Relief checks 2023: Which states will send payments of up to $1,050 in February?

Stimulus checks feel like a long distant memory, the thought drifting away like trying to remember last night’s dream.

While there are no federal financial support plans announced, especially with most ending definitively with the expected announcement of the ‘end’ of the pandemic coming in May, individual states and cities are. These range from tax refund to trials of universal basic income. Many of these programmes is no longer accepting applications.

California

We’re coming to the end of the California Middle Class Tax Refund. So far more than $9 billion has been issued to more than 7 million people since the middle of 2022. Very few are left to receive the up to $1,050 funding.

For anyone who has not yet received their payment, the final payment will be sent by 22 February 2023.

Idaho

The state has been giving residents a tax refund off up to $600. The money should have been distributed by Thanksgiving but delays mean some residents are yet to receive them. The state government says refund timeframes are seven to eight weeks for e-filed returns and ten to elevenweeks for paper returns.

The status of Idaho tax refunds can be found here.

Illinois

The city of Evanston in Illinois is being used as a trial of universla basic income (UBI). The idea behind it is that it would decrease poverty and prevent homelessness by giving everyone money to subsist regardless if they were in work or not.

150 residents are taking part in a programme where they will receive $500 on a prepaid card once a month for 2023.

Massachusetts

Chelsea is another place trialling UBI programmes. The largest on this list, 2,000 people will receive between $200 and $400. It has been in place since November.

A trial of a similar plans was used during the covid-19 pandemic and was deemed a success.

“Our existing safety social net really overlooks undocumented residents, and these are residents that really sustain the regional economy, so it was critical for us to be able to economically support them throughout the pandemic,” said Alex Train, Chelsea’s director of housing and community development.

Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer plans to repay tax-paying residentes with a $180 rebate thanks to the state’s budget surplus with billions of dollars that haven’t been spent. Michigan residents who filed taxes last year will be eligible to receive the money.

Virginia

Just 170 people in the city of Alexandria will be part of the trial. They weill receive $500 monthly for 24 months with the first payments sent in January 2023.

Wisconsin

The Madison Forward Fund is another UBI programme in Madison County. 155 households will receive $500 a month for the year of 2023.