More than nine months after the CARES Act authorized $1,200 payments to help Americans with the COVID-19 pandemic, and after heated negotiations in Congress, a second stimulus bill has finally passed. Americans can expect to receive $600 direct payments soon.
The bill also temporarily extends unemployment benefits and eviction protections.
Americans are generally upset over what is considered insufficient support, as due to the pandemic over 350,000 Americans have died, millions are unemployed, and countless businesses have closed. Democrat lawmakers, joined briefly by President Trump, called for larger checks, but those efforts were blocked by Republicans.
So when will we see the money?
Some Americans may have already received their stimulus checks! If you received the last one via direct deposit, this one could already be in your bank account.
They should all be distributed by January 15th. If you don’t receive yours by then, or want more information, follow these steps.
Check how much you should be getting using CNET’s stimulus calculator. For most households making less than $150,000 per year, the second stimulus will be $600 per adult and $600 per child under 17.
If there’s an issue, you didn’t receive the full amount, or you need to update your information with the IRS, go to the “Get My Payment” portal on the IRS’s website.