4th stimulus check update 2022 — Four states giving out checks worth up to $2,000 within weeks – do you qualify?

How to claim stimulus without filing taxes

The White House and a nonprofit tech organization, Code for America, just reopened a tool that allows low-income Americans to claim past payments. 

This includes the 2021 child tax credit and the third stimulus check. 

To be eligible, you must not have earned more than $12,550 in total income. 

Study finds Americans financially struggling

According to CNBC, if an event like the pandemic “were to happen today, many people would still struggle financially.”

The Bipartisan Policy Center, the Funding Our Future group, and Morning Consult conducted a new survey, which yielded these results.

Considering that these government-issued direct transfers have all but disappeared, the poll found that 42 percent of working Americans are either very or somewhat financially insecure.

Newark, NJ providing payments, continued

Newark Mayor Ras J Baraka said: “At a time when our city still faces the challenges of COVID-19 and its economic impact, the biggest and most important institution that we should be investing in is families.”

“This will give our residents a much-needed boost and allow them to participate in the economy, regain their economic independence and strength, and move toward prosperity.”

“This type of intervention can support our economy and our future.”

Newark, NJ providing additional payments

An expansion of Newark’s guaranteed income pilot program means 400 residents will receive payments totaling $12,000 over two years.

Half of the program’s participants will receive $250 on a biweekly basis.

The other recipients will pocket two payments of $3,000 each year.

Tax relief in New York

The state is sending out a one-time homeowner tax rebate credit (HTRC) to eligible residents worth up to $1,050.

New York City households will see an average benefit of $425.

The Sun reported on the program here.

Consumer watchdogs warn against high utility prices

Consumer groups have said households will pay 8 percent more for utilities this summer, PBS reported.

Specifically, residents of Pennsylvania will pay from 8 to 38 percent more for electricity.

Electricity prices are up due to the rising cost of gas.

The rise in the cost of utilities may strain the wallets of Americans even more, especially as federal stimulus aid does not seem to be in the cards.

Mortgage help up to $65,000, continued

To qualify, Bexar County residents must:

• Own and occupy a home in Texas as a primary residence
• Have experienced financial hardship after January 21, 2020
• Have income at or below 100 percent area median income or 100 percent of the median income for the United States, whichever is greater

Mortgage help up to $65,000 in Texas

Homeowners in Bexar County, Texas may claim federal dollars to help pay their mortgages.

The Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund will now provide financial aid to qualified Texas homeowners  who have fallen behind on their mortgage.

The maximum assistance is $40,000 per household.

For those past due on property taxes, property insurance, HOA or condo association fees, the maximum assistance is $25,000 per household.

UBI programs around the country

Annapolis isn’t the only city in the country considering a UBI plan.

In fact, various cities and states across the country are offering UBI payments to select residents.

This includes Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is set to start sending $500 every month for two years.

Additionally, around 15,000 students are set to get $5,000 over five months in California as a bill passed the Senate. 

Annapolis UBI

The universal basic income proposal comes from Alderman DaJuan Gay of Ward 6, reports The Capital Gazette. 

As of now, it is unclear if the proposal has enough support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass.

Universal basic income in Maryland

A new proposal may give 100 families in Annapolis, Maryland $500 per month.

The plan would cost the state $800,000.

Funds would come in part from the American Rescue Act, which was made law by President Joe Biden in March 2021. 

Lawmakers want to repeal 18.4 cent gas tax

The federal tax on a gallon of gasoline is 18.4 cents, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

In a press release, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has asked Congress to repeal the tax through the end of 2022.

He was joined by Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Jared Polis of Colorado, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, and Tony Evers of Wisconsin.

Hawaii’s tax rebate proposal

Hawaii Governor David Ige submitted a tax rebate proposal in January.

The proposal will allow every Hawaii taxpayer earning less than $100,000 to receive $300.

Those earning more will be sent $100.

The state of Hawaii approved the rebate in May, but final details have not yet been released, as reported by Forbes.

$250 child tax credits begin July 1 in Connecticut

Applications for $250 child tax credits, which come in the form of a tax rebate, have opened in Connecticut.

They will remain open from June 1 to July 31.

Connecticut families may claim up to three credits, worth $250 each.

The payments come as Connecticut’s record-smashing budget surplus has come to light.

The tax rebates are part of an updated budget plan, which kicks in July 1.

New Jersey’s $40million stimulus effort

Using funds from the American Rescue Act, New Jersey lawmakers launched the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund — a $40million package designed to provide relief to undocumented immigrants affected by the Covid pandemic.

Successful single applicants were in line for a check worth up to $2,000, while families with an income of less than $55,000 could get $4,000.

The deadline for applications was February 28.

New Mexico relief payments up to $2,000

The New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department and Human Services Department (HSD) has partnered to deliver income tax rebates and economic relief to taxpayers.

The one-time rebates are worth up to $2,000.

The payments will be issued by July 31.

Bonus checks in Massachusetts

Payments worth $500 for eligible workers in Massachusetts are set to go out this month.

The funds will be provided under Massachusett’s Essential Employee Premium Pay program.

Eligibility is determined by 2021 income.

Yellen denies claims of stimulus concerns

Excerpts from an upcoming biography of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen claim that Yellen raised concern about President Biden’s $1.9trillion pandemic relief bill, fearing that the legislation would worsen inflation.

Yellen released a statement denying the claims in the book by journalist Owen Ullmann that she wanted to trim the bill by a third.

“I never urged adoption of a smaller American Rescue Plan package, and I believe that ARP played a central role in driving strong growth throughout 2021 and afterwards,” Yellen said, per the Financial Times.

Who is eligible for Maine rebate checks?

To qualify for a rebate check, residents in Maine must meet a few requirements. 

For instance, an individual must not exceed $100,000 in income, while heads of the household and couples can make up to $150,000 and $200,000 respectively.

These will be based on 2021 tax returns.

You also must not be claimed as a dependent on another’s tax return to qualify for the rebate.

Thousands of Maine residents eligible

About 200,000 tax rebates are set to go out each week in Maine for the next several weeks.

Roughly 858,000 Maine residents are eligible.

Those who are a part of the first batch of payments may already be seeing checks in the mail.

How much are the Maine checks?

The tax rebates are worth $850 per individual and $1,700 for the average family.

“Maine people who have already filed their 2021 Maine tax return are expected to receive their check by mid-July,” Governor Mill’s office said.

You can use Maine’s refund status tool to track your payment.

$850 checks in Maine

Maine has started sending rebate checks to thousands of residents. 

An estimated 200,000 tax rebate payments will go out every week through at least mid-July, according to Governor Janet Mill’s office. 

Most payments would be issued by the end of the month.