While things have begun to settle down over the past few months, there is still an aftershock following the global COVID-19 pandemic. Prices of fuel, food, and consumer goods are increasing, while many remain with the same income or less. The federal government announced that it will not send an additional stimulus check this year, leaving many people needing financial aid. Local governments, like the state of Massachusetts, have launched their own stimulus check programs, and in the following weeks, Massachusetts will send millions of dollars to eligible residents.
Massachusetts stimulus check: what you need to know
The state of Massachusetts will send a $500 check to eligible residents in the upcoming weeks. Eligible recipients of the check are:
- Massachusetts residents who have filed a 2021 tax return and have earned at least $13,500 (but had an income lower or ar 300% of the federal poverty level).
- Recipients of the stimulus check must be residents of the state on or prior to June 15, 2021, or residents for part of that year between January 1 and June 15.
- Low-income workers who have received a stimulus check in the state’s first round will not receive money in the current round.
- Residents of Massachusetts who has received unemployment benefits in 2021 will not be eligible for this round of financial aid.
In a statement by the state on May 19, “The Baker-Polito Administration today announced its plan for the second round of $500 payments to low-income workers under the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay program, which was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by Governor Baker in December 2021 as part of a $4 billion spending plan for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds,”
The total sum of the stimulus checks in the state will be approximately $165 million.
What about the other states?
Many states in the union have declared local financial aid programs to be launched in 2022. To receive the checks, residents must be eligible, each according to the eligibility criteria in the state where they reside. To check eligibility, you can go to your local government’s new outlets, and check to see if you will receive the check. in the case of Massachusetts, the checks will be automatically sent to eligible recipients in the mail. Those who should have received a check but did not can check their eligibility, and file a request to receive the check. For more information about the stimulus check program, you can go to stimuluscheck.io. Also, keep posted on local news to see if there are local financial aid programs that you can apply to, or are eligible for. In the next few months, local governments will continue to send checks, and you may be eligible to receive money.
