Stimulus Check: 5 Most Important Questions and Answers

Toni S. —

Stimulus Check: 5 Most Important Questions and Answers This article will examine the eligibility criteria to receive the first, second, or third stimulus checks, as well as evaluate the premises for the fourth stimulus check. In case you are not sure, which stimulus check you are allowed to file for, keep reading this article

1. Who is entitled to a stimulus check?

Eligibility criteria for the first stimulus check:

In case you meet all the criteria below, you are eligible for the first stimulus check:

1. Income Limits

The income limits set for those, who want to receive the first stimulus check are the following:

• $150,000 for married couples and joint return

Please note that the payment amount is decreased by 5% for every additional $100 of income up to $198,000.

• $112,500 for households

Please note that the payment amount is reduced by 5% for every additional $100 of income up to $136,500.

• $75,000 for private individuals

Please note that the payment amount is reduced by 5 % for every additional $100 of income up to $99,000.
Bear in mind: if you have no income, you can still get the payment.

Stimulus check
2. Age requirements:

Everyone older than 17 years is eligible to receive the first stimulus check under the following condition: they are not listed as someone`s dependents!

3. Social Security number (SSN) and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) must be available:

For married couples, who filed jointly for the first stimulus check, only one of the spouses must have a valid Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN).

Exception: if one of the spouses is affiliated with the military, then both of the adults qualify for the payment, even if none of them has a valid ITIN or SSN.

Please note that children who possess Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) do not qualify to receive the first stimulus check.

4. U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Residence

Individuals possessing U.S. citizenship or U.S. residence are automatically eligible for the first stimulus check.
Eligibility criteria for the second stimulus check:

In essence, people who qualify to file for the second stimulus check must satisfy the same criteria as for the first stimulus check. However, the only exception is the income limit is a bit lower for the second stimulus check:

• $87,000 for a single filer
• $174,000 for married filing jointly
• $124,500 for the head of household
Eligibility criteria for the third and fourth stimulus checks are the same as for the first one.

first Stimulus check

2. How much is each stimulus check?

The CARES Act has determined the following amounts for the first stimulus check, issued in early April 2020:

• Adult taxpayers would receive up to $1,200 per person, whereas eligible dependents under 16 years of age could receive $500 each (with a maximum of three dependents per family).

The second stimulus check equals up to $600 for adults and a possibility to get an additional $600 for child dependents aged 16 or under around December 2020-January 2021. The amount of the third stimulus check is up to $1,400 per adult and, respectively $2,800 for couples.

3. Can I claim my check now?

According to the recent information from IRS, it is no longer possible to get the checks for those who did not claim them recently. Nonetheless, those who did not file for either first, second, or third stimulus checks can file for the 2020/2021 federal tax return, if they fall under the eligibility criteria.

4. Will there be a fourth stimulus check?


The prevailing majority of the Wall Street analysts are convinced that it is highly unlikely to get the fourth stimulus check. They believe that the issuance of the fourth stimulus check would only promote inflation and force the supply chain to crash. The more spending is encouraged with the issuance of the fourth stimulus check, the higher the increase in demand will be.
Having mentioned that, some states have issued the fourth stimulus checks for their inhabitants. In case you want to get more detailed and up-to-date information on whether your state will issue fourth stimulus checks, please browse your local authority’s website.

second Stimulus check

5. Are there alternative programs for the CARES program?

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) is one of the best alternatives to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

One of the key distinctive traits of the FFCRA Act is the following:

• Two weeks of paid sick leave in case anyone was infected with COVID-19 for people without children. For the people with children, the paid leave will total 12 weeks. Employers are not allowed to fire or discharge sick people to avoid the support provision.

Key takeaways: we highly recommend checking first whether you are eligible to receive any of the first, second, or third stimulus checks. As to the fourth stimulus check, check the details on your local authority’s website. Alternatively, have a look at the FFCRA program if you were not eligible for the CARES Act stimulus checks.

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