$600 stimulus check for Californians: Qualifications and when your payment could arrive

Some Californians will get an extra $600 stimulus payment in addition to a third federal stimulus check.


Sarah Tew/CNET

While the nation is waiting for Congress to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill into law as soon as this week — and the third stimulus check of up to $1,400 that will go with it — California lawmakers have taken matters into their own hands. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $7.6 billion coronavirus relief package that will bring millions of California residents a new $600 stimulus check. This money will arrive on top of the third federal stimulus check, for those who qualify, and is also separate from the $300 in bonus unemployment benefits as part of the federal stimulus package.

California’s Immediate Action Agreement was approved by state lawmakers on Feb. 22 as a version of the Golden State Stimulus plan Newsom introduced in January. It includes the $600 stimulus payments, funding for child-care services, small businesses and emergency financial aid for community college students.

If you live in California, we’ll tell you what we know about eligibility for the $600 payment, as well as when the money will be sent out and how the payments will arrive. Here’s everything we know right now. This story was recently updated. 

I’m a California resident. Am I qualified for a new $600 stimulus payment?

The law will send out a total of 5.7 million payments to low-income Californians. The following California residents will be eligible for a $600 payment:

  • Those who qualify for the state Earned Income Tax Credit on their 2020 tax returns. Typically, this includes those with annual incomes below $30,000, and some undocumented and mixed-status families. Last year, 3.9 million people applied for the credit.
  • Those with Individual Tax Identification Numbers, or ITINs, as opposed to Social Security numbers, who were excluded from receiving a first federal stimulus check of up to $1,200, or a second federal stimulus check of up to $600. The agreement provides the $600 payments to households with ITINs and income below $75,000. 
  • Households enrolled in the CalWorks public assistance program.
  • Recipients of SSI/SSP.
  • Recipients of Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, or CAPI.

Another detail: ITIN taxpayers who also qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit would receive a total of $1,200. The payments will be provided to these households shortly after they file their 2020 tax returns. (Here’s everything new you need to know about this year’s taxes.)

screen shot 2021 02 03 at 2 18 23 pm


Now playing:
Watch this:

Stimulus check No. 3: What you need to know



2:59

Will my payment come as a check, direct deposit or something else?

According to the State of California Franchise Tax Board, payments will be issued after eligible 2020 tax returns are processed. Those who are qualified and set up direct deposit when they file their return can expect a payment within 45 days, and those who don’t have direct deposit will receive a paper check within 60 days. 

Here is a more specific timeline for when you might receive your payment, according to data from the California Department of Finance collected by CalWorks

  • Low-income workers eligible for the state Earned Income Tax Credit: Four to five weeks after filing 2020 tax return, if you have direct deposit. Six to seven weeks after filing, if you need the check mailed.
  • Undocumented workers with ITINs: Four to five weeks after filing 2020 tax return, if you have direct deposit. Six to seven weeks after filing, if you need the check mailed.
  • CalWorks recipients: By mid-April.
  • Recipients of SSI/SSP and CAPI: Unclear; timing depends on coordination with the Social Security Administration, according to the state.

The money should arrive to those eligible automatically after filing your tax return. The payment expires on Nov. 15, according to the Tax Board — to make sure you get yours, file your 2020 tax return by the extension deadline of Oct. 15 (the regular deadline without an extension is April 15). 

Will this new $600 payment affect my third federal stimulus check? 

California’s $600 payments are separate from President Joe Biden’s proposed third stimulus check of up to $1,400 per person. Assuming the federal check is passed, most of the California recipients of the $600 payment would also likely be eligible for the $1,400 payment as well, if the current proposal to target payments to those under certain income limits and their dependents holds. 

Here’s everything we know about the third stimulus check so far, and when the IRS could send it out



Source link

Leave a comment