(Dan Caplinger)
The COVID-19 pandemic was not only a deadly health threat, it also created economic disruption around the world. People are still dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, both in business and in managing their personal finances. For a time, the stimulus checks the US federal government paid out served as a lifeline for millions of Americans to get by.
Further stimulus checks at the federal level seem increasingly unlikely, even if inflation causes many financial difficulties. However, many states join in by making special payments themselves. Below, you’ll learn more about where some of these stimulus checks are helping residents and if you qualify.
help children
Several states have offered targeted assistance to families with children. This was in addition to relief at the federal level that extended Child Tax Credit eligibility beyond its normal rules in 2020 and 2021. Examples include:
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- Some Connecticut residents were eligible to receive $250 per child for up to three children, although the application period has since ended and the checks have already been paid.
- Florida made payments of $450 per child to more than 59,000 families, including those receiving Temporary Assistance funding for families in need.
- Rhode Island matched its neighboring state’s $250 per child credit for up to three children, and payments began going out in early October.
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Look at landlords and tenants
A handful of states have focused their assistance on landlord and tenant costs. In New Jersey, homeowners were eligible to receive $1,000 to $1,500, depending on income limits. Tenants who have demonstrated their eligibility could receive $450 under the program.
In New York, homeowners could apply for school tax relief, the amounts of which varied by location and income. Payments ranged up to $1,050. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania offered a similar program to New Jersey, with low-income homeowners and renters receiving $650 to $975.
Wider support
More than a dozen additional states have requested state stimulus payments in one form or another for taxpayers. They include some of the most populous states in the country, and some of the amounts are quite large.
In California, for example, the middle class tax refund was designed to offset rising inflation and its impact on taxpayers. Depending on income levels, single filers could receive between $200 and $350, while joint filers could receive double that amount. Plus, those with dependents could add an additional $200 to $350, bringing the total to between $200 and $1,050.
Meanwhile, Colorado taxpayers got a one-time tax refund over the summer, with eligibility extending to those who filed 2021 state returns through mid-October 2022. were $750 for single filers and $1,500 for joint filers, with no provisions for additional amounts. for families with dependents. Maine has made similar arrangements for its taxpayers, with slightly higher amounts of $850 for singles and $1,700 for joint filers.
Finally, in Massachusetts, taxpayers recovered a percentage of their tax liability due to state government overfunding. The final amount ended up being 14% of what taxpayers owed on their 2021 returns, with refunds beginning to be paid to residents from November.
Smaller quantities were available in a number of other states, including Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina and Virginia.
Check with your local authorities
With some of these programs, payments will be automatic and residents will not have to do anything. But in other cases, an application is required to receive state stimulus payments. In addition, the deadlines have already been exceeded in some cases. It might be beneficial to speak with your own government officials to ensure you get all the money that is rightfully yours.
Federal stimulus payments were a big help at the start of the pandemic, and state-sponsored stimulus payments could also be helpful this time around. As the economy continues to weaken, more states may appear on the list of those offering financial assistance to their residents.
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