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Will you get a second stimulus check?

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By mid-May 2020, the IRS had issued more than $218 billion in stimulus checks related to the CARES Act, and it was still working to ensure all eligible Americans received theirs. But in early August, 2020, almost five months after the CARES Act was passed, many people were wondering if they would receive a second stimulus check. Find out what’s known about stimulus checks and future financial assistance from the federal government in the article below.

Will There Be a Second Stimulus Check?

Judging on the number of bills being passed around Congress, there’s a possibility another stimulus act is coming, and it may come with a second round of stimulus checks. But the details—including how much the check will be worth and who will be eligible—depend on which of the acts ends up making it through.

Bills currently being discussed include:

The HEALS Act

The HEALS Act comes from the Republicans and is a stimulus package similar to the CARES Act. If this act passes in its current form it will include many of the details described below.

How Much Money Will People Get?

Yes, this act does include stimulus payments to many Americans. The details of how much and who might get what amount are included below.

Individuals making less than $75,000 per year will get $1,200.
Couples filing jointly and making less than $125,000 per year will get $2,400.
People making above those amounts may still get a check. The stimulus is reduced $5 for every $100 of income above those limits until it tapers off completely. So, someone making $80,000 per year would get $950, for example.
An additional $500 is also included for every dependent claimed on the person or couple’s tax return, which is different from the CARES Act, which excluded dependents over the age of 16.

Who Would Qualify?

The income and dependent restrictions explained above will determine who would qualify for the stimulus. Qualification would likely be based on tax returns or Social Security benefit statements as was the case with the CARES Act.

What Other Benefits Are Included?

The HEALS Act contains a number of other benefits and stimulus efforts for businesses, schools and workers. Some of the main provisions are highlighted below, but this is not a comprehensive list.

Additional unemployment benefits would be provided, but it would be less per week than under the CARES Act.
The act would expand the Paycheck Protection Program by another $190 billion and make it easier for businesses to comply with the payroll requirement.
A return-to-work bonus may be offered to unemployed workers who find new jobs.
Funds to schools to help support reopening efforts would be included.
Some protection against lawsuits related to COVID-19 would be provided for businesses.
The act also includes $16 billion in coronavirus testing support.

The HEROES Act

This is the stimulus act being proposed by the Democrats. It also includes stimulus payments and other benefits for individuals and businesses.

How Much Money Will People Get?

As with the other bills, the HEROES Act includes a round of stimulus payments for qualifying Americans. The details of the payment amounts being proposed are summarized below.

Individuals making less than $75,000 get a $1,200 check under this act.
Married people filing jointly making less than $125,000 total annually get a $2,400 check under this act.
The stimulus is reduced $5 for every $100 of income above those limits until it tapers off completely.
The HEROES Act provides $1,200 per dependent for the first three dependents for an individual or married couple with no age restrictions. So if you claim three children, you would get an additional $3,600 in stimulus funds.

Who Would Qualify?

The qualifications for stimulus checks would be similar to those under the HEALS and CARES Acts as represented above.

What Other Benefits Are Included?

Here are some of the other benefits included in the HEROES Act:

This act includes the same enhanced unemployment benefits available under CARES, just extended for a longer period of time.
The HEROES Act also includes expanded eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program and a reduction in the payroll requirement.
An expansion and extension of the eviction moratorium and protections for renters is included in the HEROES Act but not the HEALS Act.
Funds to support school reopenings are also included in this act.

When Could a Second Stimulus Check Come?

When a second stimulus check might arrive depends heavily on when a bill is passed. Both the House and the Senate must pass the bill, and then it has to be signed by the president. But the hope is that it won’t take as long for the IRS to turn around payments as it did in March and April. Ideally it won’t—the IRS has now done this once already and has probably learned lessons and put a system in place that speeds up the second round.

In fact, Steven Mnuchin, the US Treasury Secretary, said that the IRS could start sending payments within a week of an act being passed. So, if the act is passed anytime in mid-September, for example, the checks could start rolling out before the calendar moved into October.

Will This Be the Last Stimulus Check?

It’s pure speculation at this point to discuss a second, or even third or fourth stimulus check. But it’s not impossible. It likely depends on the state of the economy and job market as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. If future stimulus checks do come, though, they may become increasingly more targeted as time passes. For example, it’s possible stimulus funds might start to go to people who can demonstrate a need.

However, until this second act is passed and lawmakers move on to considering future bills, there’s simply no way to know.

Protecting Your Financial Status During COVID-19 and After

Whether you’re waiting for and relying on a second stimulus check or you’re beginning to see a light at the end of your own personal COVID-19 financial tunnel, it’s definitely important to keep an eye on your personal finances during these trying times. That can include checking your credit report to ensure all the information is accurate and disputing inaccurate items so they don’t drag down your score in the future. It can also include managing your debt, income and investments in the most responsible way. During COVID-19 and beyond, Lexington Law offers information that can help you navigate finances and plan for the future. Check out articles that range from student loans to mortgages, and consider our credit repair services if you need help getting your credit report back to rights.

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