Fourth Stimulus Check Update: New Checks Urged To Manage ‘Rising Costs’

The government has mainly signaled that a fourth stimulus check is not going to happen and Americans shouldn’t count on another payment, but that doesn’t mean that there still aren’t growing calls to provide some form of aid to Americans, especially as inflation continues to cause a surge in prices of everyday essential items.

From senior citizens to everyday Americans, calls continue to grow for another stimulus check or some other kind of aid, with CBS reporting that a number of factors are playing into the calls for aid. Between the new surges in cases from Omicron and other variants of COVID-19, still higher unemployment rates and the end of financial support through other aid like the Child Tax Credit, many are struggling to cover their expenses.

In addition, especially for seniors on a fixed income, rising inflation has caused another concern, with prices rising as high as 6.8%. While seniors collecting social security did see an increased Cost of Living Adjustment of 5.9% beginning in 2022, the Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group that has called for another senior citizen-specific check, still notes that many are going to fall behind.

“It would help people buy an extra week of groceries for a few months,” Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at the Senior Citizens League, said. “A stimulus payment would help them manage these higher rising costs.”

Senior citizens aren’t the only ones feeling the crunch from inflation, especially as food prices continue to surge. According to CNN, food prices increased by 6.3% in December from a year prior, with staples like meats, poultry, fish and eggs spiking by 12.5% year-over-year, while fruit and vegetable prices climbed 5% to a 10-year high.

However, while new aid still seems unlikely, some may still be able to claim a little extra cash when it comes to the current tax season, thanks to the different benefits collected in 2021. In addition to those who never claimed a $1,400 third stimulus check but were eligible, CNBC reports that those who had a child in 2021, who lost income, or who added a new dependent, could also claim the $1,400 checks.