California stimulus check: how many more payments remain to be sent in 2021?

The second Golden State Stimulus has been sending checks to Californians since the start of September. Two-thirds of residents are eligible for the checks of between $500 and $1,100, depending on income and how many dependents an individual has.

To be eligible, you just need to file your 2020 tax return and be under the wage threshold. Compared to the first round of checks in 2020, the eligibility barrier is much greater; people earning up to $75,000 can get the payment. This compares favorably to the first round where only people earning up to $30,000 were eligible.

However, if you received the first you cannot receive the second, apart from some specific circumstances. Those who received the first can only access the second if they noted their dependents on their tax return. They can receive $500 per dependent, up to a maximum of $1,000.

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What is Golden State Stimulus II?

California was able to run a budget surplus over 2020, meaning the state has the money to afford extra stimulus payments outside the federal packages. They are part of the wider $100 billion California Comeback Plan, intended to lift the state out of the covid-19 depression. As of the August data, California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the US, standing at 7.5 percent.

For the second Golden State Stimulus, the eligibility requirement is those earning up to $75,000 a year. This is much greater than the $30,000 eligibility limit for the first round of checks. You must also be a tax resident in California for more than half of the 2020 tax year.

The amount you qualify for can be estimated by using the California government website.

How many have been sent already?

Around 2.6 million checks have been sent directly to people's bank accounts in two batches on August 27 and September 17.  Every two weeks, a new batch will be sent until all recipients have received their checks.

October 6 is the first day that mail checks are being sent, with the first ones arriving based on your California zip code. This will continue until the end of 2021. Expect at least a two-week wait for the checks to arrive in the post.

Physical Check Schedule

Source: California Tax Franchise Board, 2021

If you filed your tax return after September 1 then there is an extra 45-day wait for your information to be processed. If you don't receive the payment in the allotted time frame, then it is possible to contact the California Franchise Tax Board.