Will there be stimulus checks over the holidays? For certain states, yes – USA TODAY
Hopes of a fourth stimulus check from the federal government have been dashed, but certain states will still be offering their residents some cash ahead of the holidays.
So far, there have been three rounds of stimulus checks: one in April 2020, another in December 2020 and one more in March 2021.
The following states have passed legislation to provide stimulus checks :
California is sending another round of Golden State stimulus checks of $1,100 to residents who made less than $75,000 in the 2020 tax year. You need to have filed your taxes by Oct. 15, not be claimed as a dependent, and must be a California resident for more than half of 2020.
These relief checks are meant “to support Maine people who worked amid the pandemic,” according to Maine Revenue Services.
The payment amount will be $285, and Maine Revenue Services will issue the payments.
You are eligible if you have filed a Maine income tax return for 2020 by Oct. 31 and was a resident of the state for a full year. You must have received wages, salaries, tips or other taxable employee pay for the year and not be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s income tax return for 2020.
However, it’s only for people who make below a specific salary threshold, specifically $150,000 if married filing a joint return or a qualifying widow or widower, $112,500 if filing as head of household or $75,000 if single or married filing separately.
As part of the Maryland Relief Act of 2021, families will receive $500 and individuals will receive $300 if they filed for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Similar to federal stimulus payments, no application for relief is necessary.
Marylanders would qualify for these payments who annually earn $50,954 ($56,844 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children, $47,440 ($53,330 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children, $41,756 ($47,646 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child and $15,820 ($21,710 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.
Florida will be distributing stimulus payments in December for first responders and educators who work with students. Teachers and principals are eligible for payments of up to $1,000.
Georgia has implemented a similar policy, giving teachers and principals $1,000 in stimulus cash for their work during the pandemic.
Michigan is giving $1,000 bonuses to every full-time child care professional as part of its Child Care Stabilization Grant. Licensed child care providers are eligible to apply and should visit Michigan.gov/childcare to apply. Child care professionals will be awarded bonuses directly from their employer and do not need to apply.
Tennessee will be doling out $1,000 of hazard pay bonus to full-time teachers and $500 to part-time educators. They should expected to receive their checks before Jan. 1. The hazard pay came at the cost of an expected 2% raise that educators had been expecting in a bill passed in June.
Michelle Shen is a Money & Tech Digital Reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her @michelle_shen10 on Twitter.
