Many people aren’t aware that there may actually be additional stimulus payment opportunities. Even though there has been a push for a federal 4th round of stimulus payments nationwide, it isn’t happening right now. There are some things that you should know about this 4th stimulus check that you could potentially get if you live in the right area!
Who Supports a Fourth Stimulus Payment?
A popular supportive party in favor of a fourth round of stimulus payments comes from the democrats. That is why it shouldn’t be surprising that a group of democratic senators (including high profile names like Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont) suggested in a letter to President Joe Biden that there be “recurring direct payments and automatic unemployment insurance extensions…”. These senators weren’t the only ones that supported the idea of assistance for Americans in need.
In a different, unrelated, letter to President Joe Biden, 53 representatives (led by Ilhan Omar of Minnesota) suggested “Recurring direct payments until the economy recovers…”. This was suggested as a way to “help ensure that people can meet their basic needs, provide racially equitable solutions, and shorten the length of the recession…”.
Even though different groups of people support additional stimulus assistance, it will likely not be passed at a federal level. Even though there is no national round of fourth stimulus payments planned, states still have the power to help their residents! Many states have already approved a form of fourth round stimulus payments.
Can You Expect a Federal Nationwide Fourth Round of Stimulus Checks?
You shouldn’t hold your breath if you are hoping for a fourth round of stimulus payments at a nationwide level. Even though the chances of it happening aren’t zero, they are slim. Luckily, even if it’s not at a federal level, there is state assistance that may be able to help. States that are giving another round of stimulus payments include:
- Florida
- Tennessee
- New Mexico
- California
Florida
Florida is known for funny “local Florida man” stories that recall wild antics of residents of the state. However, they should also be known as a state that cares about its people. The Florida’s Heroes Initiative gave $1,000 stimulus payments to EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, teachers, police officers, and principals. Florida wantec to focus on the workers that felt a huge impact from the virus who continued to help society through it all.
Tennessee
Teachers in Tennessee are in for a treat! Even though there won’t be a traditional fourth round of stimulus payments for teachers, they will receive a bonus. The funds aren’t provided in an across the board payment amount. Instead, the amount provided to teachers will depend on the district.
New Mexico
Eligible households who are low-income that deal with financial hardship may be eligible to receive a fourth round stimulus payment of $750. New Mexico wanted to focus on individuals that were impacted the most by the pandemic which is why the state legislature appropriated $5 million for the relief effort. This payment was specifically designed to help those who needed it the most and was issued to households back in July 2021.
California
California is known for being progressive. That is why it should be especially unsurprising that in July 2021, the governor of California approved a budget that allocated funds for a fourth round stimulus payment. It’s estimated that 2 out of every 3 Californians will receive a payment. Recipients like middle-class families can expect a stimulus of $600 (with an additional $500 if they have kids). This is just one of the additional stimulus opportunities that California provided.
Statewide Assistance
You should keep your eye out because more states may decide to provide additional stimulus support to their residents. Just make sure that you don’t bank on receiving this assistance since it isn’t guaranteed. If you need more support during this time, then you may benefit from looking at other opportunities.
Other Opportunities Instead of a Stimulus Payment
Luckily, you have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to additional assistance that may be able to help. There are plenty of ways that you can review these opportunities. The most convenient way is by searching online for programs in your area. You can either use a search engine, or a free online benefit tool. If you use a free tool, then a great option to consider is Benefits.gov. When using this tool, you can filter the type of assistance by different categories:
- Disaster Relief
- Financial Assistance
- Healthcare and Medical Assistance
- Loans
From there, you can use this tool to review programs that may be able to help your situation. However, another great place to start is by checking out popular programs amongst Americans already. Some popular programs include:
- Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Unemployment Benefits
Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)
A common rough spot that parents find themselves in is when they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. At the same time, they don’t make enough to handle the cost of private insurance. This can leave parents in a difficult position when it comes to getting a healthcare plan that works for their budget. Luckily Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) provides health coverage at a discounted rate to qualified families.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Everyone needs to eat in order to survive. That is why food is a big expense for many people, especially when it comes to larger families. The government created a program to help handle the cost of groceries! The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also commonly referred to as “food stamps” can help families more than they may realize! The program provides funds for individuals to use through an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. These funds can be used in locations that accept this form of payment.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Families that need assistance can turn to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Even though this program is federally funded, it is state-run. This means eligibility requirements, benefit opportunities, etc., will vary by state. The goal of the TANF program is to support families reach financial independence with benefits like job training, cash assistance, and more!
Unemployment Benefits
People may experience periods of unemployment due to no fault of their own. Unemployment benefits may be able to help! Every state has their own version of unemployment assistance. So where you live will impact what benefits you are able to receive. Other unemployment benefits like unemployment education as well as job training opportunities may be available through federal agencies (if you’re looking for options at a federal level).