Who Will Be Getting The Stimulus Check

What Else Is Included In Bidens Stimulus Package

Like we talked about before, the presidents American Rescue Plan is full of big changes. It includes some of the proposals Biden campaigned on. Heres a quick rundown:

• Increase the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 for dependents under the age of 17 to $3,000 for children ages 617 and $3,600 for children under age 6.
• Increase the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit from a max of 35% of qualifying childcare expenses to a max of 50% of qualifying expenses .
• Keep weekly unemployment benefit payments under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program at $300 and extend benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program through September.
• Extend the payment relief for federally guaranteed mortgages as well as the suspension on evictions and foreclosures until September.
• Provide financial support for renters and landlords.14, 15

And theres more: Bidens plan also includes grants and loans for small businesses, aid to state and local governments, money for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and testing, money to reopen schools, support for colleges and childcare providers, and more paid sick time for folks who have COVID-19, are quarantining because of it, or are caring for family members who are sick.16

What Should You Do With Your Third Stimulus Check

Lets be real: Three stimulus checks in a year is not normal. This third payment can go a long way to help you catch up on bills, pay off debt, or build up your savings. And for a lot of folks, those stimulus checks have kept food on the table. In our State of Personal Finance study, we found that 41% of people who got a stimulus check used it to pay for necessities like food and bills.

So, based on your situation, heres where you start:

If youre out of work or missing a paycheck, use this stimulus money to protect your Four Walls:

Focus on the necessities so you can have peace of mind as you keep looking for work or get your income back up. That means if youre working the Baby Steps and youre out of work, pause your plan for now. Pile up cash until you have a steady income again. Then you can attack your debt. Theres nothing like fighting through a financial crisis to light your fire to be debt-free as soon as possible!

On the other hand, if your job is safe and you feel like itll stay that way, use your stimulus money to build momentum on whatever Baby Step youre on. Put your debt snowball into overdrive. Knock out your fully funded emergency fund . Or talk to your investment professional about giving your retirement a big boost !

What Is A Recovery Rebate Credit

The IRS has lots of different rules, regulations and terms that make things confusing for filers, but pay no attention to the man behind the curtain: The Recovery Rebate Credit is simply just another name for your stimulus check. And if you were one of the lucky Americans who received two EIPs with no problems, you technically just received an advance of that Recovery Rebate Credit.

Americans can claim that credit by filling out a new, special section on their 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR if theyre a senior. That also goes for taxpayers who normally dont have to file a tax return, according to the IRS.

But rest assured: Receiving a stimulus check wont come back to bite you. The IRS says that the credit will only increase the amount you receive as a tax refund or decrease the amount you owe, rather than subtract from the refund youre entitled to. Your stimulus check also isnt considered taxable income.

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What If I Owe Child Support Payments Back Taxes Money To Creditors Or Debt Collectors Or Federal Or State Debt

Both the first and second stimulus check cannot be reduced to pay any federal or state debts. Unlike the first stimulus check, your second stimulus check cannot be reduced if you owe past-due child support payments and is protected from garnishment by creditors and debt collectors.

If you use direct deposit and owe your bank overdraft fees, the bank may deduct these from your payment.

If you are claiming the payments as part of your 2020 tax refund , the payments are no longer protected from past-due child support payments, creditor and debt collectors, and other federal or state debt that you owe . In other words, if you receive your first and second stimulus checks as part of your tax refund instead of direct checks, it may be reduced.

Dont Wait For A 4th Stimulus Check To Take Control Of Your Money

Getting your hands on some extra cash when youre in a tough spot can feel like a breath of fresh air, but dont depend on a stimulus as your money plan. Weve said it before and well say it again and again dont wait around for the government to take care of you. Its never a good bet.

And truth be told, youll be waiting around for a long time. Sure, a fourth stimulus check can help you out, but it isnt going to be your lifeline. If you really want to take control of your money, you need a proven plan that you are in charge of.

Sooner or later, stimulus checks run out. But knowing how to budget, save, and make your money goals happen is something that keeps on giving. And we know just the thing to get you there. The premium version of our budgeting app EveryDollar, and Financial Peace University are the trusted tools you need to build habits that keep you on track with your money goals. Get your money working for you and start creating the life you wantwithout waiting on the government.

About the author

Ramsey Solutions

Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.

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Q How Will I Get My Third Stimulus Check If Im An American Living Overseas

A. There are two ways overseas Americans can get their third stimulus payment: Direct deposit or through the mail.

You should get your check via direct deposit if you received your latest tax refund through direct deposit or if the IRS has your direct deposit info from the last round of stimulus checks and you havent filed yet this year.

You need to have an account with a U.S. bank in order to get direct deposit.

We recommend you update your address if you:

• Dont know what address is on file
• Have moved to a different address
• Want your check sent somewhere other than the address they have on file

In addition to Form 8822, Change of Address, you may be able to update your address via phone, through a written statement, or on your tax return. You can see the IRS most up-to-date address change info on the IRS website.

Q. What happens if I live abroad and my direct deposit payment is returned by my U.S. financial institution?

A. Once your payment is returned, the IRS will issue your payment by mail as a check or U.S. Treasury-issued debit card. Typically, IRS will reissue the payment by mail within two weeks. Once the payment is reissued, the IRS Get My Payment tool will update to reflect your payment status.

Q. What if my third stimulus check was for the wrong amount?

A. If you didnt receive the full amount of the third payment you were owed , there are two times when you may receive additional stimulus money:

More Third Stimulus Payment Money For Some In 2022

Parents who added a child in 2021 could be getting up to $1,400 after they file their 2021 taxes this coming spring thanks to the American Rescue Plan. The money won’t come as a direct check but will be part of the overall tax return.

The 2021 Economic Impact Payment — colloquially known as the third stimulus check — was actually an advance on what is called the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. What that means is that the $1,400 stimulus check most individual Americans received in 2021 is, in fact, money they would have gotten after filing their taxes in the spring of 2022 as a Recovery Rebate Credit.

In other words, millions of Americans already got part of their tax refund 12 months early.

“The bottom line is that’s money that’s going out almost immediately to millions of people as a tax credit in advance of putting it on a tax return in the next year,” said Raphael Tulino, IRS spokesman.

However, the IRS was going off of 2019 or 2020 tax returns for its information on the third EIP. It was using that information to determine if taxpayers would get stimulus money for their dependents. If eligible parents had a child born into their family in 2021, they can request the Recovery Rebate Credit on their taxes to get the payment for that child.

It gets more complicated with adoption because all the paperwork and processes to finalize the adoption must be completed first.

This does not pertain to the first or second stimulus payments that were paid in 2020.

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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.14

• 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.15

• 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.16

• Tennessee

Our very own Tennessee is giving full-time teachers $1,000 and part-time teachers $500 to thank them for their hard work.17

• 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.18

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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Not Everyone Will Get A Third Stimulus Check See If You’re On The List Of People Who Aren’t Eligible For A Third

Millions of Americans have already received a third stimulus check . But if nothing has shown up in your bank account or mailbox yet, it might be because you’re not eligible for a third payment. Some people may have gotten the impression that everyone is entitled to a third stimulus check. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case.

There are a few reasons why you could be left without a third stimulus check. It could be because of your income, age, immigration status, or some other disqualifying factor. Here’s a list of people who won’t be getting a third stimulus check from Uncle Sam. Hopefully, you’re not on the list and you’ll get a nice payment soon especially if you’re one of the millions of Americans struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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People Without A Social Security Number

Generally, you must have a Social Security number to get a stimulus check. To get the extra $1,400 for a dependent, the dependent must also have a Social Security number. If they don’t, then you probably won’t get the addition amount.

There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. First, an adopted child can have an adoption taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number. Second, for married members of the U.S. armed forces, only one spouse needs to have a Social Security number. And, third, if your spouse doesn’t have a Social Security number, you can still receive a third stimulus check, including any extra money for dependents, if you have a Social Security number.

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What Can I Do If I Have Not Received My Eip Money By Those Deadlines

If you have not received all or some portion of your Economic Impact Payments by the deadlines above, you will have to file a 2020 tax return and claim these amounts. You claim them on line 30 of the 2020 Form 1040 as a “Recovery Rebate Credit“. This is another name for the EIP stimulus payments. If you did not get all or a portion of the EIP payments in advance, then you can claim them on line 30 of your tax return for 2020.

Stimulus Checks For Hundreds Of Dollars

Farmworkers and meatpackers are entitled to up to $600 per person for pandemic health and safety-related costs, including personal protective equipment, child care and expenses related to testing or quarantining, the USDA says.

Approximately $20 million of the $700 million pool of money will be set aside for grocery store employees. However, the amount individuals in that industry will receive is not yet known.

“Our farmworkers, meatpacking workers and grocery workers overcame unprecedented challenges and took on significant personal risk to ensure Americans could feed and sustain their families throughout the pandemic, says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a news release.

“They deserve recognition for their resilience and financial support for their efforts to meet personal and family needs while continuing to provide essential services,” Vilsack says.

When it comes time to apply in 2022, workers must show proof of employment and provide self-certification of their pandemic-related expenses. Itemized receipts wont be necessary, according to Agriculture Department guidance.

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When Will I Receive The Money

Press briefings have indicated 3 weeks if the IRS is able to do direct deposit. Paper checks will inevitably take longer, especially for those residing abroad.

After the payment is paid, the IRS will mail a letter to the taxpayers last known address within 15 days. The letter will provide information on how the payment was made and how to report any failure to receive the payment. If unsure if it is legitimate, please visit IRS.gov first.

The IRS just released a tool to check payment status . Importantly – if the IRS has your information on file, you cannot update the direct deposit info. Update: the direct deposit information can only be updated via filing the 2020 tax return. Get My Payment tool no longer offers the option to update bank details.

• Check payment status
• Confirm payment type: direct deposit or check
• Enter bank account information for direct deposit if direct deposit information is not on file and payment has not yet been mailed.

Make Sure You Get Your Money Once The Legislation Passes

Now that all stimulus payments have been issued by the Internal Revenue Service , discussion turns to the upcoming third round of checks under the American Rescue Plan. This massive $1.9 trillion rescue package includes direct payments to most Americans expected to start within days of the legislation becoming lawMarch 11, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the bill.

Questions about the amount, who is eligible, and when the stimulus might arrive begin to emerge. The information below will help you know whats on the horizon and what you will likely need to do to get your money.

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Bringing Inflation Under Control Is The Goal

Over the course of 2021, many economists and policymakers at the Federal Reserve felt that the higher-than-normal inflation would be temporary. However, as the level of inflation continued to rise to new heights by the end of the year the consensus shifted, and the central bank decided to be more hawkish.

In January the Fed announced that it would begin tapering its stimulus programs which have poured vast amounts of liquidity into the US economy. It has also helped the stock market reach ever greater heights.

Additionally, the central bankers will start increasing interest rates, expected to begin in March, which have been at near zero during the pandemic. The Fed will have a difficult balancing act to pace the fiscal tightening without entrenching inflation by moving too slow or causing a recession if it moves too fast.

Although another stimulus check could help people with the rising cost of living, the fear of driving inflation even higher by injecting even more money into the economy has silenced lawmakers calls to do so.