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Congress is set to pass new stimulus checks — here's when to expect yours

Doug Whiteman
·3 min read
Congress is set to pass new stimulus checks — here's when to expect yours
Congress is set to pass new stimulus checks — here's when to expect yours

A day that's been a long time coming may finally be here.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) has announced that congressional leaders reached agreement over the weekend on a new, $900 billion coronavirus rescue package,including a second round of direct aid payments to Americans.

Yes, "stimulus checks."

"More help is on the way," McConnell said during a speech on the Senate floor on Sunday. Votes on the bill could come Monday.

You may get your money surprisingly soon, but you could find the amount disappointing — and will want a plan to find other relief on your own.

Counting on another $1,200? Sorry

WASHINGTON DC - APRIL 2, 2020: United States Treasury check with US currency. Illustrates coronavirus stimulus payment
Jason Raff / Shutterstock

The new aid bill includes money for struggling businesses, $300 a week in bonus unemployment benefits, and fresh direct payments to help struggling U.S. households and stimulate the weak economy.

How much will most people get? $600 — half the $1,200 per person the IRS distributed the first time, about eight months ago.

Americans have been eager for more government cash, especially as the out-of-control pandemic prompts new lockdowns and layoffs. Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) say they're in a financial squeeze from the coronavirus, according to a recent survey from credit bureau TransUnion.

Critics say $600 isn't enough; Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts even calls it an "insult." But President-elect Joe Biden said last week that Americans should think of the checks as merely a "down payment."

What if you need more than $600 right now?

If you're straining to make ends meet and need more than a $600 payment right now, consider these ways to pull together more money on your own:

  • Slash your spending. Dump any subscription services you're not using. Do more of your own cooking and stop ordering carryout so much. And download a free browser add-on that will save you money every time you shop online, by instantly checking for better prices.

  • Cut your debt down to size. If you’ve been leaning on your credit cards during the coronavirus crisis, you’re probably piling on a lot of interest. Tame your credit card debt — and make it go away more quickly — by rolling your balances into a single debt consolidation loan at lower interest.

  • Trim your insurance costs. As Americans have cut back on their driving this year, many car insurance companies have lowered their rates. If your insurer won’t cut you a break, it’s time to shop around for a better option. You also might save hundreds by comparing rates to get a better deal on your home insurance.

  • Refinance your mortgage. Mortgage rates are at record lows, and refinancing your existing loan could provide huge savings. Mortgage tech and data provider Black Knight says 19.4 million U.S. homeowners could cut their monthly house payments by an average $308 per month through a refi.

When can you expect your check?

Pretty, young woman checking her mailbox for new letters
l i g h t p o e t / Shutterstock

A survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that close to 60% of Americans used their first stimulus checks to cover basic expenses including groceries and utility bills.

Some also invested the money, according to the survey, or used it for other, unspecified purposes. Those may have included buying affordable life insurance— sales of life insurance policies have surged this year in the shadow of the pandemic.

If Congress can pass the new COVID rescue package fast and get it signed by outgoing President Donald Trump, the money could start flowing just after Christmas, says Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

“The good news is this is a very, very fast way of getting money into the economy," Mnuchin told CNBC on Monday. "Let me emphasize: People are going to see this money at the beginning of next week."

The first recipients would be taxpayers who can quickly receive direct payments into their bank accounts, because the IRS already has their banking information. That group includes those who received their last stimulus payment by direct deposit.

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