After nearly a week of bi-partisan stimulus Check 2 talks, lawmakers and White House negotiators are so far apart on the proposed HEALS Act package that President Trump may be exploring options for taking action on his own.

According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration is considering "acting alone" as discussions on a second round of coronavirus economic measures stall.

It is not clear how the president could actually spend the extra money without congressional approval, nor is it certain how serious the administration is about this measure to expedite the second day of stimulus checks.

However, two outside White House economic advisors recently suggested in the Wall Street Journal that declaring a "national economic emergency" and suspending the federal payroll tax, which deducts 7.5% of wages and salaries, could be one way to avoid negotiations with lawmakers.

Doing so would increase the amount of stimulus check 2 for Americans with jobs, but this stimulus check 2 eligibility framework would not help those who are not currently working. [Meanwhile, Senate Republicans, House Democrats, and the White House remain at odds over whether and how to continue federal unemployment assistance.

The $600-a-week assistance provided under the CARES Act since early this spring expired last week, leaving millions of unemployed Americans without the $2,400-a-month assistance they need to cover rent and other expenses.

Lawmakers on both sides have proposed continuing federal unemployment benefits, but disagree on the details: the Senate's HEALS Act, introduced in mid-July, would provide an additional $200 per week on top of state unemployment insurance, but only for two months.

During that time, states are expected to institute benefits of up to 70% of a worker's pre-unemployment salary, after which the federal match will be phased out. [e.g., $500 per week in August, $400 per week in September, $300 per week in October, or the states will supplement up to 80% of a worker's prior earnings. The White House has proposed an extension of $600 per week.

Democrats are pushing for continued benefits of $600 per week, but Republicans say it is too high and would pay people to stay home instead of returning to work.

All parties agree on the details of Stimulus Package 2, the HEALS Act, which would provide another round of direct benefits to Americans (unemployed or not) who received benefits under the CARES Act.

The proposal uses the same formula, where a single person with an annual income of less than $75,000 and a married person with an annual income of less than $150,000 would receive a check for $1,200. Benefits would be reduced for annual incomes near $99,000 and $198,000, respectively.

One difference is when applying for dependents: since the HEALS Act extends the $500 per person benefit to college students and dependent adults, families with dependents would receive more in stimulus check 2.

The House HEROES Act passed the House in May, but has not been taken up by the Senate.

You can use this stimulus check 2 calculator to find out how much you will receive.

Of course, Americans will not benefit until lawmakers agree on a stimulus package and President Trump signs it. The Senate is scheduled to recess after this week (August 10), so unless something is decided this week, new stimulus and unemployment benefits may not be available until after Labor Day.

If you are still waiting for your first check, use the IRS Get My Payment app or call a representative at the IRS stimulus check phone number to check on the status.