How many stimulus checks are we getting? Support grows for monthly $2,000 payments during coronavirus crisis
DIRECT deposit emergency stimulus money was sent to Americans in mid-April, and as paper checks are now gradually being rolled out, people are wondering: How many checks are we getting?
Support is growing for a bill that would give more coronavirus checks to Americans, as millions still wait for their emergency payment to arrive in the mail.
The first round of stimulus checks – included in a $2.2trillion package passed in late March – gave $1,200 to single people, $2,400 to couples and an additional $500 per child for those who fell under a certain income bracket.
Many Americans, however, are hoping for more checks, as more than 30 million people have lost their jobs amid the pandemic.
SECOND ROUND OF CHECKS UP FOR DEBATE
Lawmakers are currently debating on a second round of stimulus checks.
Many Democrats have said that the first round of checks is not nearly enough for Americans, as businesses have been forced to close and people have had hours cut at work, been furloughed or lost their jobs entirely.
Over 50 Democratic lawmakers signed a letter in April encouraging monthly direct payments as part of a fourth coronavirus response bill, The Hill reported.
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota were among those supporting the monthly payments.
Republicans, however, have been less keen about a second round of checks and pushed for the economy to open instead.
“The real stimulus that’s going to change the trajectory that we're on is going to be the economy, not government checks,” Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said during a virtual town hall.
“So I doubt there will be another payment," he added.
A $484 billion coronavirus aid package was passed in late April – but it did not include another round of checks for Americans.
DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL GAINING SUPPORT
In mid-April, Democratic Reps. Tim Ryan from Ohio and Ro Khanna of California proposed another bill called the Emergency Money For the People Act.
Under the bill, single Americans over the age of 16 would receive $2,000 for month, while married couples would receive $4,000 and another $500 per child for up to three children.
The plan would last six months and could be renewed for another six months if the pandemic persists.
More than two dozen Democratic representatives have joined the bill as co-sponsors – but in order to be passed, the bill would need to be approved by Republicans in Congress in order to go into action.
TRUMP AND WHITE HOUSE SAID MORE CHECKS MAY BE COMING
President Donald Trump said last month before another stimulus package was passed that more checks could be on the way.
"We could very well do a second round [of stimulus checks],” Trump said at the time. “It is absolutely under serious consideration.”
Although checks for individual Americans were not included in the package, a White House Adviser said last week that government officials are "studying" the possibility of sending another wave of checks – but it's unclear when exactly that would happen.
"I think that’s something that we are studying very carefully, that I know that people in the House are as well.” Kevin Hassett told reporters.
Hassett added that officials would be speaking with President Trump over the week to iron out the details of what would be included in that package.
MILLIONS STILL WAITING FOR THEIR FIRST CHECKS
As people begin to wonder if there will be more financial relief coming, millions of Americans are still waiting on checks – and may be doing so for five months.
For the 32 million households without bank accounts or those that are considered "underbanked" – meaning they may have an account but use alternative financial services, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp – many are still waiting on paper checks to arrive in the mail.
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The Committee On Ways & Means laid out a timeline in mid-April detailing that 5 million checks would be sent in the mail per week – meaning it will take 20 weeks for the checks to land in the hands of Americans.
It's still not set if the second round of stimulus checks proposed for Americans will be passed, but many eager people who have been put out of work or are facing financial hardship due to the pandemic are hoping for relief soon.