

More stimulus money arriving for some. Here's who is getting payments

Some states are distributing stimulus checks and teacher bonuses. Plus more child tax credit money is coming to millions of families this year.



Angela Lang/CNET

Throughout the pandemic, three federal stimulus checks have been sent to eligible individuals, and advance monthly child tax credit payments will continue to be disbursed to millions of families through December (up to $300 a month for each child). With the rise in delta variant cases and the end of enhanced unemployment benefits, families are still facing numerous hardships. One petition calling for $2,000 recurring checks to all Americans has collected over 2.89 million signatures.

The question is, will more money come this year? The answer is tricky. Some governors are giving their residents additional financial relief. California residents just got a second round of Golden State Stimulus checks for $600 (or up to $1,100). And other states are giving teachers bonuses (more below). 

As of now, Congress doesn't plan to approve a fourth federal stimulus check this year. Lawmakers are focused on the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion federal budget package that could provide aid in other ways. And even though some people may qualify for up to $1,400 in additional stimulus money if they had a baby this year, that money won't come until 2022. We'll tell you what you need to know. Here's an update on the child tax credit extension and how to check on your unemployment tax break. We update this story frequently.

What relief aid has already been approved?

Child tax credit payments for families: A temporary expansion of the child tax credit for 2021 sends qualifying families up to $3,600 for each child -- you can calculate your total here. The advance partial payments of up to $300 per dependent, which began this summer, are issued monthly (the next one comes on Oct. 15) through the end of the year, with a final payment in 2022. 

Parents also have the option of deferring the advance monthly checks and instead get their payment in the spring. There is no cap on the total credit amount that a family with multiple children can claim. If the credit is more than what's owed in taxes, families will receive the excess amount as a tax refund next year. Plus, low-income families can qualify for the maximum credit. Here's more on child tax credit payment dates and eligibility.

Additional federal stimulus money: The third stimulus payments of up to $1,400 are still going out in batches to those who are eligible through the end of 2021. The IRS is also sending out "plus-up" payments, which is extra money making up the difference between the stimulus amount you already received (based on your 2019 return) and the amount you're eligible to receive (based on your updated 2020 return). 

Also, if an individual in your family becomes a dependent in 2021, such as a newborn or foster child, they could also be eligible for a $1,400 payment. According to the tax agency, for any new qualifying dependents to receive the third payment you'd have to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return that you'll file in 2022.



Maryland has a similar stimulus program.

Bonus payments to educators: As part of the American Rescue Plan, state and local governments received $350 billion in assistance. Much of that aid will go to schools, with some states deciding to pay their teachers and other school staff a "thank you" bonus of up to $1,000. The states participating are Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas and California. Michigan also sent $500 in hazard pay to teachers earlier this year. It's likely other states will approve similar funds in the future, as they have until 2024 to spend the funds.

Could we expect a fourth stimulus check this year?

The short answer is, no.

Researchers have found that the first three stimulus checks helped reduce hardships like food insufficiency and financial instability. So far, during the pandemic, eligible adults have received a max of $3,200 and children have received up to $2,500. For struggling families, that's not enough to bounce back from lost wages and benefits.

Since the American Rescue Plan, the White House has proposed several packages, including the American Jobs Plan and the Build Back Better agenda, but those don't call for more direct aid. President Joe Biden is "open to a range of ideas" regarding stimulus aid, according to a June statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, but he already put forward what would be "the most effective for the short term."

The scaled-back compromise of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal, which was agreed to in the Senate on July 28, doesn't include anything related to "human infrastructure" -- it doesn't address child care, improved wages or job training. Instead, those elements are to be included in the proposed $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The White House has outlined its "Build Back Better Agenda," incorporating lower health care costs, tax cuts and investments in teachers and schools. Senate Democrats are working on the economic plan, but the process of approving final versions of the bill in Congress could take a while. 



What's the latest update on the $2,000 stimulus check petition? petition that has collected more than 2.89 million signatures calls on Congress to send out a fourth stimulus check of $2,000 for adults and $1,000 for children on a monthly basis for the remainder of the pandemic. The petition notes that "the recovery hasn't reached many Americans" and points to the need for immediate checks and recurring payments so that "we can keep our heads above water." While the petition is close to becoming one of the most popular on its website, whether it will have any effect is another question.  



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Could Congress approve more money this year?

Though there's plenty we still don't know and much up for debate, there could be additional cash in the pockets of Americans in the following scenarios:



In the meantime, here's what to know about the tax refunds going out for those who received unemployment benefits in 2020 and the future of federal jobless benefits.