Petition grows for $2,000 stimulus checks: Will a 4th payment happen? - CNET

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While stimulus checks have been popular, there is no indication that the White House is considering another one. 

Angela Lang/CNET

In the last month, online petitions calling for another stimulus payment to Americans have continued to gain support. At the same time, new jobless claims have fallen to the lowest since the start of the pandemic. And June's proposed bipartisan infrastructure deal didn't include more economic stimulus money for individuals and families. What does all that mean in terms of the economic recovery, and how does that impact the possibility of a fourth stimulus check? 

An increasingly popular Change.org petition states in a recent update: "The true unemployment rate for low-wage workers is estimated at over 20% and many people face large debts from last year for things like utilities, rent and child care." But while some lawmakers had called for more stimulus money during the spring, many in Washington argue that as the financial situation improves, stimulus money should be lower on the agenda. 

We'll lay out what's new with the demand for stimulus payments and what the government has committed to so far. As for other money matters, some 36 million families could qualify for the federal expansion of the child tax credit, with $300 or $250 monthly payments set to begin this month. Here's how to check on your tax refund if you haven't received it yet, what to know about the unemployment tax break. We have updated this story recently with new information.

What is the Change.org petition about?

The current Change.org petition, which has collected around 2.5 million signatures, calls on Congress to send out a fourth stimulus check of $2,000 for adults and $1,000 for children on a monthly recurring basis throughout the remainder of the pandemic. The petition notes that "the recovery hasn't reached many Americans" and points to the need for immediate checks and recurring payments so that "we can keep our heads above water." 

According to a recent study, the first three stimulus checks helped reduce hardships like food insufficiency and financial instability. So far during the pandemic, eligible adults have received a max of $3,200 and children have received $2,500. For many struggling families, it's not enough to bounce back from lost wages and benefits. While the Change.org petition is close to becoming one of the most popular on its website, whether it can actually have any sway is another question. 

Are there any concrete proposals for stimulus checks?

Since the American Rescue Plan became law in March, the White House proposed two packages -- the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan -- neither of which called for more stimulus aid. On June 3, a White House press conference indicated that efforts would focus on the infrastructure spending package. President Joe Biden is "open to a range of ideas" regarding stimulus aid, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, but he already put forward what would be "the most effective for the short term."

The new scaled-back compromise of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, which the White House announced on June 24, doesn't include anything related to "human infrastructure": That is, it doesn't address child care, improved wages or job training. At the same time, the announcement states, "President Biden remains committed to the comprehensive agenda laid out in the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan."

it's been some months since Democratic members of the House and Senate argued for another stimulus check. In late March, a group of lawmakers asked Biden to include regular stimulus payments in his next stimulus package. In May, several members of the House Ways and Means Committee made a similar request. Citing increased poverty and spiraling debt among Americans, they noted that "most people spent relief checks on monthly expenses or essentials such as food, utilities, rent and mortgage payments."

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What relief money has been approved already in 2021? 

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 from March contained three types of direct payments to individuals:

Stimulus checks: Stimulus payments of up to $1,400 have gone out to those who meet the requirements. There's also money going to certain individuals in the form of "plus-up" payments . 

Child tax credit: A temporary expansion of the child tax credit for 2021 sends qualifying families up to $3,600 for each child -- you can calculate your child tax credit total here. These monthly partial payments, which will begin this month, will last through the end of the year, with a final payment in 2022. 

Federal unemployment bonus: A weekly $300 unemployment bonus was extended to Sept. 6, as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance was to gig workers and freelancers (the self-employed). However, over half of state governments have since chosen to opt out of the extended benefits before Sept. 6, so millions of jobless Americans in those states were cut off from those funds as early as mid-June.

So far, eligible US families have received three stimulus checks amid the pandemic. 

CNET Staff

Could Washington approve more money by other means?

There's a lot to consider when evaluating the future of stimulus aid for families. The White House could put additional cash in the pockets of Americans via the following scenarios: 

If it makes the child tax credit raise permanent: Money from the expanded child tax credit is set to start in less than two weeks with monthly payments to lower-income and middle-income families with children. In his speech before Congress, Biden called on the House and Senate to extend the expanded child tax credit to 2025. Other aspects of the American Families Plan related to health care costs and medical leave also have yet to be negotiated. 

If it passes a minimum wage hike: Some senators continue to look for ways to boost the federal minimum wage, which stands at $7.25 per hour. A few proponents want to set the bar at a $15 hourly wage, and others are looking to only go up to $11 an hour. In recent years, many states, localities and businesses have implemented minimum wage increases above the federal level. However, the discussion of a new national rate of $15 an hour has hit a roadblock in recent months, and the likelihood of it being enacted anytime soon is low.

If it renews federal unemployment bonuses beyond the fall: Some lawmakers originally petitioned for federal unemployment assistance to extend beyond Labor Day. However, dozens of states have already cut off extended benefits (or plan to), and enhanced unemployment relief is not likely to continue beyond the expiration date in other states. On June 4, Biden indicated that the temporary boost in jobless benefits should expire in early September as planned.

In the meantime, here's what to do if there's a problem with your stimulus check. And here's what we know about the new IRS portals that'll help you get money with the child tax credit checks that will start on July 15.

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