As online petitions calling for more stimulus aid to Americans gain support, new jobless claims have fallen lowest since the start of the pandemic. Next week, some 36 million families are eligible to receive their first monthly payment of $ 250 or $ 300 per child with the 2021 Child Tax Credit. Yet last month proposal for a bipartite agreement on infrastructure did not include more stimulus money for individuals or families.

What does all of this mean for the economic recovery and for the future of a fourth stimulus check? Popular Change.org petition Says: “The true unemployment rate for low-wage workers is estimated to be over 20% and many people are facing large debts over the past year for things like utilities, rent and child care. children. But while some lawmakers called for more emergency aid in the spring, many in Washington argue that stimulus funds should now be less on the agenda.

We will explain what is happening with the economic recovery and the demands for additional stimulus payments. As for other money matters, the federal enlargement of the child tax credit gives parents the option of receiving early monthly checks this year or a lump sum of up to $ 3,600 next year. here’s how check your tax refund if you haven’t received it yet, what to know about the unemployment tax relief. We have updated this story with new information.

What is the online petition for $ 2,000 checks?

The flow Change.org petition, which has garnered some 2.5 million signatures, is calling on Congress to send out a fourth stimulus check of $ 2,000 for adults and $ 1,000 for children on a recurring monthly basis during the remainder of the pandemic. The petition notes that “the recovery has not reached many Americans” and stresses the need for immediate checks and recurring payments so that “we can keep our heads above water.”

According to a recent study, the first three stimulus checks helped alleviate difficulties such as food shortages and financial instability. So far during the pandemic, eligible adults have received a maximum of $ 3,200 and children have received $ 2,500. For many struggling families, recovering from lost wages and benefits is not enough. As the Change.org petition is poised to become one of the most popular on its website, whether it can actually have influence is another question.

Are there any concrete proposals for more stimulus payments this year?

Since American rescue plan became law in March, the White House proposed two packages – the US Jobs Plan and the US Family Plan – neither of which called for more stimulus aid. On June 3, a White House press conference said efforts would focus on the infrastructure spending program. President Joe Biden is “open to a range of ideas” regarding stimulus aid, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, but he has already put forward what would be “the most effective in the short term”.

The new reduced compromise of the bipartite agreement on infrastructure, which the White House announced on June 24, does not include anything related to “human infrastructure”: that is, it does not deal with childcare, better wages or vocational training. At the same time, the announcement states that “President Biden remains committed to the comprehensive agenda set out in the US plan for jobs and the US plan for families.”

It’s been a few months since Democratic members of the House and Senate pleaded for yet another stimulus check. In late March, a group of lawmakers asked Biden to include regular stimulus payments in its next stimulus package. In May, several members of the House Ways and Means Committee made a similar request. Citing rising poverty and skyrocketing debt among Americans, they noted that “most people spent relief checks on monthly expenses or on essentials such as food, utilities. , rent and mortgage payments “.

Now playing:
Check this out:

Child tax credit: everything we know

4:17

What kind of relief money has already been approved for 2021?

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in March contained three types of direct payments to individuals:

Stimulation controls: Stimulus payments of up to $ 1,400 went out to those that meet the requirements. There is also money that goes to some people in the form of “plus-up” payments .

Child tax credit: A temporary extension of the 2021 child tax credit sends eligible families up to $ 3,600 for each child – you can calculate your total child tax credit here. These monthly partial payments, which begin this month, will last until the end of the year, with a final payment in 2022.

Federal unemployment premium: A weekly Unemployment premium of $ 300 was extended until September 6, because the unemployment pandemic aid was intended for workers and the self-employed (the self-employed). However, more than half of state governments have since chosen to withdraw from extended benefits by September 6, millions of unemployed Americans in these states were therefore cut off from these funds by mid-June.

Could Washington approve more money in other ways?

There is a lot to consider when assessing the future of family stimulus assistance. The White House could put extra money in the pockets of Americans through the following scenarios:

If this makes the increase in the child tax credit permanent: Expansion money child tax credit expected to start in less than two weeks with monthly payments to low- and middle-income families with children. In his speech to Congress, Biden called on the House and Senate to extend the expanded child tax credit until 2025. Other aspects of the American Families Plan related to health care costs and medical leave are also yet to be negotiated.

If he passes a minimum wage hike: Some senators continue to look for ways to increase the federal minimum wage, which is $ 7.25 an hour. Some supporters want to set the bar at an hourly wage of $ 15, and others seek to raise it only to $ 11 an hour. In recent years, many states, towns and businesses have implemented higher minimum wage increases at the federal level. However, discussion of a new national rate of $ 15 an hour has run into a hurdle in recent months, and the likelihood of its passing anytime soon is low.

If he renews federal unemployment premiums beyond fall: Some lawmakers initially called for federal unemployment assistance to extend beyond Labor Day. However, dozens of states have already cut extended benefits (or plan to do so), and enhanced unemployment relief is unlikely to continue beyond the expiration date in other states. On June 4, Biden reported that the temporary increase in unemployment benefits should expire early September as expected.

In the meantime, here’s what to do if there is a problem with your dunning check. And here’s what we know about the new IRS portals this will help you get money with the child tax credit audits starting July 15th.