With no new federal stimulus checks in 2022, it has been a worse year for millions as the economic situation continues to be grim with the high rate of inflation that has touched record levels. For the first time in over 4 decades, the rate crossed the 9% mark and has consistently stayed around 8.5%. when set off against an average wage rise of around 3.5% post-pandemic, Americans are facing a decrease in wages in real terms despite what would have been a healthy rise.
At this juncture, the federal support ended when the expanded child tax credit stimulus check payments ended in December 2021 with the payment of 50% of the total amount approved. From millions, the stop in federal support coincided with the rapid increase in prices across the spectrum from groceries to gasoline. The price of gas almost doubled in comparison to the pre-pandemic stage.
The gridlock in Washington and the dire situation on the ground forced states to step in with funds of their own. They were helped by a boom in the economy in the second half of 2021 which allowed them to build up a healthy budget surplus. The Rescue Plan funds allocated to states and other local bodies also helped.
While California had already given two rounds of stimulus checks in 2021, for other states it was a first. Maine and New Mexico were the first states with stimulus checks for residents. While Maine gave a single payment of $850 to eligible individuals, joint filers received double that.
New Mexico gave multiple payments over 4 months between May 2022 and August 2022 under two legislations. The total came to a maximum of $1,500.
But the California Middle-Class Tax rebate payments were delayed despite being sanctioned as early as June 2022. Governor Gavin Newsom had initially mooted a $400 debit card for each vehicle registered in the Golden State with a maximum of two cards per family. Families without a car were offered transit cards for free commuting.
But he changed his mind and went for the more elaborate Middle-Class Tax Rebate, persuaded by Democratic legislation in the state. even families earning up to $500,000 have been brought under the ambit of the Middle-Class Tax Rebate that covers 23 million residents of the Golden State.
Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive $350 and double that for joint filers with earnings up to $150,000. They will also get an extra $350 if they declare any dependents. The highest is for joint filers with dependents, with a potential earning of $1,050 if they have any dependents.
For individuals earning between $75,001 and $125,000, the stimulus check comes to $250 and double that for joint filers with between $150,001 and $250,000. A dependent will bring in an identical amount.
For individuals earning between $125,001 and $250,000, the MCTR amount comes to $200 while joint filers will get double that. As with other tiers, individuals and families reporting dependents will get an identical amount extra.
1 Million Minnesotans Qualify For Stimulus Check
Over a million frontline workers in Minnesota have qualified for a bonus check as a recognition of their work during the pandemic the Stimulus Check will be $500 as announced by the office of the governor.
The Stimulus Checks have started and $500 million have already been approved by the legislature. Governor Tim Walz signed it into law. Beneficiaries said that the amount will prove immensely beneficial for working families.
Frontline workers in Minnesota face long shifts, uncertain processes, and the constant danger of infection that assailed them in the initial year of the pandemic when the vaccine was yet to be introduced.
Close to 1.2 million applications came in during the 45 days when the applications were accepted. 1,025,655 forms were approved by the state authorities. That puts the individual Stimulus Checks at $487.45.
All applicants will get a mail informing them of the status of the application and the subsequent steps they need to take to receive the amount. Frontline workers who have applied for direct bank transfers will get their money within a week, while it will take 3 to 4 weeks for those who opt for a debit card.
This stimulus check is subject to federal sales tax but has been spared any state tax. Sate officially had originally expected a final tally of 667,000 qualified works and had planned on $750 for each. But the number of applicants far exceeded their planning.
Democrat legislators initially wanted $1 billion to be sanctioned but finally settled on half that amount as a compromise to get the Republican legislators to agree to the bill. The deal marked one of the rare cases of bipartisan success in the legislative session of 2022. It has mostly been marked by successive stalemates on how to spend the $9.25 B state budget surplus.
Eligible frontline workers include the ones in the home care industry, health care, child care, schools, food service, retail, manufacturing, and public transit. Beneficiaries are glad that they will finally get the payment after a series of delays as the Republicans restricted most of the moves.
Many workers had to sacrifice their personal life while their spouses gave up working to look after their families while they attended work. It cut income by half for many families. Many workers said that they would have liked the amount to be a bit more but they were happy with $487 for the present.
Democratic legislators when asked if they would press for more money as they had earlier demanded, Representative Cedric Frazier said that more action needs to be taken but they will take things as to occur and see what happens in the next session,
The state continues to experience an acute shortage of workforce in areas of health care, nursing, and education, issues that require the immediate attention of legislators.
Single filers in Illinois will get a rebate stimulus check of $50 while joint filers will get double that. Residents will also get $100 for each dependent up to a maximum of up to $300 for three dependents.
Full-time residents of Illinois in 2021and with a gross income of $200,00 for individual filers and double that for joint filers.
