The three stimulus controls follow different plans.
Sarah Tew / CNET
The purpose of the third check is the same: Get prick money in people’s pockets as soon as possible. But Congress takes a different route to achieve this, changes who would qualify for a payment and how much they would receive. The result is that the new $ 1400 payment may look very different to many who have received the first check for $ 1,200 or that second $ 600 payment.
The new round stimulus payments is part of the nearly $ 2 trillion relief package what Democrats are press to approve within two weeks. In addition to send $ 1400 payments to individuals and dependents, the relief bill it’s now in the senate is set to Renew Unemployed Workers’ Benefits increase funding for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and possibly increase the federal minimum wage rate up to $ 15 per hour.
Over the past year, we have studied how Congress has designed the first two payments to help struggling families and boost the economy. From reading the current version of the House Bill (PDF) we also have a good idea of how legislators intend to achieve the same goals with the third check. Here’s how the three stimulus controls are similar and different.
Look at this:
Stimulation test no. 3: What you need to know
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Each stimulus control differs from the other
With each round of checks, Congress revised the payment amount and the eligibility elements. Although we know many of the proposed details of the third stimulus test, there’s a game card. The IRS is in the mid-tax filing season, it is therefore unclear whether the agency can not do so reverse these third payments within a few days, such as the second stimulus payments, or if there may be a delay.
Three stimulus checks, compare
| Third check (in work) | Second check | First check | |
| Maximum total (per adult) |
$ 1,400 |
$ 600 |
$ 1,200 |
| Dependents (fixed rate) |
$ 1,400 (any age) |
$ 600 (16 and under) |
$ 500 (16 and under) |
| Income to receive maximum amount |
Below: $ 75,000 (single); $ 112,500 (head of household); $ 150,000 (married) |
Below: $ 75,000 (single); $ 112,500 (head of household); $ 150,000 (married) |
Below: $ 75,000 (single); $ 112,500 (head of household); $ 150,000 (married) |
| Upper limit for single taxpayers |
$ 100,000 |
$ 87,000 |
$ 100,000 |
| Household upper limit |
$ 150,000 |
$ 124 500 |
$ 146,000 |
| Submission of the upper limit |
$ 200,000 |
$ 174,000 |
$ 198 000 |
| Citizenship |
Mixed-status families, where one member has a social security number |
Citizens and non-citizens with a social security number |
Citizens and non-citizens with a social security number |
| Date approved |
By March 14 |
27 December 2020 |
March 27, 2020 |
| Initial payments sent |
To be determined |
29 December 2020 |
13 April 2020 |
| Final payments issued |
31 December 2021 |
16 February 2021 |
16 February 2021 |
| Number of payments made |
To be determined |
More than 147 million |
More than 160 million |
| Total dollar amount distributed |
To be determined |
$ 142 billion |
$ 270 billion |
Here’s what you have for more information need to know about stimulus control today, including how to claim any missing incentive money on your 2020 tax return and how to track your tax refund online.