4th stimulus check update 2023 — Americans to get one-time direct payment worth up to $5,000 – see how to apply

$500 sent out to 305 families

A guaranteed income program in Sonoma County, California, sent out its monthly $500 payment to 305 families this week.

The Pathway to Income Equity is a pilot program for families that were affected in some way by the pandemic and have an income of no more than 185 percent above the federal poverty line.

Payments began in January and are sent out on the third Wednesday of every month.

Applications for the program have now closed.

$500 a month for randomly selected participants

Two years of monthly $500 payments are being sent out under a guaranteed income program in Iowa.

Known as UpLift, the program accepted applications until February 27 to help low-income residents.

A total of 110 participants were selected randomly out of 6,000 that applied, officials from UpLift said in a recent newsletter.

Those enrolled received their first $500 payment on May 15.

The money is to help them cover “basic needs,” according to nonpartisan research firm The Harkin Institute, which helped launch the program.

Payments of up to $1,500 sent out in New Jersey

New Jersey’s ANCHOR Tax Relief Program is handing out payments of up to $1,500 to around two million households in the Garden State.

The program applies to residents who owned their own homes or rented their homes in 2019 and met the gross income limits of $250,000 for homeowners and $150,000 for renters.

Checks and direct deposits are being distributed throughout the month of May.

The filing deadline was February 28, 2023.

$4,000 for Californians affected by Covid

A form of Covid stimulus is available in San Diego, California, thanks to the non-profit agency, Jewish Family Service.

The Recovery Action Fund For Tomorrow (RAFT) is aimed at low-income residents, and is offering a $4,000 one-time payment to help those who “suffered disproportionately from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

To be eligible, there are several requirements, including an income limit of $30,000 for individuals and $60,000 for families of four.

Families must include those with children under 18, seniors 55 years or older, or disabled adults.

Applications can be made online through May 21.

Californians urged to look out for pre-paid debit cards worth up to $1,050

California has issued the Middle-Class Tax Refund (MCTR) to around 23 million eligible residents.

About $9.2 billion in refunds was issued via 9.6 million pre-paid debit cards that were sent in the mail.

But only about 15 percent of these cards have been activated for use as of May 6, according to California Franchise Tax Board (FTB).

Just 36 percent of cards have been fully spent.

The FTB said the MCTR Debit cards will expire April 2026.

Seniors could get boosted Pennsylvania rebate

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has recently proposed increasing the property tax rent rebate up to $1,000 by using money from the $11billion in reserve cash.

This would boost rebates for seniors, who usually earn up to $650 in either property tax or rent relief.

Under Shapiro’s proposal, the maximum rebate amount would increase from $450 to $1,000.

Additionally, the income cap to receive the payment would increase to $45,000 for both renters and homeowners.

Two weeks left to apply for energy assistance up to $600

Eligible residents of Connecticut have just two weeks left to apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program.

Available to low-income residents, the program distributes payments of between $250 and $600 to help with the cost of energy bills over the winter.

Applications for the most recent round of payments will close on May 31 and can be made online.

Most successful applicants will get their money sent directly to their utility company, and the rebate will be reflected on their next bill.

Arizona to issue a one-time $500 payment

Arizona Governor Kate Hobb’s office confirmed earlier this month that it will send a one-time childcare payment to eligible parents.

Worth $500 per child, it aims to help eligible Arizona families cover registration fees for childcare and out-of-school activities.

This payment will apply to children that are involved with the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and participating in the Subsidized Child Care Program.

“DCS caseworkers and staff will guide eligible families through the next steps in receiving payment,” the Governor’s office said.

The payments will start this summer.

Expert urges all Americans to check if they are owed money

Karla Dennis, an enrolled tax agent, who is licensed in all 50 states, urges residents to find out if their state is offering rebates.

Dennis recommends individuals do an online search with their state.

“I would type in ‘tax stimulus’ in my state,” she told The U.S. Sun exclusively.

For example, “‘tax stimulus, California rebate [or] New York,’ I would definitely Google search it like that.”

Dennis added it’s also worth checking your state’s Department of Revenue website to see if anything is being offered.

$302 back on food in Boulder, Colorado

Each year, Boulder, Colorado offers rebates to offset taxes paid on food.

Under the Food Tax Rebate Program, eligible residents can claim $99 as an individual or $302 as a family.

To qualify, your income must not exceed $43,900 for individuals and $62,700 for a family of four.

You must also meet one of the following requirements:

• Be 62 or older
• Have a disability
• Have children in the household under the age of 18 during 2022

Applications are open now until June 30, and can be made online.

Rebates over $1,000 in Colorado

Payments are currently being sent out in Colorado under the state’s Property Tax, Rent, Heat (PTC) Rebate program.

The payments are worth up to $1,044 and are available based on income, disability, or age requirements.

Claims are still open for both 2021 and 2022, and you can download a claim form online.

Applicants who already submitted in March or April should have received their paper checks or deposits by now.

Further payments will be sent out to eligible applicants in the coming months.

Colorado.gov has shared a full table outlining the payment schedule.

One-time rebate in North Carolina

Homeowners in Greensboro, North Carolina are being offered a $150 rebate check on their property taxes.

The Greensboro city government has set aside a pot of $250,000 for the program, and applications opened in April.

Only Greensboro residents qualify for the relief, and the deadline for homeowners to apply is June 15.

Intended for low-income homeowners, applicants must prove they have lived in their home for the past five years, and their property value must be less than $250,000.

You can apply and check the full eligibility requirements online.

Tax relief up to $1,000 in New Mexico

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a huge tax relief package into law offering residents rebates worth $500 for single filers, and $1,000 for couples filing jointly.

The governor anticipates more than 900,000 taxpayers are in line to receive a payment, and the checks will start going out in June.

New Mexicans who have filed or will file their 2021 state income tax return by May 31, 2024 do not need to take any action to get their rebates.

For low-income residents who are not required to file income tax returns, there’s a pool of $15 million available in relief, which people will need to apply for.

Tax refunds up to $500 in Georgia

Georgia has approved an income tax refund worth up to $500 per taxpayer.

To qualify for this year’s rebate, you must have filed both 2021 and 2022 taxes and currently live in the state.

If you filed on or before April 18, you can expect your cash by July 1.

Payments are worth anywhere between $250 and $500, courtesy of the state’s $6.6billion budget surplus.

“While some in Washington DC are calling for tax increases, we’re sending money back to hardworking Georgians,” Governor Brian Kemp said.

$500 a month in Minneapolis

Another guaranteed basic income program is underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This pilot gives 200 households $500 a month for two years.

The city intends for beneficiaries to spend the money however they need to, either on immediate needs like rent and food, or long-term investments such as tuition, college savings, and vehicle repairs.

These are various enrollment eligibility requirements, including an income limit of 50 percent of the area median income for Minneapolis.

You can view the full criteria at minneapolismn.gov.

UBI in Palm Springs

A universal basic income pilot has kicked off in Palm Springs, California.

The program will see monthly payments of $800 to eligible individuals for 18 months.

The first payment went out on May 15.

The program was created in collaboration between two Coachella Valley non-profits – Queer Works and DAP Health – in an attempt to supplement the income of those facing racism and gender inequality.

There were various requirements to qualify including an income limit of no more than $16,600 annually.

Alaska sends out checks worth $3,284

Alaska is sending out its annual Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), which distributes the state’s oil revenue among qualifying residents.

This year, the dividend is worth $3,284, and the first payment was sent out this week.

If you did not receive yours, future payments will be sent either in June or July.

You can check your application status online at alaska.gov.

Guaranteed income expanded in Virginia

Richmond, Virginia, is expanding its guaranteed income program, with the city “about to begin” a third round, reported local news outlet WTVR.

The Richmond Resilience Initiative will offer two years of $500 monthly payments to roughly 37 new individuals, according to program officials.

To qualify, you must live in Richmond, have children in the household, and not receive any public benefits.

You need to be employed with earnings of at least $12.71 per hour, as this is the full-time wage that disqualifies people from receiving benefits.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can visit rva.gov.

Guaranteed income expanded in New York State

Music and arts organization Local Sound Collaborative has expanded its initiative in Rochester, New York.

Those eligible can apply online until June 3 at 11.59pm for the $200 in monthly support.

To qualify, you must be a part of the local music community in the Greater Rochester area.

This includes studio musicians, production engineers, sound technicians, and other roles.

You also must be at least 18 years old to participate.

State paying $10,000 to relocate

The Little Rock Regional Chamber in Arkansas is offering cash incentives for newcomers taking jobs in The Land of Opportunity.

The program gives new arrivals in Arkansas $5,000 for being hired, plus an additional $5,000 for remaining in the area, equalling $10,000 altogether.

What’s more, local residents can get $501 by successfully referring people to move to the area.

The campaign will use social media data to target former Arkansans or out-of-state workers who have a connection to Arkansas, and encourage them to relocate.

El Monte to give out $500 monthly checks

In El Monte, California, a guaranteed basic income program will give 125 randomly selected households living under the poverty line $500 a month payments for one year.

The program is intended for low-income residents who were impacted by the pandemic’s economic fallout, and the funds were made possible due to the American Rescue Act.

More than 2,500 people applied for the program’s lottery selection prior to the April 15 deadline.

The lottery will occur later this spring, with payments set to begin on June 1.

Kansas rebates up to $900 proposed

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced a proposal that would lead to a tax rebate of $450 for individuals and $900 for married taxpayers filing jointly.

The funds for the program would come from the state’s budget surplus this year and would total $800 million

Alongside the proposed payments, Kelly has vetoed a tax plan that would install flat a 5.15 percent income tax rate.

The proposed rate change would have benefitted mostly wealthy Kansans and would have reduced state revenue by about $330 million annually.

Delaware extends electric vehicle rebate

The state of Delaware has extended its successful electric vehicle rebate program.

“Electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, with many manufacturers committing to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin in a press release.

“Additionally, electric vehicle adoption is a key strategy for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in our state, our country and the world.”

Since the program started in 2015, it has brought $9million in rebates to more than 4,000 electric vehicle purchases.

Steps to apply for the money back are available to view online.

Rhode Island drivers eligible for $2,500

A state program in Rhode Island is offering residents up to $2,500 for purchasing an electric vehicle.

Eligible drivers can get up to $2,500 for a new fully electric vehicle and $1,500 for a used one.

Those who purchase a plug-in hybrid can get $1,500 for a new vehicle, and $750 for a used car.

The program launched in July and has already given $1.25million to residents.

Applications are still open online, but rebates will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, and are dependent on funding availability.

Minnesota property tax refund – deadline for applications

The 2022 Minnesota Property Tax Refund and Renters Refund programs are open for applications with the deadline set for August 15.

If eligible, Minnesota residents may get up to $2,930, but the amount varies depending on income or property tax levels.

This program is open to renters with an income of up to $119,790 and property owners who witnessed a 12 percent or more property tax increase over the last year.

All claims must be filed through the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Those who file their claim before August 15 will begin seeing the payments a little over a month after that date. Refunds can be tracked by using the Where’s My Refund? system.