Stimulus Check 2 vs Stimulus Check 1: What's different here

Stimulus Check 2 vs Stimulus Check 1: What's different here

Senate Republicans recently announced the second round of stimulus as part of the HEALS Act. So far, eligibility for the second round of stimulus checks is very similar to the first round sent this spring, with a few important differences.

Those who received the first stimulus check under the CARES Act can expect to receive another payment under the Senate Republican plan. In fact, if they have dependents, they may qualify for a larger check. You can also use this Stimulus Check 2 Calculator to see how much you could receive.

Also, if you have not yet received your first stimulus check, use the IRS Get My Payment app or call the IRS stimulus check phone number to speak with a representative.

Now let's take a look at what changes with the HEALS Act stimulus check 2 and what remains the same as the first one.

The HEALS Act uses the same general income guidelines as the CARES Act to determine the amount of stimulus check 2. Single people earning less than $75,000 a year and married people earning up to $150,000 a year can expect a check for $1,200.

Single workers earning up to $99,000 and married workers earning up to $198,000 will receive a pro-rated check; high-income workers omitted from the CARES law will still not receive benefits under this second round.

While noncitizens remain ineligible for direct benefits under the HEALS Act, CNBC reports that benefits may be extended to Americans who are married to a noncitizen and file joint taxes. the HEROES Act, a House Democratic proposal passed in June, would provide Social Security number, but would have extended benefits to workers with taxpayer identification numbers instead of Social Security numbers.

The Senate proposal would provide a $500 benefit to dependents of all ages, including college students and disabled adults. In the first round of the stimulus package, this benefit was limited to dependent children under the age of 16. This means that families with older dependents will receive a larger amount under the second round of the stimulus package.

House Democrats introduced a similar proposal, but their HEROES Act would have increased the benefit amount to $1,200 per dependent, but would have limited the total amount paid to $6,000 per family. The HEALS Act in its early drafts did not appear to place a cap on the number of dependents per family.

CNBC also reported that while stimulus checks2 are protected from garnishment by debt collectors and banks, unpaid child support could be garnished from benefits. Additionally, prisoners incarcerated in 2020 remain largely ineligible.

The Senate Republican proposal is still in its early stages, and members of both houses and both parties must agree on a bill that President Trump is willing to sign.

Negotiators initially suggested that an agreement could be reached before federal unemployment benefits expire on July 31, but that has become less likely; CNN reports that while both sides are generally in agreement on the specifics of Stimulus 2, most other provisions of the HEALS Act were far from agreed upon, according to the report.

With the Senate set to recess on August 10, lawmakers have limited time to reach agreement before the fall.

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