People With Unpaid Debts
People who have unpaid private debts excluding outstanding child support payments or tax debts could be at risk for having their stimulus checks garnished.
That’s due to the fact that lawmakers used a process known as budget reconciliation to pass the coronavirus relief package which limited their ability to prevent garnishment of the payments. However, banking and consumer trade groups have called for follow-up legislation to change that.
Who Is Eligible For The Second Stimulus Check
Eligibility is primarily based on four requirements:
1. Income: The income requirements to receive the full payment are the same as the first stimulus check.There is no minimum income needed to qualify for the payment. Households with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals will receive the full payment. This stimulus payment starts to phaseout for people with higher earnings. The second stimulus check maximum income limit is lower than the first stimulus check. Single filers who earned more than $87,000 in 2019 are ineligible for the second stimulus check.
View the chart below to compare income requirements for the first and second stimulus checks.
Income to Receive Full Stimulus Payment | First Stimulus Check Maximum Income Limit | Second Stimulus Check Maximum Income Limit |
Single Filer | ||
$136,500 | $124,500 |
2. Social Security Number: This requirement differs from the original eligibility for the first stimulus check. Originally under the first stimulus check, if you were married filing jointly, both spouses needed valid Social Security numbers . If one spouse had an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number , then both spouses were ineligible for the stimulus check. For married military couples, the spouse with an SSN could still get the stimulus check for themselves but not the other spouse with an ITIN.
Examples
Former first stimulus check rules:
Second stimulus check rules:
Former first and second stimulus check rules for military filers:
What If I’m Missing A Stimulus Payment
Most people who were eligible already received their stimulus payments.
If you are missing a stimulus payment or got less than the full amount, you may be able to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 or 2021 federal tax return, depending on which payment you are missing.
Missing first and second payments may only be claimed on a 2020 tax return.
Missing third payments may only be claimed on a 2021 tax return.
You need to file a tax return for the correct year to claim a missing payment, even if you dont usually file a tax return. If your return was already filed and processed, you will need to amend it to claim the credit.
You will need the total payment information from your online account or IRS letter to accurately calculate your Recovery Rebate Credit.
Check with the IRS to learn more about the Recovery Rebate Credit and claiming it on your federal tax return.
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Idaho: $75 Rebate Payments
In February, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill that allocates $350 million for tax rebates to Idahoans. There are two criteria for eligibility:
- Full-time Idaho residency and filed 2020 and 2021 tax year returns, OR
- Full-time Idaho residency and filed grocery-credit refund returns.
The payments began in March. Each taxpayer will receive either $75 or 12% of your 2020 Idaho state taxes, whichever is greater . The rebate is applicable to each individual taxpayer and each dependent.
The tax commission will first issue rebates to taxpayers who received refunds via direct deposit, then send paper rebate checks.
State residents can also check the status of their rebate online.
Th Stimulus Checks Given Out To Teachers

For other states, their fourth stimulus checks are taking on a new lookas teacher bonuses! Its no secret that teachers are the unsung heroes of our communities, and theyve been put through the wringer during the pandemic. To show them the appreciation that they more than deserve, some states are giving teachers a fourth stimulus.
- Florida
In Florida, teachers will be getting a $1,000 bonusalthough some of the details of who qualifies are up in the air. If youre a teacher in the Sunshine State, check with your district to see if you can get in on this.15
- Georgia
Georgia is extending the $1,000 bonus to both full-time teachers and administrators. Part-time teachers will still score a bonus of $500, and theres even a plan in place to give a bonus to pre-K teachers.16
- Michigan
Earlier in 2021, Michigan used a grant to pay bonuses of $500 to its teachers and $250 to school support staff. No word yet on whether theyll give out another bonus, though.17
- Tennessee
Our very own Tennessee is giving full-time teachers $1,000 and part-time teachers $500 to thank them for their hard work.18
- Texas
Now, nothing has happened statewide yet, but some districts in the Lone Star State are giving out their own bonuses. Districts are gifting things like 24% raises, a $500 bonus, and even a $2,000 incentive for some teachers to return to the classroom.19
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Delaware: $300 Rebate Payments
In May, Delaware started sending relief rebate payments of $300 to taxpayers who filed their 2020 state tax return. The one-time payment is possible due to a budget surplus. Couples filing jointly will receive $300 each.
Payments were distributed to most eligible Delaware residents in May.
Instructions to claim the rebate havent yet been released for residents who havent filed a 2020 state tax return. Instructions are anticipated to be announced by Oct. 17.
Check your rebate status or get answers to frequently asked questions from the Delaware Department of Finance.
How Likely Is A Fourth Stimulus Check
Don’t hold your breath, according to Wall Street analysts.
For one, the Biden administration has focused on infrastructure spending to spark economic growth, betting that an investment in roads, trains and other direct investments will help get people back to work and spur the ongoing recovery.
Secondly, economists have pointed fingers at relief efforts such as the three rounds of stimulus checks for contributing to inflation. Because Americans had cash in their pockets, they boosted spending on goods such as furniture, cars and electronics. Combine that with the supply-chain crunch, and the result was sharply higher inflation, according to economists.
Without new stimulus efforts on the horizon, it’s likely that inflation could moderate in 2022, according to Brad McMillan, the chief investment officer at Commonwealth Financial Network. “One cause of inflation has been an explosion of demand driven by federal stimulus,” he noted in a December report. “But that stimulus has now ended.”
He added, “Yes, we will continue to face inflation and supply problems, but they are moderating and will keep doing so.”
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Where Is My Second Stimulus Check
All second stimulus checks were issued by January 15, 2021. If you didnt get a second stimulus check by then , you can claim your second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit on your 2020 tax return or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
You can request a trace of your stimulus check. You should only request a payment trace if you received IRS Notice 1444-B showing that your second stimulus check was issued or if your IRS account shows your payment amount and you havent received your second stimulus check.
Learn more about requesting a payment trace here.
Other Benefits For California Residents
The budget contains a handful of additional measures to try to relieve inflations impact on residents:
- $1.95 billion for emergency rental assistance for qualified low-income tenants who requested assistance before March 31
- $1.4 billion in funds to help residents cover past-due utility bills
The budget also includes a $14.8 billion, infrastructure and transportation package, as well as more than $200 million in additional funding that will go toward reproductive health care services.
Californias new budget also provides universal access to health coverage for low-income residents aged 26 to 49, regardless of immigration status, becoming the first state to do so.
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New Jersey: $500 Rebate Checks
In fall 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey state legislature approved budget measures to send one-time rebate checks of up to $500 to nearly 1 million families.
Now, Murphy has proposed earmarking an additional $53 million to send $500 payments to those who file taxes using a taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number. These newly eligible people would include nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses and dependents.
Are We Getting Another Stimulus Check In 2021
Whether we get another stimulus check in 2021 depends on how much momentum the proposals for more checks gain.
There are still some people who’ve not yet received the third stimulus check, but we’ve got a handy guide for what to do if you’re missing your stimulus check payment. It’s worth checking if you’re eligible for most recent stimulus check as it’s worth up to $1,400 per person.
The IRS has reported that taxpayers whose direct-deposit information is on file should have seen their payments reach their bank accounts in April. Those who are waiting on paper checks and debit cards can expect to receive their funds in the coming weeks.
If you have received the third stimulus check and feel it’s too low, then take a look at our guide to the stimulus check calculator as that can show you what your own eligibility looks like. Keep in mind that there are a few factors that will affect the amount you are due or have received.
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Is There A Deadline To Get My Second Stimulus Check
All second stimulus checks were issued by January 15, 2021. If you didnt get a second stimulus check by then , you can claim your second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit on your 2020 tax return or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
If youre required to file taxes:
The deadline to file your 2020 tax return was May 17, 2021. The tax filing extension deadline is October 15, 2021. Many tax filing software programs close after this date. If you can find an online tax filing program that is still accepting 2020 tax returns, you can file a tax return to get your stimulus checks even though the deadline has passed.
If you dont owe taxes, there is no penalty for filing late. If you owe taxes, you may be subject to penalties and fines for not filing or not paying taxes. The government may reduce your tax refund to pay for any taxes you owe and other federal and state debts.
To learn more about your options if you think you owe taxes, read Filing Past Due Tax Returns and What to Do if I Owe Taxes but Cant Pay Them.
If youre not required to file taxes:
The deadline to use GetCTC.org is November 15, 2021. You can get the Recovery Rebate Credit using GetCTC.org, a simplified tax filing portal for non-filers. GetCTC is an IRS-approved service created by Code for America in partnership with the White House and U.S. Department of Treasury. You can use the portal even if youre not signing up for the Child Tax Credit advance payments.
If You Miss Out This Year

If you receive no $1,400 payment or a reduced check, but your income changes, you may be able to claim the money you are due when you file your taxes next year.
“Any change, either a slight reduction in earnings or even just putting more money in a traditional IRA or a 401 could yield a much bigger total payment when they do their 2021 taxes,” said Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.
“There’s a subset of folks who will be in that situation,” Watson said.
That also goes for this year’s tax-filing season for people who missed out on the previous $1,200 or $600 payments. You can claim a recovery rebate credit to recoup any money you were possibly owed. This is also available to people who typically do not file tax returns because their income is too low.
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Here Are Some Questions And Answers Around This New Stimulus Payment:
If I didnt file taxes in 2019/2020 will I receive the stimulus ? Unlike the first stimulus payment where those who didnt need to file a tax return could update the IRS non-filer tool, this time around due to the speed of roll-out of the second stimulus check and with tax season around the corner the IRS has said the non-filer tool is closed for updates. The IRS will be using information they have as of Nov 21, 2020 or from your first stimulus check payment . Otherwise they are encouraging you to the stimulus by filing a 2020 1040 or 1040-SR tax return. Free tax software programs can be used by people who are not normally required to file tax returns but are eligible to claim the credit.
How will I get paid? Like the first stimulus payment in 2020, the IRS will facilitate payment of these checks based on your 2019 tax information. You will also get the dependent stimulus payment for eligible dependents claimed on your tax return. For other groups who dont file taxes the IRS will work with other government departments or the Get My Payment tool. Direct deposit will still be the fastest way to get your payment.
Dependents in 2020? Households who added dependents in 2020 might not qualify for full payments immediately, since based on 2019 tax return information. But they can request additional money as part of the 2020 tax returns they will file in early 2021. See more in this articles for dependent qualification income thresholds.
Injured Spouse Claim And Spousal Claims
The IRS also stated that If you are married filing jointly and you filed an injured spouse claim with your 2019 tax return , half of the total payment will be sent to each spouse and your spouses stimulus check payment will be offset only for past-due child support. There is no need to file another injured spouse claim for the payment. I have received dozens of comments on this this, so hopefully this answers the questions many have had based on official IRS guidance.
Note that if you were current with your child support payments at the time of the stimulus eligibility determination but fell behind afterwards due to a COVID-19 related job loss, you would still be eligible to get the full stimulus payment.
Updating Direct Deposit Information
This question has come up a lot in the hundreds of comments to this article. The IRS has setup a portal for individuals to provide their updated banking information to receive payments via direct deposit as opposed to checks in the mail. The IRS does recommend that 2018 Filers who need to change their account information or mailing address, file 2019 taxes electronically as soon as possible. That is the only way to let us know your new information. You can file for free via TurboTax.
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I Think I’m Eligible What Do I Need To Do To Get A Stimulus Check
Nothing. The first two rounds were issued automatically, and the third will be, as well.
The fastest way to get your stimulus check is via direct deposit. Without that information, the IRS will mail you either a debit card or paper check. You can track your money using the IRS Get My Payment tool.
If you believe you qualify for the third stimulus check but don’t receive one â or you believe it’s in the wrong amount â there are options. Either the IRS will send you the money you deserve after you file your 2020 taxes or you’ll be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 return, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Which States Are Sending New Stimulus Checks
California announced the Golden Gate Stimulus deal, which will provide a payment to 5.7 million people. The aid is already being distributed. Taxpayers earning between $30,000 and $75,000 per year will receive one-time payments of $600. Households with dependents will receive an additional $500.
New Mexico has issued payments to low-income households, who for whatever reason didn’t receive the first three rounds of stimulus checks. There will be one-time payments of $750 per household.
In Texas, some local school districts are providing their employees with stimulus checks in the form of retention bonuses.
In Maryland, taxpayers with qualifying income could receive up to $500. Income caps vary from $21,710$56,844. In Colorado, anyone who receives unemployment benefits between March and October 2020 automatically received a one-time payment of $375.
Through its unique offer, Vermont is trying to lure people to move to the state. It will reimburse people up to $7,500 for qualifying moving expenses if you’re ready to work in certain industries.
In Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Colorado, teachers will be receiving a lot of stimulus money. As part of the American Rescue Plan, state and local governments have received $350 billion in assistance. Most of this aid will go to schools, which will pay their teachers and other school staff a bonus of up to $1,000. In Minnesota, grocery store workers and medical center staffers received bonus checks.
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Who Is Eligible For A Third Stimulus Check
Some people may or may not be eligible for receiving a stimulus check. Among people that can expect this check include:
- Individuals with an $80,000 AGI or less
- Head of household with a $120,000 AGI or less
- Couples filing jointly with a $150,000 AGI or less
- Dependents of every age, if the guardian qualifies
- Families with mixed US citizenship
- US citizens who live abroad
- Citizens living on US territories
- VISA holders
- Incarcerated people
- Non-citizens that pay taxes
Most people living in the US can indeed be expected to receive a stimulus check, provided they have US citizenship, have a visa, or at least pay U.S. taxes. With that in mind, certain categories are disqualified from receiving a stimulus check and this will precisely help you determine whether you are eligible for receiving it as well or not.
Eligibility is based on your adjusted gross income, and the amount of money that you receive will be calculated on the same basis.