Stimulus check latest updates – Nearly 1million new payments of $1,400 are sent out in ninth batch

POST-PANDEMIC STRESS DISORDER

The recent push for new stimulus checks is, in fact, rooted in a form of post-pandemic stress disorder.

Four in 10 Americans say that their incomes are still below their pre-pandemic levels,

What's more, unemployment is still at an elevated level, especially in the food service and restaurant industries.

And one in three Americans say they had trouble meeting their basic bills this month.

President Biden still has not officially announced another round of stimulus checks.

TAX DAY TREAT

A new report suggests that you may get a "surprise" stimulus check payment if you've recently filed your taxes.

And even if you've already received one stimulus check, Yahoo Finance says

Tomorrow is the deadline for filing your 2020 taxes — and even if you didn't make enough income to merit filing a tax return, the IRS is suggesting you file it anyway.

Because your low income, they say, will be more of a qualifier — not less of one — for a relief payment.

LET'S GO, JOE

As Americans continue to wait for a fourth stimulus check, President Joe Biden still hasn't made an official announcement about its arrival.

Though previous stimulus checks brought a cash boost to low- and middle-income American families, no fourth stimulus check has been announced as of yet.

Americans expect Biden to make an announcement about it sometime this week.

If a fourth stimulus check is approved, — $1400 — as the previous stimulus check.

CALLS FOR $2000 STIMULUS CHECK GETS BACKED BY OVER 75 LAWMAKERS

Joe Biden is under pressure to pass a $2,000 monthly stimulus check after over 75 lawmakers have 

The politicians believe that the one-time $1,400 stimulus check, provided by , is not enough for those struggling during the pandemic.

Back in January,  and 55 other  sent a letter to Biden urging for him to support ongoing stimulus checks.

However, the president does not appear to back recurring payments, and there are not enough members of Congress that would vote to pass such a bill.

But, Congress could still vote to add additional stimulus checks into any upcoming legislation, such as the infrastructure package.

HOW TO TRACK TAX REFUND

In March, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)  from April 15 to May 17.

Yet it’s a good idea to file your return sooner rather than later, as it’ll ensure some Americans get a fourth  worth $1,400.

The latest data by the IRS show that the average tax refund was $2,873 in the week to April 26, compared with $2,939 for those who filed online.

It comes as almost 111 million tax returns have been filed so far, of which 73.3million households are due refunds.

You can see where your money is 24 hours after you’ve filed your tax return by logging into the 

To do this, you’ll need to enter your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which is shown on your tax return.

You’ll also need to enter your filing status and refund amount shown on your tax return – make sure it’s the exact amount shown to get the most accurate information.

You will then be taken to a page that will show you where your refund is.

PETITION TO GIVE MONTHLY $2000 PAYMENTS TO AMERICANS GAINS 2 MILLION SIGNATURES

A petition started by Colorado restaurant owner Stephanie Bonin gained more than two million signatures in mere months after it was posted on Change.org late 2020.

A  worth up to $1,400 are being sent out across the country with some 730,000 bonus checks worth $1.3 billion having gone out during the last seven days.

Bonin’s petition has surpassed more than two million signatures, increasing the pressure on the  to give Americans monthly checks worth up to $2,000.

If it hits three million, the petition will become one of the most signed on the website.

It has gathered so much support that Change.org recognized it in its  of top 10 petitions that changed 2020. 

“I’m calling on Congress to support families with a $2,000 payment for adults and a $1,000 payment for kids immediately, and continuing regular checks for the duration of the crisis,” she says in the petition.

“Otherwise, laid-off workers, furloughed workers, the self-employed, and workers dealing with reduced hours will struggle to pay their rent or put food on the table.”

WEST VIRGINIA GOV. WANTS TO GIVE PEOPLE STIMULUS TO GET VACCINATED

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is planning to give young people in his state money to get the Covid-19 vaccine, saying the move is “patriotic.”

The state will give residents between the ages of 16 and 35 a $100 savings bond after Justice said they had “hit a wall” when it came to vaccination efforts.

The reason we hit a wall is you’ve got 16 to 35-year-olds that are reluctant, you’ve got the Johnson & Johnson situation, and then, to be perfectly honest, you’ve got some hard-headed people,” Justice  last week.

The governor said that the goal is to incentivize young people who may feel that they do not need the vaccine to help the state reach the goal of vaccinating 70 percent of its population.

A FOURTH AND FIFTH STIMULUS COULD KEEP 12 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY

A report by the Economic Security Project determined

“Evidence from the last year shows stimulus checks to be the fastest and most impactful investments helping Americans get through this crisis, lifting more people out of poverty than any other single policy,” it read.

The project then went on to call for more rounds of stimulus checks to help lift an additional 12million Americans out of poverty.

The third $1,400 stimulus payment reportedly helped 16million Americans out of poverty.

The IRS began to disburse the fifth batch of relief payments on April 9 that included the $1,400 stimulus checks and 700,000 plus-up payments worth a total of $1.2billion.

PARENTS WHO SHARE JOINT CUSTODY OF KIDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CHILD TAX CREDIT PAYMENTS

Parents who share joint custody of their kids are eligible to get expanded child tax credits payments under President Biden’s COVID-19 relief package.

Coming as part of the landmark $1.9 trillion America Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March, the payments will begin in July and continue to be sent out monthly until December.

Every household with children that qualified for the latest $1,400 stimulus check is set to receive the child credit cash.

Such households include couples who earn less than $150,000 or an individual who earns less than $75,000.

Families with children under the age of six are eligible for up to $3,600 in payments per child.

Those with kids aged between six and 17, meanwhile, will be eligible for $3,000 in credit for each qualifying child.

Additionally, those with dependents between the ages of 18 and 24 who are enrolled in college full-time can receive $500 for each.

AMERICANS TURN DOWN 1.2 MILLION STIMULUS PAYMENTS

The IRS is currently sitting on roughly $2.1 billion in payments that were never accepted by their intended recipients.

Of the 164 million payments that were sent out in the first round of stimulus following the passage of the America Rescue Plan in March, about 1.25 million have never been cashed or were returned or paid back to the US Treasury.

Pennsylvanians, Vermonters, Montanans and Michiganders—three blue states and one red—were the most likely to leave their money on the table, Newsweek reported.

Arizonans and Texans were the least likely to pass up the stimulus payments, according to the outlet.

CALIFORNIA SENDS OUT $1.8 BILLION IN STIMULUS CHECKS

The state of California has sent out more than 2.5 million stimulus checks since April 15.

The Golden State Stimulus created a statewide direct payment plan that enabled the Franchise Tax Board to send out $600 or $1,200 payments to eligible individuals. 

The program is designed to help low-income Californians and those who weren’t eligible to receive the direct payments passed by Congress under the America Rescue Plan.

“We passed the recovery package to get money into the pockets of Californians who were hit hardest by this pandemic, and that’s exactly what the Golden State Stimulus is doing—already getting $1.6 billion to 2.5 million Californians,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

WILL BIDEN’S RELIEF PROPOSALS INCLUDE STUDENT LOAN CANCELLATION?

President Joe Biden has previously supported canceling some student loan debt, and people are keeping an eye on his stimulus relief programs to see if loan forgiveness is included.

Neither the American Jobs Plan or the American Families Plan currently includes student loan forgiveness, but Biden has previously supported forgiving $10,000 in student loans.

The President recently asked his education secretary if he has the executive power to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt.

SOME NEW YORKERS MIGHT HAVE TO PAY BACK EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

A “small portion” of  as employees rushed to send them as quickly as possible, the New York State Department of Labor announced.

But now those who received excess money in April and May 2020 must return the extra cash as “under federal law, NYS DOL is required to recover any overpaid funds,” the department tweeted.

The number of people who could potentially be left out of pocket was not immediately clear, but a Labor Department spokesman confirmed the overpayment was part of the extra $600 government handout given early last year.

Around 40 million Americans received unemployment benefits last year, a package that was boosted by Covid relief bills and executive orders.

Those affected will be notified by letter – which will also include instructions on how to request an appeal or a waiver for authorities to forgive the balance.

PARENTS CAN GET $16k BACK IN CHILDCARE IN 2021 TAXES

The American Rescue Plan, which was passed by lawmakers in March, features a temporarily expanded childcare tax credit.

Parents can claim up to $8,000 for one child or up to $16,000 for multiple kids, claims Garrett Watson, senior policy adviser analyst at The Tax Foundation.

Usually, parents can only claim $3,000 for one kid and up to $6,000 for two or more children,  reports.

To qualify, your household’s gross income must be less than $125,000 otherwise the tax credit will phase out at 50 per cent.

For incomes above $183,000, the tax credit phases out at 20 per cent and remains at that level for incomes below $400,000.

The rate is phased out completely for households earning $438,000 and above.

Parents will not be able to claim the deduction until next year when 2021 tax returns are filed.

In the meantime, it’s recommended that you complete a detailed record of all childcare expenses.  

CALLS FOR $2000 STIMULUS CHECK GETS BACKED BY OVER 75 LAWMAKERS

Joe Biden is under pressure to pass a $2,000 monthly stimulus check after over 75 lawmakers have 

The politicians believe that the one-time $1,400 stimulus check, provided by , is not enough for those struggling during the pandemic.

Back in January,  and 55 other  sent a letter to Biden urging for him to support ongoing stimulus checks.

However, the president does not appear to back recurring payments, and there are not enough members of Congress that would vote to pass such a bill.

But, Congress could still vote to add additional stimulus checks into any upcoming legislation, such as the infrastructure package.

YOU COULD GET SOME EXTRA PLUS-UP PAYMENTS FOR FILING YOUR TAXES EARLY

Those who experienced a significant shift in income between filing taxes for this year and last could see a plus-up payment coming soon.

That is for a select few 

According to the IRS, Americans who received a stimulus check based on their 2019 tax returns might be eligible for more money .

The additional “plus-up payments” will be sent to those whose economic situations changed between 2019 and 2020.

If their newest tax filing shows a drop in annual income or a new child or dependent, then more money could be on the way.

HOMEOWNERS CAN GET OVER $3,000 IN MORTGAGE RELIEF

New homeowners can get more than $3,000-a-year in mortgage relief thanks to stimulus aid.

The  as well as stimulate the economy.

Homeowners could get up to $307 a month, equivalent to $3,252 a year.

The money can go towards various expenses such as home improvements, remodels, debt or other bills.

Only single-family homes are eligible and apartments and mobile homes are excluded.

FOR LATE TAX FILERS: FIRST $10,200 UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE TAX FREE

People who were on .

If you received unemployment insurance benefits in the US in 2020 and paid taxes on the benefits, you may be eligible for an additional refund from the IRS.

The American Rescue Plan Act included a $10,200 tax exemption that gives people who paid on those benefits a tax break on the unemployment benefits they received, at least for federal taxes.

The IRS is set to refund money to people who filed their tax returns before the unemployment tax break changes in the Plan regarding the exempt UI taxes went into effect.

If you are owed money thanks to this tax exemption and due to having already completed your tax return, the IRS will send you the money automatically.

You do not need to file an amended return in order to get this potential refund.

YOUR HEALTH INSURER COULD SEND YOU ANOTHER STIMULUS CHECK

Among the proposals in President ‘s American Families Plan is the extension of the Obamacare subsidies, which was originally passed in March’s $1.9trillion American Rescue Plan.

Private insurance companies are expected to shell out $2.1billion in rebates to more than 10.7million policyholders this fall.

The average customer who bought health insurance on the 

The cash rebates will arrive to customers because a number of insurance companies failed to meet the Affordable Care Act medical loss ratio threshold in 2020.

The threshold required insurers to spend at least 80 percent of premium revenues on health care claims or quality improvement activities.

HOLD ONTO YOUR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN STIMULUS LETTER

Experts are warning Americans to hold onto their to ensure they receive the correct amount in your third stimulus.

It’s important to have all the necessary documentation to make sure you get paid the correct amount — up to $1,400 — including the stimulus letter from Biden.

In the letter, the President wrote: “This fulfills a promise I made to you, and will help get Americans through the crisis.”

This letter, also called Notice- 1444-C, is proof of the IRS sending you a payment. If, for whatever reason, money is missing from your first two stimulus checks, you can claim it on your 2020 taxes and receive plus-up payments.

IRS WARNS NOT TO CALL ITS OFFICES REGARDING DELAYED CHECKS

checks to hold off on calling the agency considering their phone operators wouldn’t be able to give any more information that isn’t already available online.

The IRS website states: “Our phone assistors don’t have information beyond what’s available on IRS.gov.”

Americans should check the IRS Get My Payment tool – especially if you need to find out where your cash is.

THOSE RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT COULD GET BENEFITS REVOKED IF THEY TURN DOWN A JOB

President Joe Biden has warned that anyone receiving unemployment who is offered a “reasonable job” must take it or face losing their benefit payments on Monday.

Speaking from the White House, Biden’s remarks follow on from a disappointing jobs report released on Friday which found the US economy added just 260,000 jobs in April – far less than the million projected.

Since the release of the report, employers have said they’re finding it difficult to hire workers, and means some could now earn more by staying at home, rather than working.

“We’re going to make it clear that anyone collecting unemployment, who is offered a suitable job must take the job or lose their unemployment benefits,” Biden said.

The president continued there are a “few Covid-19 exceptions” to the rule “so that nobody is forced to choose between their basic safety and a paycheck, but otherwise, that’s the law.”

FAMILIES WITH FOUR KIDS CAN GET UP TO $8,200 IN STIMULUS PAYMENTS

Thanks to an expansion of the Child Tax Credit under Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, stimulus payments.

The additional money is aimed to help families struggling the most in the pandemic.

According to The White House, the Treasury and the IRS are working to ensure that more payments will go out this month with the first checks arriving to some households at the end of last month.

The government’s website states: “The IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service are building on lessons learned from previous rounds of payments to increase the number of households that will get electronic payments, which are substantially faster than checks.”

For those who haven’t filed for 2020, the IRS will review records from the year before to determine the payment.

SEND BACK CHECKS RECEIVED FOR DECEASED RELATIVES

The IRS is warning people to send back any stimulus checks they may have received for a .

The $1,400 payments were made based on 2019 or 2020 tax returns, and many people have passed away since those returns were filed.

If you received a check for a late spouse, you may have to send it back, the IRS advises.

“Individuals who were deceased before January 1, 2021, if they received a payment, that money will have to be returned to the IRS,” IRS representative Luis D. Garcia told MLive.

“If you filed a joint return for last year, a 2020 return, you’re eligible for the $1,400.”

LATEST ROUND OF STIMULUS CHECKS SENT OUT

For those who are eligible for the third stimulus check but have yet to receive them – fret not, the IRS just released its latest batch of checks.

Those who were waiting may have had their checks delayed to a number of issues with the IRS,  or those who have missing or incorrect information filed with the IRS.

Depending on what your tax returns show this year, you may be eligible for a “plus-up” payment, especially if the IRS underestimated your stimulus amount.