Everything You Need to Know to Get Your $1,200 Payment

Tens of millions of Americans already have received a direct payment into their bank accounts as a result of the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Those payments are $1,200 for every eligible adult and $500 per child under 17 years of age. For the typical family of four, that’s $3,400.

And Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive your $1,200 payment automatically, without having to file a tax return. These payments will come no later than early May, in the same way you typically receive your benefits—either by direct deposit, a Direct Express debit card, or paper check. 

Whether you get Social Security, SSDI, or SSI, if you are taking care of a child as your dependent and would like to receive the $500 per child payment too, you’ll need to enter that info HERE.

But tens of millions of additional Americans haven’t gotten their payments yet. Here’s how you can get the information you need to know if you’re eligible, track your payment, and receive it as quickly as possible.

First thing’s first: check your bank account. If you got the payment, you’re all set.

If not, here’s what you need to know:

  1. Check Your Eligibility: If you have a valid Social Security Number and earn less than $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a couple filing jointly, you’re eligible for the full credit. If you earned slightly above that, you might be eligible for a partial credit. More on who’s eligible HERE.
  1. Check Your Status and Update Your Bank Information: If you haven’t filed taxes for 2018 or 2019, but you have enough income or otherwise need to file for 2019, you should file your taxes to get the payment. If you’ve already filed for 2018 or 2019, you can check to see your payment status and see if the IRS needs your direct deposit information HERE. If the IRS doesn’t have your bank account information it will come as a check in the mail, which could take months, so enter your account information if you want to get the payment sooner.
  1. If You Earn Too Little to File a Tax Return: If you are not required to file a tax return for 2019 and didn’t have to file for 2018 either, then you have to enter some basic information to receive your payment. We really want to make sure to get the word out so as many people who are not required to file a tax return but eligible for the payment will receive it – these are some of the most vulnerable and at-risk people in our society, so let’s make sure they know how to get this payment by entering some basic information HERE.

The direct cash payments are just once piece of a much larger economic relief package – which also provided $150 billion to support the public health response, expanded unemployment benefits for workers who had lost their jobs, and provided substantial relief to our state and local governments and small businesses. But these direct cash payments are a critical lifeline for Americans during tough times.

More COVID-19 resources and guidance for families, workers, employers, students, renters, and homeowners are available HERE.