I'm sure there are many Americans for whom this would be insufficient. However, for my partner and I, and our immediate family this amount would allow all of us

I'm sure there are many Americans for whom this would be insufficient. However, for my partner and I, and our immediate family this amount would allow all of us to keep our heads above water without catastrophic financial fallout, until society has restarted. I may be laid off this week. If I am, and if unemployment is less than 50% my expected take home, and lasts more than two months, then I am going to have to make decisions that will adversely effect my credit through no fault of my own, except not having a sufficient emergency fund built up. 1000/mo, even just for my entire household would allow us to stave off entering arrears indefinitely.