in recent weeks. Nearly half of hate-related incidents targeting Asian Americans since the start of the coronavirus pandemic occurred in the state of California, according to a report from the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, according to a March study.
The organization said it received 3,795 firsthand accounts of hate incidents nationwide from March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021. Of that total, 68.1% of the incidents were classified as verbal harassment, while 20.5% were cases of “shunning” of Asian Americans and 11.1% were cases of alleged physical assault.
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States around the country have reported a spike in violence and hate-related incidents toward Asian Americans during the pandemic. Of the reported incidents, 1,691, or roughly 45%, occurred in California. Another 517 attacks, or about 14%, occurred in New York and 158, or about 4%, occurred in Washington state. No other state accounted for more than 3% of reported incidents.
Fox News’ Thomas Barrabi contributed to this report.
Shares of GameStop Corp.
GME,
+0.86%
tumbled 9.7% in premarket trading Monday, after the videogame and consumer electronics retailer announced plans to sell up to 3.5 million shares of its common stock. The company plans to use the proceeds from the “at-the-market” offering, which represents about 5% of the shares outstanding, to accelerate its transformation, for general corporate purposes and to strengthen its balance sheet. Separately, GameStop said total sales for the first nine weeks through April 4 rose 11% from the same period a year ago, including 5.3% growth in February and an 18% rise in March. GameStop said sales were negatively impacted by temporary store closures and other mandated restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 13% decrease in the store base from the same period a year ago. The stock’s pullback comes after it rose 5.8% last week, to snap a two-week decline of 31.6%. Over the past three months, the stock has rocketed 1,002.2% through last week, while the S&P 500
SPX,
+1.18%
has gained 7.9%.
Four buildings destroyed in fast-moving fire in Lawrence
Updated: 6:11 AM EDT Apr 5, 2021
Four multi-family homes were destroyed Sunday in a fast-moving fire in Lawrence, officials said.The fire, which started shortly before 7 p.m., affected buildings on Saratoga Street and Bennington.At the height of the fire, flames were shooting out of the windows and roofs of the buildings. In addition to the Lawrence Fire Department, crews from multiple nearby towns also battled the flames.Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez asked displaced residents to go to the Command Center on Lawrence Street near Pollo Tipico and Farrah Funeral Home for Red Cross assistance.One person was injured in the fire, which remains under investigation.
LAWRENCE, Mass. —
Four multi-family homes were destroyed Sunday in a fast-moving fire in Lawrence, officials said.
The fire, which started shortly before 7 p.m., affected buildings on Saratoga Street and Bennington.
At the height of the fire, flames were shooting out of the windows and roofs of the buildings.
In addition to the Lawrence Fire Department, crews from multiple nearby towns also battled the flames.
Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez asked displaced residents to go to the Command Center on Lawrence Street near Pollo Tipico and Farrah Funeral Home for Red Cross assistance.
One person was injured in the fire, which remains under investigation.
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Will you get a third stimulus check? At least one rule change could affect older adults and retirees.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The IRS is in the middle of sending the next wave of third stimulus payments to those who are eligible for the payment. And if you’re age 65 or older, you receive Social Security benefits or you’re a veteran, you will likely receive a $1,400 check (track your payment here). It may be different, however, for individuals with “high” income levels from investments or other sources.
The total amount of this third check also depends on how many dependents you’re claiming this year (if any), or if you’re claimed as a dependent on someone else’s taxes. Tax season may also be a deciding factor this time if you filed a tax return in early 2021 and it’s already been processed by the IRS.
We’ll explain everything that could affect your third stimulus payment — from filing your federal taxes this year to your adjusted gross income, pension and Social Security benefits, as well as if someone counts you as an adult dependent on their taxes. Also, if you’re still missing money from the first or second checks, you’ll need to claim it as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 taxes, even if you don’t usually file them. This story has been updated recently.
Who does the IRS categorize as an older adult?
Anyone aged 65 or older at the end of 2020 is considered a senior adult on their taxes that year and beyond. (If you have questions about citizenship requirements, see more below.) The IRS notes you are considered age 65 on the day before your 65th birthday.
How do I know if I’m eligible for a third stimulus payment?
For the first and second stimulus checks, whether you were eligible for any stimulus money (and if you were, how much money you could receive) depended on whether you were considered a dependent and the amount of your AGI from your federal tax filing. Your AGI is your gross income minus any eligible adjustments that you may qualify for. Since the tax deadline has been extended to May 17, the IRS is likely to use your 2019 tax return, if you file taxes.
(Find out everything you need to know about how your taxes affect your stimulus payment here.)
If you have a pension or investments that are taxable, those will affect your AGI, and therefore your eligibility for a stimulus check. The same is true for interest from a bank account. Interest from tax-exempt bonds isn’t included in your AGI, however, so it wouldn’t affect your stimulus payment eligibility.
For the third stimulus check, some of the eligibility rules changed in the final version of the bill — read on for more, and use our third stimulus check calculator to see if you qualify based on income limits. Here are stimulus calculators for the first and second checks, respectively.
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Stimulus check 3: How much money you’ll get
2:32
If I’m eligible for a third payment, how much money will I get?
There are several ways that qualifications change with a third stimulus check. The new law includes a payment of up to $1,400 for all dependents, no matter their age, to be added on to the household’s total. That means if you support an adult dependent — a college student, for example — you may be able to get a larger stimulus payment this round.
The expansion will provide money to households on behalf of an estimated 13.5 million adult dependents, according to the People’s Policy Project.
The new bill also loops in families with “mixed-status” citizenship, where members have different immigration statuses. Both of these groups were left out of the first and second stimulus payments.
One thing to note: The third check is more “targeted.” That means single filers who earn less than $75,000 will be eligible for the full $1,400. But those who earn $80,000 or more per year will not be eligible to receive a third payment at all. There are other ways some households can get more money with the next stimulus payment.
SSI or SSDI beneficiaries: Are you eligible for the third stimulus check?
If you’re over age 65 and a recipient of Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, you were eligible for a first and second stimulus check, and will be eligible for a third. This also includes many VA recipients and Retired Railroad Workers.
Social Security recipients are now getting their stimulus checks, the IRS said, but those receiving VA benefits may have a few weeks to go.
Find out everything else you need to know about how SSI and SSDI impact stimulus checks here.
If you count as someone else’s dependent, you may be eligible for stimulus money in the potential third round of checks.
Angela Lang/CNET
What’s a gross income, and where can I find mine?
Your gross income (again, this differs from your AGI) includes income from selling your main home and gains (but not losses) reported on Form 8949 or Schedule D and from sources outside the US.
Your gross income doesn’t include any Social Security benefits unless:
You’re married but filing separately and lived with your spouse at some point in 2019.
Half your Social Security benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest is more than $25,000 filing single (or $32,000 if married, filing jointly).
If either of those is the case for you, you can check out the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR or Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits to figure the taxable part of Social Security benefits you must include in gross income.
Read more: Best tax software for 2021: TurboTax, H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt and more compared
Can I get a stimulus payment if someone claims me as an adult dependent on their tax return?
Some older people may count as a dependent on someone else’s taxes, called a “qualifying relative.” For example, you may live with your children. In terms of stimulus check qualifications, the main tax filer would’ve had to claim you as a dependent on their tax form 1040.
A qualifying relative can be any age. To be counted as a qualifying relative on someone’s tax return, the person must meet four criteria. They…
Don’t count as a qualifying child dependent.
Live with the family member all year as a member of the household, or count as a relative who doesn’t have to live with the family member all year (such as a parent or grandparent, a stepparent or a sibling).
Must have a gross income for the year of less than $4,200.
Must have more than half of their support during the year come from the family member.
If you were a dependent on someone else’s taxes and were over the age of 16, you weren’t qualified for any stimulus money at all in the first or second round of stimulus checks. The new law, however, allows dependents of all ages to be eligible to add up to $1,400 to the household’s total payment.
There are a few reasons why some older adults may not have gotten a first or second stimulus check.
Sarah Tew/CNET
I’m a nonfiler. Do I have to file taxes this year to receive my stimulus money?
A nonfiler is a person who isn’t required to pay taxes to the IRS during tax season. The requirement to file a tax return depends on your gross income, which is all income you receive in the form of money, goods, property and services that aren’t tax-exempt (more below).
People who are considered nonfilers don’t need to do anything to receive a third stimulus check, according to the IRS. However, if you’re claiming missing stimulus money in a Recovery Rebate Credit, even nonfilers will have to file a tax return this year. You may be able to use a special form and file for free. You will, however, need some specific information.
If you’re age 65 or older, you should file taxes under the following circumstances:
Single filer with at least $13,850 in gross income.
Head of household with at least $20,000 in gross income.
Married filing jointly (if one spouse is 65 or older, $25,700 in gross income; if both spouses are 65 or older, $27,000 in gross income).
Married filing separately (any age).
Qualifying widow(er) age 65 or older with at least $25,700 in gross income.
In the 2019 tax year, the IRS introduced Form 1040-SR, US Tax Return for Seniors. This form is basically the same as Form 1040, but has larger text and some helpful information for older taxpayers.
I’m not a US citizen, but I pay taxes. Can I get a third stimulus check?
Under the December stimulus bill, non-US citizens, including those who pay taxes, weren’t eligible to receive the $600 payment, unlike with the first round of checks. Under the CARES Act of March 2020, all US citizens and non-US citizens with a Social Security number who live and work in America were eligible to receive stimulus payments. That included people the IRS refers to as “resident aliens,” green card holders and workers using visas such as H-1B and H-2A.
If your citizenship status has changed since you first got a Social Security number, you may have to update the IRS’ records to get your check. US citizens living abroad were also eligible for a first payment.
For the third payment, the new law includes checks for “mixed-status” citizenship families — families with members with different immigration statuses — who were left out of the first two checks.
What counts as income? That depends on your personal circumstances.
Angela Lang/CNET
I never got the money I was owed from the first or second stimulus payments. Can I claim it on my taxes?
Now that it’s tax season, if you haven’t received your first or second check by now, you’ll likely need to claim a missing payment using the Recovery Rebate Credit — that includes people who don’t usually file taxes, too.
If you use the Recovery Rebate Credit, your stimulus allotment will either be bundled with your tax refund or you’ll pay less tax. We recommend filing your taxes as early as possible (here’s why) and registering your bank account for direct deposit with the IRS.
I’m over 65 and have dependents. What if I never got a payment for them with the first two payments?
If you’re age 65 or older and have a child dependent age 16 or younger who qualified for an extra $500 under the CARES Act, or an extra $600 under the December stimulus bill, you’ll have to claim your stimulus payment on behalf of eligible dependents as a Recovery Rebate Credit.
For more, check out what we know so far about a third stimulus check and when the IRS might send your new payment out. Here’s what we know about the possibility of a fourth stimulus check.
