Fourth Stimulus Check Update: No Direct Payments Coming, But Other Aid Is Available

With the chance of a fourth direct stimulus check from the federal government continuing to seem less and less likely, even with an increase of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta Variant, many Americans may be starting to worry about how to cover their expenses without assistance. However, other programs are still in effect that may be able to give them a chance to find an alternative measure as long-paused debts continue to come due.

Many Americans found themselves with a financial buffer that helped greatly reduce financial struggles in the first three stimulus checks, which were paid out in March 2020, December 2020 and March 2021, with a total of $3,200 paid out to most from all three. However, since the $1,400 check that was delivered as part of the American Rescue Plan, the economy has seemingly roared back to life, making the need for additional payments less likely—and no one in the government has advocated for another check on the national level.

While some states are awarding additional aid to residents, those who are not eligible for those funds may be worried about what the lack of another stimulus check could mean for their bottom line. However, there are still a few benefits available that came into play with original COVID-19 stimulus help.

In addition to the Expanded Child Tax Credit, which runs through December and deposits money to eligible parents on a monthly basis, the Biden Administration has once again extended the pause on Federal Student Loan payments, giving borrowers one last extension on the paused payments and interest waiver for six months. The payments will once again begin on Jan. 31, 2022.

CNBC reported at the time of the extension that the U.S. Department of Education likely extended the pause in part due to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency announcing it wouldn’t renew its contract with the federal government after it ends in December. As a result, borrowers whose loans are through there would need new lenders, and the government likely didn’t want to force those borrowers to begin repaying their loans just to change their servicer two months after doing so.

In addition, assistance is still available for renters, even though many have not yet used funds set aside in each state to provide the help. Yahoo! News reports that the most recent stimulus packages provided a total of $46.6 billion in funds to help renters with overdue rent and utility costs, but only $5.1 billion, a total of 11% of the funds, has been distributed.

In a news release, the Department of the Treasury announced that the reason funds have been slow to distribute has been because of the programs that the money needs to filter through at the state and local levels first.

“Treasury continues to use every lever at its disposal to urge states to distribute assistance to renters and landlords swiftly,” they said in a news release.