STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — During the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of Americans relied on economic impact payments, informally known as stimulus checks, from the federal government to make ends meet at a time when many were forced out of work.
The last payments, which came in the form of $1,400 checks, were issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2021, as directed by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, the government issued more than 476 million payments totaling roughly $814 billion, according to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
Although the pandemic has waned and is no longer impeding most Americans from working, many are still struggling financially and would welcome a cash infusion from the federal government.
Unfortunately, another round of stimulus checks doesn’t appear to be in the cards, according to a recent Newsweek report.
Zack Hellman, the founder of Los Angeles accounting firm Tax Prep Tech, told Newsweek that it appears unlikely that another round of checks would be issued four years after the coronavirus reached the United States.
“The focus has shifted to economic recovery, and additional stimulus checks are not a part of current legislative agendas,” Hellman told Newsweek.
“For any new developments or updates on potential payments, keeping an eye on official government announcements and credible news sources is recommended,” Hellman added.
Although Americans are unlikely to receive any direct financial assistance from the federal government in the new year, some states are finding other ways to help put money back in the pockets of their residents through tax credits and rebates.
Child tax credits, which help families offset the costs of raising children, are now available in 14 states, including New York, where the program was recently expanded to cover children under the age of four.
Several other states, such as nearby Pennsylvania, offer eligible residents the…
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