stimulus checks

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Relief Payments Result in 'Surprising' Poverty Decline

Official poverty rate rises, but 'supplemental' measure declines

(Newser) - The share of Americans living in poverty rose slightly as the COVID-19 pandemic shook the economy last year, but massive relief payments pumped out by Congress eased hardship for many, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday.
  • Official number: The official poverty measure showed an increase of 1 percentage point in 2020,
...

Parents, Check Your Accounts This Week

First of 6 monthly installments for enhanced child tax credit are due out Thursday

(Newser) - If you have kids and fit the eligibility requirements, you could see your first monthly payment from the US Treasury this week. The first installment to 39 million families, comprising 65 million kids, are set to be disseminated on Thursday, either via direct deposit or check. Most families will automatically...

Starting July 15, a Boost to Most Parents' Bank Accounts

Expanded tax credit under American Rescue Plan will deliver up to $300 per month per child

(Newser) - Welcome news for parents of the majority of America's kids: Your bank account is about to get a monthly boost. As part of the expanded tax credit under the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan, households including 88% of the nation's children will start seeing monthly payments on...

COVID Relief Bill Might Backfire in the Long Run

Megan McArdle makes her case

(Newser) - New COVID relief payments of $1,400 will be landing in Americans' bank accounts soon, but Megan McArdle makes the case in a Washington Post op-ed that the checks are a bad idea. She's all in favor of the government helping people and businesses in genuine need during the...

Biden: Look for Payments This Month

President savors Senate victory on pandemic relief bill

(Newser) - After the Senate passed his coronavirus relief package Saturday, President Biden told Americans they'll get their stimulus payments soon. "This plan will get checks out the door starting this month to the Americans that so desperately need the help," he said in a news conference at the...

'American Rescue Plan' One Step Closer to Arrival

House votes 219-212 to approve $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, sends it to Senate

(Newser) - A long-awaited COVID relief bill is now making its way to the US Senate after the House of Representatives approved the $1.9 trillion package early Saturday. CNN reports that the vote was 219-212, with no Republicans casting a "yea," and two Democrats joining their GOP colleagues in...

Do You Have $1,400 Coming Your Way, and When?

CBS News suggests $1,400 checks may wait until March or April

(Newser) - Now that Joe Biden is officially in the Oval Office , the work begins—and at the top of many Americans' minds is when they can expect stimulus checks to help them get through the pandemic. The president has a $1.9 trillion COVID relief proposal on deck, and contained in...

You Might Get $2K Relief Check After All

Schumer says it's No. 1 priority in Democrat-controlled Senate

(Newser) - It got a little lost in the shuffle of Wednesday's chaos in DC, but the pair of Democratic Senate wins in Georgia means that Americans might get $2,000 in COVID relief checks after all. In this case, that would likely mean an additional payment of $1,400 on...

We May Be Having the Wrong Debate on Relief Checks

The real question is why rich people are getting them, too, writes Catherine Rampell

(Newser) - The issue of whether Americans will get relief checks of $600 or $2,000 is now in the hands of the Senate, and the legislative jiu-jitsu already has begun. It's expected to play out over a few days, and how it will end up is anyone's guess at...

Sanders: I'll Filibuster Over $2K Relief Checks

He wants vote on increasing the amount from $600, could keep senators from going home

(Newser) - Whether Americans will get checks for $600 or $2,000 is now up to the Senate, and it looks like the next few days are going to be interesting ones in the chamber. Bernie Sanders on Monday threatened to filibuster unless the Senate votes quickly on the measure, reports the...

Attempt to Increase COVID Relief Checks Fails in House

House Democrats side with Trump on bigger amount, but Republicans block measure

(Newser) - So how much will Americans get in COVID relief payments, and when will they get it? Check back Monday. House Democrats and Republicans engaged in a quick battle of legislative maneuvers on Thursday that effectively punted the issue into next week. The recap: Earlier this week, Congress passed legislation that...

You Might Get Your COVID Relief Check Next Week

Treasury's Mnuchin says they'll be delivered quickly

(Newser) - The next round of COVID relief checks promised to Americans won't arrive in time for Christmas, but they won't be too far behind, either. Treasury chief Stephen Mnuchin told CNBC Monday that he expects a quick turnaround. "The good news is this is a very, very fast...

Kyle Rittenhouse Explains How He Got His Gun

Accused Kenosha shooter talks to the 'Washington Post'

(Newser) - Accused Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse isn't old enough to buy or own a gun—so, the Illinois 17-year-old tells the Washington Post in a new interview, an 18-year-old friend who lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, bought it for him ... using economic stimulus funds. "I got my $1200 from the...

Austrians Cash In Stimulus Checks From ... America?

And they're not the only foreigners receiving US stimulus funds in error

(Newser) - Austria isn't part of the United States of America (last time we checked), but over the past few months, some Austrians have received assistance reserved only for US citizens and residents. They've been cashing checks sent to them as part of the $2 trillion US stimulus package, even...

Man Felt 'Violated' After Landlord Text on Stimulus Check

Ore. man says property manager illegally accessed payment status via IRS site, asked for rent

(Newser) - On April 15, Austin Goodrich received his stimulus check from the government. That same day, he got some odd texts from his property manager, per Business Insider . In messages documented by Joshua Browder, CEO of the DoNotPay legal chatbot, Goodrich's landlord asked him, "You got your stimulus, just...

Man Checks Stimulus Money, Suddenly Has Over $8M

Charles Calvin knew something wasn't right

(Newser) - A volunteer firefighter was a little surprised to see his $1,700 stimulus payment turn him into a multi-millionaire, CNN reports. "What in the world is going on, man?" says Charles Calvin, 45. "That doesn't seem right." When the Indiana resident took his MetaBank card to...

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