What Stimulus Money Is Available

What Your Loan Servicer Must Do If You Request Forbearance

If you’re having trouble making payments on your federally backed mortgage because of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact your loan servicer. They must:

• Defer or reduce your payments for six months if you contact them to make arrangements.

• You can request an extension if you need it. For most loans, your forbearance can be extended up to 12 months.

Prepare Yourself And Your Family

• Make sure your state ID or drivers license is current and available. Shelters and assistance programs may have strict ID requirements.
• If possible, store your belongings. Shelters have limits on how much you may bring.
• Arrange for your mail to be delivered somewhere or talk to your local post office. Many have special services for people who are homeless. You may be able to get a free PO box or receive general delivery service.
• Pack a bag for yourself and each member of your family.
• Keep important documents and needed medications with you.

South Carolina: Rebate Checks Of Up To $800

A budget plan approved in June earmarked $1 billion for a tax rebate that will provide a one-time payment to South Carolina residents.

The maximum rebate is $800 ,and the South Carolina Department of Revenue offers instructions for calculating your rebate amount. Rebates will be distributed prior to December 31.

South Carolina residents who choose to file their tax returns on or before the February 15 disaster relief extension will have their rebates issued in March 2023.

If you received your 2021 refund by direct deposit, youll also receive your rebate to that account.

You can estimate your rebate by following the instructions on the state Department of Revenue rebate news website.

Read Also: Is Economic Impact Payment Same As Stimulus

A Breakdown Of The Fiscal And Monetary Responses To The Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, now in its third year, has tremendously impacted the U.S. and global economies. The U.S. government responded to the crisis when it enacted a number of policies to provide fiscal stimulus to the economy and relief to those affected by this global disaster. The Federal Reserve also took a series of substantial monetary stimulus measures to complement the fiscal stimulus.

In this article, we divided federal stimulus and relief efforts into monetary policy implemented by the Fed, and fiscal policy implemented by Congress and the Trump and Biden administrations. Although the pandemic persists, many of these programs have been discontinued.

Understand Inflation And How It Affects You

• Social Security: The cost-of-living adjustment, which helps the benefit keep pace with inflation, will be 8.7 percent next year. Here is what that means.
• Budget Surpluses: Up to 20 states are using their excess funds to help taxpayers deal with rising costs. But some economists worry that the payments could fuel inflation.
• Tax Rates: The I.R.S. has made inflation adjustments for 2023, which could push many people into a lower tax bracket and reduce tax bills.
• Your Paycheck: Inflation is taking a bigger and bigger bite out of your wallet. Now, its going to affect the size of your paycheck next year.

The arrival of the extra $600 depends on when your state signed an agreement with the Department of Labor. The week ending April 4 or 5 is the first week for which unemployed workers can claim the new federal benefit.

But that doesnt necessarily mean benefits will flow right away. States that are unable to immediately pay the federal pandemic benefit after they sign agreements will pay them retroactively for the weeks youre entitled to receive them.

Are benefits taxable?

Yes. Benefits are subject to federal income taxes and most state income taxes, according to the Department of Labor. The same goes for the $600. You should be able to elect to have taxes withheld.

Child support obligations can also be deducted from your benefits.

You May Like: Change Address For Stimulus Check

The Economic Impact Payment Doesnt Affect Eligibility For Income

The Economic Impact Payment is a tax credit. That means it shouldnt be counted as income and shouldnt affect the beneficiarys eligibility for income-tested benefits. As long as the payment is spent down within 12 months of the date it was received, it also wont count against resource limits for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, SSI, SNAP, or Public Housing benefits.

If I Am The Custodial Parent And Im Currently Receiving Or Have Ever Received Tanf Or Medicaid For My Child Will I Receive Any Money From A Tax Return Intercepted By The Federal Government From The Noncustodial Parent On My Case

• Maybe. Federal law dictates how monies received by a state child support agencyunder the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program are distributed. In Texas, federal tax offsets are applied first to assigned arrears, or arrears owned by the state, and then to arrearages owed to the family. If there is money owed to the state in your case, the intercept stimulus payments up to the amount owed to the state will be retained by the state. The remainder of money will be sent to you, up to the amount of unassigned arrears owed to you by the noncustodial parent.The amount of the money you are entitled to receive will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of the tax refund intercepted, the amounts owed to you in your case, and the number of other child support cases in which the noncustodial parent owes child support arrears.You must also have a full-service case open with the Child Support Division to be entitled to receive any monies from an intercepted tax return.

Also Check: Stimulus Check I Didn’t Get It

Who’s Getting A Higher Payday

While the most recent round of stimulus checks maxed out at $1,400 per person, those checks aren’t the only financial relief the American Rescue Plan allowed for. The relief bill also enhanced the Child Tax Credit so that parents are entitled to more money under it. It also expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit, a credit targeted to low-income households.

Between those $1,400 checks and the two credits, the average household that falls into the bottom 60% of earners in the U.S. is in line for $3,450 in total stimulus funds this year, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. That means households with an income of $111,300 or lower will receive a total average stimulus payment that exceeds $3,000 when we account for tax credits.

But that doesn’t mean higher earners are doing poorly on the stimulus front, either. Households with an income of $111,300 to $247,400 will receive an average of $2,830 this year.

State And City Stimulus Checks

Congress has yet to agree on a fourth federal stimulus check, leaving many states to come up with their own programs to help eligible residents.

In California, the Golden State Stimulus II program offers residents over $568million in extra funding through the end of the year.

The program is for residents who have been financially impacted as a result of the pandemic.

Over half a million residents received $285 checks in Maine. In Maryland, qualifying residents can receive a check worth between $300 to $500.

Don’t Miss: Third Stimulus Checks Tax Return

Indiana: $325 Rebate Payments

Indiana found itself with a healthy budget surplus at the end of 2021, and it authorized two rebates to its residents.

In December 2021, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that Indiana taxpayers would get a $125 one-time tax refund after they filed their 2021 taxes.

Theres no income requirement. Residents must have filed a state tax return for the year 2020 by January 3, 2022, as well as a 2021 Indiana tax return by April 18, 2022, to be eligible. Payments started in May, according to the state.

Taxpayers who filed jointly could receive a single deposit of $250.

A second rebate was approved in August 2022 to grant another $200 per taxpayer.

Most taxpayers will receive their refunds by direct deposit and the second payments started rolling out in late August. If you changed banks or didnt have direct deposit information on file, you should have received a paper check.

Individuals who are only eligible for the $200 payment will not receive them at this time. They will have to file a 2022 tax return before January 1, 2024 to claim the credit.

For more information, visit the state Department of Revenue website.

Coronavirus Mortgage Relief Programs

The type of mortgage relief you may be eligible for depends on your loan type and which bank or agency owns your mortgage.

Here are the relief programs currently available for the four major loan programs: conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA.

Mortgage relief for conventional loans

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were the first to unveil relief programs for those affected by the coronavirus.

Many homeowners dont realize their mortgages are owned by Fannie or Freddie. You may not have noticed that one of them bought your loan after you closed. But you can easily find out using the lookup tool that each of them provides:

Be sure to use both tools. Either agency could own your mortgage as they own the majority of U.S. home loans.

Providing you agree with your lender on an assistance package, you could be in line for:

• Mortgage forbearance for up to 15 months
• Penalties and late fees waived on issues covered by your forbearance agreement
• No reporting to credit bureaus about late or missing loan payments
• Loan modifications that could allow you the same or lower monthly payments when things return to normal

Under the CARES Act, homeowners do not have to prove theyre in financial distress in order to get mortgage relief. That means no extensive documentation.

Homeowners simply have to claim theyre going through financial hardship by sending in a hardship letter saying theyve been affected by COVID-19.

Mortgage relief for government-backed loans

Private mortgage relief programs

Recommended Reading: Irs Customer Service Stimulus Check

What If My Mailing Address Changed Since I Received My Previous Stimulus Checks How Will I Get My Third Stimulus Check

If you are expecting to receive your third stimulus check by mail, it will be mailed to the last address you filed with the IRS. If your address has changed since then, there are different options you can take to make sure your stimulus check gets to you:

Option 1: File your 2020 federal tax return to update your address. If you havent filed your 2020 tax return yet, this is an easy way to update your address. File a tax return with your current address and your payment will be sent through the mail once the IRS receives your updated address.

Option 2: Provide your banking information in the IRS Get My Payment tool. If the post office was unable to deliver your stimulus check, it will be returned to the IRS. Two to three weeks after the payment has been issued, Get My Payment will display the message Need More Information. You will have the option to have your payment reissued as a direct deposit by providing your banking information.

If you dont provide your banking information, the IRS will mail your payment once your address is updated.

Option 3: Notify the IRS that your address has changed by telephone, an IRS form, or a written statement. It can take 4-6 weeks for the IRS to process your request.

Third Stimulus Check Under Biden Covid Relief Package

Under the now passed $1.9 Trillion Biden COVID Relief Package there are provisions included for another round of stimulus checks. The amounts will be $2800 for couples, $1400 for single adults and $1400 for each eligible dependent per the final bill crafted by the Congressional Democrats.

Based on the income qualification levels, nearly 85 percent of American households would receive a full or partial stimulus payment under the Biden plan. A typical couple with two children making $100,000 annually would receiving about $5,600 with this third round of stimulus check payments.

The full payment will be made to singles filers making less than $75,000 and couples earning less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income . Phase out limits to get a partial stimulus payment are also shown in the table below. To get the dependent check you need to qualify for the adult stimulus payment, and the payment would be sent to the adult recipient claiming the dependent.

Don’t Miss: Will Ssdi Get 4th Stimulus Check

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.

Focus On What Goes On At Your Housenot The White House

Its hard not to worry as you watch billions and trillions of dollars fly out the window in Washington, D.C. And while those things matter, the truth is, you have ultimate control over your money and what choices are made in your house. You have the power to improve your money situation right nowtodaywithout having to rely on the government.

And it all starts with a budget. Because when you make a plan for your money, you’re more likely to make progress and hit your financial goalsstimulus check or not. So, go ahead and create your budget with EveryDollar today! Take control of your future and get the hope you need.

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. Learn More.

You May Like: How Do I Know If I Got My Stimulus Check

How Much Will My Stimulus Check Be

The amount of your stimulus checks varies depending on your family status and income.

The first stimulus check was worth up to $1,200 per eligible adult and $500 per dependent child under 17. Single adults received as much as $1,200. Married couples with no children got up to $2,400. Married couples with two children received up to $3,400.

If your income exceeds $75,000 as a single filer, $112,500 as a head of household, or $150,000 as a married joint filer, your check amount was reduced at a rate of $5 per extra $100 earned. So if you made $76,000 as a single filer, your check would be reduced by $50.

Eligibility phased out for single filers with incomes above $99,000, heads of household with incomes above $136,500, and married joint filers with incomes above $198,000 for their own payments. However, some still received dependent payments. Married joint filers with two children and $199,000 in income would lose their own $2,400 payments but receive $950 of the $1,000 in dependent payments.

The second check provided $600 per eligible adult and child dependent. The phase-out rules worked the same way. However, because the check was for a smaller amount, eligibility disappeared entirely at a lower income threshold. Singles with incomes above $87,000 received no payment. Nor did heads of household with incomes above $124,500 — unless they received some dependent funds. And married joint filers lost eligibility for their own payments at $174,000.

Th Stimulus Check Update And Payment Status In 2022

This article provides updates, income qualification thresholds and FAQs on the approved and proposed stimulus checks, also known as Economic Impact payments.

While multiple rounds of payments have been made over the last two years, many are asking if the government will make another of payments to help folks cope with high inflation and the rising costs of basic goods and services.

Each round of stimulus check payments had slightly different rules so please ensure you review each payment round separately. Click the links below to jump to the relevant stimulus payment.

If you have not received one or more of your stimulus payments, then you will need to claim this as a recovery rebate via your tax filing for the relevant year. This include retroactive stimulus check payments.

• First Stimulus Check Payment in 2020

Don’t Miss: Get My Stimulus Payment Phone Number

How Much Do I Get

The size of these loans largely depends on what you ask for and what you need. Paycheck Protection Program loans are for up to $10 million or two and a half times a companys average monthly payroll costs. EIDLs are for up to $2 million, though the Small Business Administration has capped the initial disbursement at $15,000 per applicant for two months. This is due to the high volume of applications. The cap, however, is in addition to the $10,000 forgivable advance that is now limited to $1,000 per employee for companies with less than 10 employees