Fact check: Who really qualifies for a stimulus check?
(CNN)Some Americans are already seeing the latest round of stimulus payments hit their bank accounts, as the first batch of funds is rolled out.
The payments — worth up to $1,400 per person — were included in the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package signed by President Joe Biden this week.
The White House on Thursday had announced that payments would go out as soon as this weekend for those who have their direct deposit information on hand at Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service. Processing of the first batch of stimulus payments began on Friday and more will roll out in the “coming weeks,” an official with the Treasury Department told reporters on a Friday call.
By Saturday morning, several people had posted on social media about seeing their stimulus payments pending in their bank accounts.
“Stimulus hit my account thanks biden,” Andrew Palmer, an IT consultant in Washington, DC, tweeted Saturday morning. Palmer told CNN that he’ll use the $1,400 he’ll receive to pay off debt.
Missouri resident Jarrel “JoJo” Royal told CNN that he also has the stimulus payment pending in his account. He started his job as a hotel assistant general manager on March 1 after being out of work since May 2020.
“My mom passed away in June from lung cancer, so part of the money is for a family trip this summer with my siblings and part of the money will pay some medical bills,” he told CNN.
While direct deposits have gone out first, paper checks and prepaid debit cards will be sent out before the end of the month.
Starting Monday, people can check the status of their payments using the IRS’ Get My Payment tool online.
No action is required for most people to receive the money. Social Security recipients and those who receive Veteran Affairs benefits should also receive the money automatically even if they don’t file taxes.
Who gets a payment and how much?
The full $1,400 amount goes to individuals earning less than $75,000 of adjusted gross income, heads of households (like single parents) earning less than $112,500 and married couples earning less than $150,000.
The payments gradually phase out as income goes up, and lawmakers narrowed the scope for this third round of payments so that not everyone who received a previous check will be sent one now.
It cuts off at individuals who earn at least $80,000 a year of adjusted gross income, heads of households who earn at least $120,000 and married couples who earn at least $160,000 — regardless of how many children they have.
But unlike prior rounds, families will now receive additional money for adult dependents over the age of 17. Families will receive an additional $1,400 per dependent, so a couple with two children could receive up to $5,600.
The new income thresholds are based on a taxpayer’s most recent return.
The money is expected to reach about 90% of families, according to an estimate from the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
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