$1400 third stimulus check: will adult dependents get the third stimulus check?

Democrats are pushing forward with making President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief package known as the American Rescue Plan a reality. Part of that plan includes a third round of stimulus checks to top up the second round to give eligible Americans the promised $2000.

In the previous two rounds one group of Americans, adult dependents, was left out. This group includes college students, disabled adults and older dependents who will now qualify for the $1400 direct payments under the bill presented in the House on Monday.

Americans overlooked in previous rounds of stimulus checks

Approximately 13.5 million adult dependents were not eligible for the previous rounds of stimulus checks according to an analysis. Only child dependents 16 or younger qualified. Should the new proposal by Democrats pass as it is written now many struggling families can look forward to receiving a little extra help.

Adult dependents are spread almost uniformly throughout the income distribution in the US. Over half of adult dependents are college students. The remainder are people 18 to 64 who require assistance and with the coronavirus the normal services that families rely on for help have been limited putting more stress on those families and their finances.

The $1400 stimulus check won’t be targeted

Prior to the House Ways and Means Committee releasing their legislation for the new round of direct payments, there had been debate about targeting the payments. More conservative Democrats wanted to avoid sending windfalls to already well-to-do families instead ensuring that the money got to Americans that truly needed it.

However the more progressive wing of the party won the day arguing that targeting the payments would hurt families in the middle class. Since the previous rounds of payments were based on taxpayers 2019 or even 2018 income-tax filings, the IRS wouldn’t know whether an individual’s situation has been affected by the pandemic.

What are the eligibility requirements for the $1400 stimulus check?

The new relief package will follow the same guidelines as the previous rounds with $1400 stimulus payments going to individual Americans with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $75,000 and couples making less than $150,000. Above those thresholds the payments will phase out just like they did for the two previous rounds.

To calculate individuals’ stimulus payment, the IRS will use taxpayers AGI from either 2019 or 2020 income-tax filings, depending which they have on record when the payments are approved. Individuals making over $100,000 and couples making over $200,000 will not be eligible in the next round of payments.

When will the stimulus checks be sent out?

Congress is currently writing the legislation for the covid-19 relief bill which must pass through both chambers of Congress before President Biden can sign it. Democrats in both the House and the Senate have vowed to work quickly to enact the new bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she aims to get the House version to the Senate in two weeks.

With extended unemployment benefits and other pandemic-related measures set to expire in mid-March, the Senate wants to get the final bill passed ahead of that deadline. With the Senate evenly split 50-50 all of the Democrats will have to vote in favor of the bill with GOP support so far lacking. The Democrats have approved using budgetary reconciliation to pass the covid-19 relief bill with a simple majority, avoiding a GOP filibuster which would impose a 60 vote threshold.

Third stimulus check: live updates

You can get the latest updates on the proposed third stimulus check, and other mooted aid measures such as the expanded child tax credit, by following our dedicated live blog.