City issues more than $500,000 in $1,000 debit cards by noon May 4

Government

The city of Jacksonville issued more than $500,000 to Duval County residents by noon May 4 on the first day of processing its COVID-19 Relief Program.

In a virtual news conference, Mayor Lenny Curry said more than 500 individuals received the $1,000 payments on a prepaid debit card between 10 a.m. and noon, as lines to receive the stimulus wrapped around the Ed Ball and Duval County Public Library buildings Downtown.

The $40 million program is meant to help people with rent, mortgage and utility bills and ease the financial strain caused by the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

City Deputy Chief Administrative Office Stephanie Burch said some people who scheduled an appointment to receive the $1,000 were disqualified May 4 because they did not meet the eligibility criteria.

Requirements include:

• Proving Duval County residency.

• Providing proof of employment as of Feb. 29.

• Making less than $75,000 per household on the date of application.

• Having lost at least 25% of their income because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Burch did not know the number of applicants who were disqualified by noon, but she said the security measures the city put in place at the two sites caught problems.

“There have been people who have been coming in from outside Duval County, who maybe entered in an address they lived at a long time ago to get entered into the system,” she said. “But when we’re checking the documentation on-site they are not able to qualify.”

City officials reported few issues processing the stimulus claims May 4, and people appeared to be moving through quickly. But for people unable to get in, Burch said the disqualifications May 4 will open additional appointment slots.

Burch said there have been “a few administrative challenges” with people who live in apartment complexes.

There have been reports of apartment residents who were told by the city’s online system at jaxrelief.coj.net they had an appointment scheduled, but did not receive the confirmation number required for an appointment.

“As a reminder, please do not show up on-site without a confirmation number, you’ll be turned away,” Curry said.

Burch said those unable to get in will be contacted when an appointment becomes available.

“When they’re showing up on-site, we’re taking down their name and phone number. If an appointment becomes available at one point, we’ll call them and let them know when they can come in,” Burch said.

The city secured the debit cards used to distribute the payments through a $25,000 contract with Fidelity National Information Services Inc., a Jacksonville-based global financial services firm.

The contract includes $11,000 in shipping costs, Curry administration Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Jordan Elsbury said in an April 27 email. FIS is absorbing nearly 75% of the total cost, he said.

Curry said May 4 that the 40,000 appointment slots filled in less than 24 hours when registration for the relief aid began May 1.

The Curry administration’s $40 million program is part of a broader economic stimulus package approved April 27 by City Council.

It’s funded by a $159 million payment the city received as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The bill also waived specific city mobility and permitting fees for developers, contractors and businesses for six months and will provide $35 million of additional virus testing in Duval County.

The bill will extend rent and mortgage relief to businesses that lease and operate city-owned facilities impacted by COVID-19 and $20 million that Council can allocate later to local businesses and nonprofits that provide a service to the city.