As Americans await the fourth stimulus package, many Californians are set to receive the state's own bailout known as the Golden State Stimulus. The Golden State Stimulus comes from an additional $10.3 billion in revenue from the state's progressive income tax.

The first phase of this benefit program distributed checks totaling $600 or $1,200 to some Californians, and a second phase was recently passed, expanding eligibility to almost two-thirds of all state residents.

However, who receives what is confusing because it depends on the number of dependents applying and whether they qualify for the first round (Golden State Stimulus I). Here is what you need to know about California's stimulus package.

To qualify for Golden State Stimulus I or II, you must file your 2020 tax return by October 15. After that, eligibility depends on income and dependents.

For Golden State Stimulus I, the following conditions must be met:

In addition, since the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) allows undocumented workers without a Social Security number to file a tax return, this group is eligible for Golden State Stimulus I (and possibly Golden State Stimulus Package II).

For Golden State Stimulus II, the following conditions must be met:

Some individuals and families who received the first stimulus may also qualify for the second stimulus, such as those who applied for dependents for tax year 2020, but many cases will only qualify for one or the other.

The Golden State Stimulus I provided either $600 or $1,200, depending on tax filing status; individuals who receive CalEITC, file with an ITIN, and have income of $75,000 or less (or file jointly with someone who meets these criteria) are qualify for a $1,200 payment. Other Golden State Stimulus I recipients received $600.

Golden State Stimulus II provides a check for $500, $600, or $1,100 to taxpayers filing with an SSN. The breakdown is as follows:

Carilionians who receive Golden State Stimulus I and file with an ITIN with a dependent filing in 2020 will also receive $1,000 in this round.

Golden State Stimulus I has almost been paid out with the first direct deposit and paper checks distributed after April 15. However, the exact disbursement date depends on when the 2020 tax return was filed; if the return was filed after April 23, the direct deposit will wait 45 days after the return is processed and the paper checks will wait 60 days.

Golden State Stimulus II was approved this summer and is scheduled to begin disbursements in September 2021.

All that is required to claim the Golden State Stimulus payments is to file a 2020 tax return by October 15. The State of California Franchise Tax Board has several tools to help estimate the amount and timing of the payments: [27