Nobody can take your stimulus check away from you, right? Not quite. Here are the rules

For many who qualified for a stimulus check authorized this spring by the CARES Act, the check arrived as expected, as a direct deposit to a bank account, through the mail or on a prepaid EIP debit card. Some people, including some older adults, retirees and SSDI recipients, had to take an extra step to claim their payment. 

But if you’re still looking for your payment — your check never arrived or it came, but was lower than expected — there may be a reason beyond an honest mistake. Though there are rules protecting your stimulus check from being seized by your landlord or for back taxes, there are exceptions to the rule regarding the first check, which would likely carry over to a second — when and if negotiations produce a new stimulus bill. 

Here’s what we know about who could seize all or part of your stimulus money. (And when we think a second check could come.)

Overdue debts and your stimulus payment

The CARES Act includes protections to keep state and federal agencies from taking all or part of your stimulus check to cover most debts owed to the government (see below for a big exception). Private banks and creditors may, however, be able to seize a payment to cover an outstanding debt. Some states, such as California, have issued orders forbidding banks and creditors from garnishing your stimulus check.

Read more: National eviction moratorium for 2020: What to know about a declaration form and Nov. 1 rent

Although negotiations on a second rescue package are currently at a standstill, the most recent proposals on the table would in most cases prohibit creditors and banks from seizing the payment to pay debts. Likewise, the IRS said you are not required to hand your check over to care facilities, like nursing homes, or to landlords to cover expenses.

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Next stimulus checks: What to expect

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The situation with overdue child support

The CARES Act blocked state and federal agencies from taking a stimulus check to cover government debts such as an income tax debt, but it does not exclude seizing a payment to cover past-due child support. 

If parents are separated or divorced, only the spouse who owes child support will have the payment garnished. According to the IRS, if a spouse does not owe child support, they will receive their portion of the payment and do not need to take any action to receive it.

Read more: You don’t have to be a US citizen living in America to get a stimulus check

In some cases, a mistake has led to the government garnishing all or part of the stimulus check meant for the current spouse of the parent paying child support (who isn’t the child’s other parent). Here’s how to claim that money.

A Senate Republican proposal for the next stimulus package would continue to garnish overdue child support (this proposal is not law). Under the Democratic package, those who owed support would still receive a payment.

Do you have to repay your stimulus money?

The IRS said a payment you get this year won’t reduce your tax refund in 2021 or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2020 tax return. You also won’t have to repay a stimulus payment if you qualify for a lower amount in 2021. (Here how your income taxes influence your payment.)

Read more: People who are incarcerated may now be eligible for stimulus checks. Here’s what’s happening

For more information, here’s what we know about the state of negotiations on a second rescue bill and what a stimulus package from presidential candidate (and former Vice President) Joe Biden would look like.