How to Make Sure I Get a Stimulus Check

Coronavirus Stimulus Payments

What are the Coronavirus Stimulus Payments?

The government distributed two payments to eligible families to help during the economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus. If you haven't received any payments or are waiting for your second payment, this site will help you understand what you need to do to get your money.

Who is eligible for a Stimulus Check?

The vast majority of Michigan residents are eligible to receive a stimulus check from the federal government this year. Even if you have no income, you are still eligible, but need to take action to receive your stimulus payment. This includes individuals with low or no earnings who normally don't file taxes. Every American adult earning less than $75,000 (or couples earning less than $150,000) is eligible for a stimulus check from the federal government this year. While this site is geared toward Michigan residents, the information is applicable nationwide.

If you still have questions about your stimulus check after reviewing this website, call the IRS at 800-919-9835
or, United Way at 844-322-3639.

See if you're eligible

Information in Spanish and Arabic

I got my check in spring 2020, what do I need to do to get my winter 2020-21 stimulus check?

If you received a stimulus payment in spring 2020, there is nothing to do but wait. The IRS will send you your check using the information on file from your spring payment. You will receive your check the same way you did in the spring, either direct deposit or mail. You can check the status of your payment at https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof-wmsp/login.

What if your bank account or address changed since spring?

If you received a stimulus payment in spring 2020 and your bank account or address has changed, your payment will be returned to the IRS and will have to wait until you file your 2020 taxes to get your money. On your 1040 or 1040-SR you will need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.

If you do not normally file taxes, you will need to do so to get your second payment (winter 2020-21) if your banking or address changed after receiving your first payment.

File your taxes as soon as possible to get your payment faster! You can find free filing options through the IRS Free File Site or United Way's MyFreeTaxes, or Accounting Aid Society's virtual VITA ACE program.

Can I still get my spring 2020 stimulus check if I haven't received it yet?

Yes. If you never received your first stimulus payment, but believe you are eligible, you can still get both payments by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 1040 or 1040-SR tax forms. These forms can also be used if you don't normally file tax returns but are eligible for the credit.

If you receive Social Security benefits

If you receive Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and you received your first stimulus payment into your benefits account, you will receive the second payment in the same way. If you did not receive your first or second payment, but think you are eligible, you should file your 2020 taxes and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, to get the funds either as a refund or credit on your taxes.

You can file a federal tax return for free online:

If you receive Social Security benefits and have dependent(s), you should file a tax return to ensure you receive a credit (the Social Security Administration does not have information on dependents).
If you receive SSI, but not Social Security, you will need to file a tax return to receive your stimulus payment.

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Stimulus Check FAQs

Here are some answers to common questions and concerns

Who is eligible to receive a stimulus check?

The vast majority of Michigan residents are eligible for the coronavirus stimulus payment.

To qualify for the full payment, you must make less than $75,000 per year ($150,000 for a married couple filing jointly) or less than $112,500 if you're the head of household (typically single parents).

Even if you have no income, you're eligible to receive a stimulus check.

If you are over the income limit, you may be eligible for a partial payment.

You don't have to be a U.S. citizen to get a stimulus payment, but you do need a valid Social Security number. That means immigrants with green cards and people on H-1B and H-2A visas will get payments. DACA residents with a valid Social Security number may be eligible for a stimulus payment. Non-resident aliens, temporary workers, and undocumented immigrants won't receive payments.

Here's a list of the people who aren't eligible for stimulus payments.

How will the IRS determine my income for the stimulus payment?

The IRS determined the your eligibility for the first and second stimulus payments through your 2018 or 2019 tax returns. However, if you did not receive either payment, or the full amount of each payment, but believe you are eligible, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive a refund or credit on your 2020 taxes, equal to the value of the stimulus payments. In this case, your 2020 tax information will be used for determining eligibility.

How much money will I get?

For the second stimulus payment, households that meet the income requirements will receive $600 for every adult and dependent child under 17. For the initial stimulus payment, in spring 2020, eligible individuals received $1,200 ($2,400 if married and filing jointly), with an additional $500 for every dependent child under 17.

If you did not receive the first stimulus check, but believe you were eligible, or if you have not received the second stimulus check by January 15th, you can claim the missing funds on your 2020 taxes using the Recovery Rebate Credit.

When will I receive my check?

Payments for the second round of stimulus payments began the last week of December and will continue through January 15th, 2021. People with direct deposit will receive their payments first. Other payments will follow due to longer processing and mailing times. The IRS will post updates as more information becomes available. You can also track the progress of your payment here.

If you have not received either stimulus payment, but believe you are eligible you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive a refund or credit on your 2020 taxes, equal to the value of the stimulus payments.

Will the stimulus money be considered income that I have to claim on my taxes?

No, the stimulus check is treated as a refundable tax credit and will not be counted as income on your 2020 taxes.

Will I have to pay my stimulus payment back next year?

No. The stimulus payments are no-strings attached. The IRS will not ask you to repay the money from your stimulus check next year.

What if I don't have a bank account?

If you don't have a bank account, the government will send you a check by mail. If you did not receive your first stimulus payment, but believe you are eligible, and are claiming the payments through the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 taxes, you could choose to set up a bank account and report this information to the IRS, if you do not want to receive your check by mail.

Here's a list of safe and affordable accounts that are Bank On certified institutions. Sign up online:

Bank of America, Advantage SafeBalance Banking Account
Chase, Secure Banking Account
Citi, Access Account
Dollar Bank, No Overdraft Checking Account
First Commonwealth Bank, SmartPay Card
KeyBank, Hassle-Free Account
Northwest Bank, Compass Digital Account
BB&T, MoneyAccount
U.S. Bank, Safe Debit Account
Wells Fargo, EasyPay Card

After you sign up, make sure to add your account information on the IRS website. If you don't want to sign up for a bank account, you can also link to your prepaid debit card instead.

You can also receive your funds through the Cash App, by providing the IRS with the routing and account numbers connected to your Cash App. You can download the Cash App or locate your Cash App account information here.

What if I haven't filed taxes?

You must file taxes to receive a stimulus check, unless you are receiving Social Security benefits. For both stimulus payments, the government used tax information from 2018 or 2019 tax returns. If you did not file taxes in either year, and did not report income information on the IRS site to receive your first stimulus payment, you should claim your payments through the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 taxes. You must file Recovery Rebate credit forms (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) even if you are normally not required to file a tax return.

What if I don't qualify - where else can I get help?

If you don't qualify for the stimulus payment, we recommend reaching out to Michigan 2-1-1. They can connect you to resources in your community.

Will my payment be reduced or offset if I owe tax, have a payment agreement with the IRS, owe other Federal or State debt, or owe other debt collectors?

No. Your second payment will not be offset for any Federal or state debts and is protected from garnishment.

Will the stimulus payments impact my other government benefits?

No, the stimulus payments will not impact your other benefits. The stimulus checks are treated as a tax credit. This means your payment will not impact the benefits you receive now or in the future.

For example, the stimulus payment won't impact your food stamps, healthcare, earned income tax credit, or unemployment benefits.

Are college students eligible for the stimulus payments?

College students are only eligible if they are not claimed as a dependent by their parents.

Generally, students who are under 24, receive significant financial support from their parents, and attend school full-time are considered dependents by the IRS. These students are not eligible for the stimulus payment.

Students who are over 19, in school part time, largely supporting themselves, or not living with their parents are likely to have independent status. These students are eligible for the stimulus payment.

Will my stimulus payment be reduced if I owe debt to a federal or state agency or other private creditor?

No, your stimulus payment will not be offset by government debts, including federal student loan debts.

However, if you owe child support payments that have been reported to the U.S. Treasury Department your payments may be decreased. If this is the case, you should have received a letter from the U.S. Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Contact Michigan Child Support for more information: (877) 543-2660.

More about protection from garnishment here
How to protect against creditor seizures here

Will the stimulus payments reduce my 2020 tax refund?

No, the stimulus payments will not reduce your 2020 tax refund. The stimulus checks are treated as a tax credit. This means your payment won't be counted as taxable income and it won't impact any other tax credits you receive.

What can I do to avoid scams related to stimulus payments?

The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scam artists trying to use the stimulus payments as cover for schemes to steal personal information and money.

The IRS will not call you, text you, email you, or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information - even related to the stimulus payments.

Watch out for emails with attachments or links claiming to have special information about stimulus payments or refunds.

I went on the IRS Get My Payment site and it says my money has been sent out, but it does not list the correct bank account information. What do I do?

There are a number of reasons this could happen. If you filed your taxes through a tax preparation service, and received an advanced refund, your payment could have been sent to a temporary account set up by the tax preparation service. Others have had their checks sent to closed accounts, based on information the IRS had on file from 2018 tax returns.

If the IRS sent your payment to a temporary or closed account, the bank should reject the payment. The IRS will then send you a check to the address they have on file. If you need to update your address, you can visit this IRS link. If you've recently moved, be sure that you've updated your address with the U.S. Postal Service.

To receive your payment more quickly, you can also try to update your direct deposit information with the IRS. The IRS is sending letters to everyone who they have sent payments to, within 15 days of sending the payments. The letters will have instructions for how to provide the IRS with the correct information. We'll also be updating this site with other instructions as they become available.

For more information, visit the IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center and Frequently Asked Questions, which are being continuously updated.

Note: If you receive other benefits on a prepaid debit card, be sure to check and see if the payment was sent to this card.

Note: If you did not receive either payment, or the full amount of each payment, but believe you are eligible, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive a refund or credit on your 2020 taxes, equal to the value of the stimulus payments.

I went on the IRS Get My Payment site and it says that my payment status is not available. What do I do?

Your information may not appear on the Get My Payment site if you didn't file your taxes in 2018 or 2019, if you recently filed taxes and they haven't been processed yet, if you recently entered payment information on the IRS site for non-filers, or if you receive Social Security benefits. You may also get this message if you are not eligible for a payment. Here is a list of the people who aren't eligible for stimulus payments.

If you haven't filed taxes, you must either file taxes, or, if you aren't required to file, enter your payment information on the IRS site for non-filers. If you've recently filed your taxes, or entered your payment information, check back once per day on the Get My Payment site to see if it's been processed. If you receive Social Security benefits, it's likely the IRS has already sent your payment to the same account you receive your benefits.

For more information, visit the IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center, which is being continuously updated.

I received my payment, but it did not include the $500 payment for my dependents. What do I do?

We've heard reports that some individuals are not receiving the dependent payments they are eligible for. If you receive Social Security retirement benefits or SSI, and have dependents, it's possible the IRS sent out your payment without accounting for your dependents. For others, it's unclear why you wouldn't be receiving the full amount you are eligible for. In both cases, you will have to wait to receive a letter for the IRS, and then follow instructions on how to provide the IRS with the correct information. For those who receive Social Security or SSI, you can also try to enter information on your dependents on the IRS site for non-filers, though if the payment has already been made the site may not let you enter this information.

I got my stimulus check but I don't have a bank account. Where can I cash my check for free?

Non-customers can cash stimulus checks for free at Chase banks, with two forms of identification. Find the approved 'forms of identification' list here, note that one form of ID must be from the primary ID column. Free check cashing will only apply to government stimulus checks.

Did you miss the deadline to register online for the Economic Impact Payment?

You may still be eligible to receive a payment in 2021 if:

You did not register online, by mail and did not get a payment in 2020 or,
You received a payment, but it wasn't the full amount of the Economic Impact Payment. The maximum credit is $1,200, or $2,400 if married filing jointly, plus $500 for each qualifying child.

Find out more on the IRS website.

If I did not previously qualify for a stimulus payment, but my income in 2020 was significantly less than my 2018 or 2019 income, can I claim a Recovery Rebate Credit?

Yes. If you were not eligible for a stimulus payment based on your 2018 or 2019 income, but your 2020 income made you eligible for the payments, you can claim them on your 2020 taxes through the Recovery Rebate Credit.

If I had a child in 2020, can I claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive a stimulus payment for this child?

Yes. Any changes that took place in tax year 2020 that make you newly eligible for the payments, or eligible for a larger payment, should be reported on your 2020 taxes and the Recovery Rebate Credit.

About this page

This resource was created by Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan in partnership with Civilla to help ensure that all Michiganders can access the coronavirus stimulus payments they are eligible for.

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How to Make Sure I Get a Stimulus Check

Source: https://poverty.umich.edu/stimulus-checks/

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