Which states will pay additional stimulus money in October 2021?
Despite the inaction in Washington on calls for additional stimulus checks, some states have taken to sending residents pandemic economic aid.
Democrats in the US Congress are struggling to get their next set of legislative priorities based on President Biden’s Bild Back Better plan through both chambers. One is the rump of the “hard” infrastructure proposals the President laid out in his campaign. The other is a much more ambitious set of measures to re-envision the US social safety net and tackle climate change.
Neither of the bills include another round of stimulus checks like the three Congress has already approved for families still struggling in the wake of economic damage the covid-19 pandemic continues to leave in its path. But the second proposal could extend the Child Tax Credit which is sending families with children monthly direct payments. The fourth installment is set to go out 15 October and payments will go through December.
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States are sending stimulus
Despite the continued calls from some lawmakers in Washington and online petitions for Congress to approve more stimulus checks, enthusiasm over that specific measure has waned. However, some states have already approved stimulus checks and new batches are set to go out in October, including to those who were ineligible for the federal payments. Here’s a rundown on where stimulus checks are being paid at a state level in October.
California: Golden State Stimulus
Due a larger than expected budget surplus and a quirk in state tax law, California approved a second round of Golden State Stimulus for around two thirds of its residents this summer. Previously, the state had approved an initial round destined for undocumented workers in the state who didn’t receive the federal stimulus checks and low-income residents. The scheme now makes all residents who earn under $75,000 eligible for a one-time payment.
The California Franchise Tax Board began sending out payments of up to $1,100 to Californians in September. The latest batch of direct deposit payments is slated to go out 5 October, and the first batch of paper checks the following day. In total the state will send out some 9 million payments which are scheduled to continue through the end of October.
New York: $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund
New York, meanwhile, has a $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund to be claimed by those who weren’t eligible for unemployment benefits, including undocumented workers.
To be eligible for the payment, New York residents must have a 2020 income under $26,208.
In addition, local artists in New York City will also receive help in the form of a $5,000 check in October.
Tennessee: $1,000/$500 checks for teachers
Tennessee will pay a $1,000 bonus to full-time teachers, and $500 to those who work part-time. The bill was passed on 30 June and recipients will get the payments before the end of the year. However, the one-off payments come in place of a 2% pay rise which many educators had expected to be introduced.
Alaska
Last but not least, although they aren’t stimulus checks in the exact sense, those who have been kept out of work for an extended amount of time in Alaska could see some extra money. Residents in Alaska may qualify for 13 to 20 weeks of additional payments through the Federal-State Extended Benefits program. The amount of money and requisites to qualify for the payments still remain uncertain, as this will depend on how much of the pot is available after some of it has been claimed for other purposes.
Moreover, this is not the only check available to Alaskans, they could receive in October the annual oil wealth checks, investment from which 25% of the annual oil money is put into the Alaska Permanent Fund, a dedicated fund for future generations.