The House of Representatives is expected to vote Friday (Feb. 26) on the Biden administration's $1.9 trillion stimulus package, bringing the American people one step closer to receiving a third round of direct payments within the next few weeks.

House Democrats introduced the bill earlier this week with input from nine different committees. On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (R-Maryland) announced his intention to bring the bill to a vote in the full House on Friday.

If the House approves the bill, it will almost certainly go to the Senate next week. Democrats in both chambers aim to pass the bill and get it on President Biden's desk before the current federal unemployment benefits supplemental program expires on March 14.

If the Senate meets that deadline and President Biden quickly signs the bill, eligible Americans could begin receiving their $1,400 checks by the end of March. [However, there are several factors that could delay the payment.

First, the current version of the bill may meet resistance from centrist Democrats, including Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Md. Kyrsten Sinema (R-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (R-West Virginia), who oppose raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

The stimulus bill is expected to lack Republican support and will only pass the Senate by a narrow margin if all 50 Democrats vote for it. However, if Senators make significant changes to the bill to ensure its approval, the bill will likely be sent back to the House, delaying its final passage.

The Senate parliamentarian, a bipartisan officer who interprets the rules of the chamber, could also rule that the minimum wage provision is not subject to reconciliation. This is the budget procedure that Democrats are using to get the stimulus bill through the Senate without a Republican vote. Lawmakers are expected to rule by Friday.

Sen. Elizabeth McDonough ruled late Thursday (Feb. 25) that the minimum wage provision, as written, is not subject to the budget reconciliation procedure.

Nevertheless, the House still plans to vote on the bill as is on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R-Calif.) said in response to the House Steering Committee member's ruling.

"House Democrats believe that an increase in the minimum wage is necessary," Speaker Pelosi said, according to the Washington Post. Thus, this provision will remain in the American Rescue Plan on the House floor tomorrow."

It is not clear what the bill's prospects are in the Senate. Democrats may try to overturn the congressman's ruling, but some moderate Democratic senators may not agree. The White House had previously indicated that it would abide by the lawmakers' ruling no matter what ruling is made.

It is also possible that the minimum wage provision could be removed in the Senate, in which case the entire bill would be returned to the House for a re-vote.

If either scenario were to occur, the minimum wage provision would be reduced or eliminated. However, efforts to reduce the minimum wage to satisfy Manchin and Sinema may provoke a revolt by progressive Democrats in the House, who say the $15 federal minimum wage is non-negotiable.

"It's totally unacceptable; $15 is already a compromise," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (R-NY) told Politico. She added that if the Senate panel ruled against the minimum wage provision, she would still accept the Senate panel's ruling.

Whether the bill passes early or late in March, checks could be delayed due to tax season. The IRS, which issues stimulus checks, will have its hands full with regular income tax returns by late March.

Finally, the exact timing of payments depends on the payment method. Typically, direct deposit is paid first, followed by checks or debit cards. Since some taxpayers have received payments in different forms in the past, it can be difficult to predict which group you will fall into.

If your 2020 income is less than your 2019 income, you can get more checks if you file your 2020 tax return before the next stimulus package is approved. This is because the IRS will likely use the most recently filed tax return when calculating the bailout payment.

For the third stimulus check, current law states that individuals with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 are eligible to receive $1,400. Taxpayers with incomes up to $100,000 and $200,000, respectively, are eligible to receive checks on a pro-rated basis, and taxpayers with incomes above that level are phased out of receiving checks.

Children and adult dependents are also eligible to receive the full $1,400. You can use this stimulus check calculator to calculate the check you will receive.