Fourth Stimulus Checks: Arkansas, Other States To Distribute Payments this September

Some states across the country are now distributing stimulus checks intended to help their residents. The amount that residents will receive may vary.

Arkansas and other states will distribute stimulus money. (Photo: Reuters)

States Set Aside Funds To Help Residents

The United States has moved away from the federal government giving financial assistance to people and toward a more state-centric structure, which means that stimulus checks are now coming from states that have set aside funds to help their inhabitants.

Fears of the COVID-19 pandemic persist throughout much of the United States, especially with President Joe Biden claiming that millions of Americans have yet to be vaccinated, so this financial assistance will come as a great comfort to those whose jobs are still in jeopardy. Also, the Delta version hasn’t helped matters.

Examine the states where stimulus checks are being produced or discussed, or where funds are already being distributed to people. These are the following states:

Alaska

• Alaska residents may be eligible for extra funds via the Federal State Extended Benefit program, which may result in an additional 13 to 20 weeks of payments. This, however, is only available to a select group of people, and it is contingent on how much of the pot of money has already been taken. Additionally, Alaskans are waiting for information on what will happen with the yearly oil wealth checks.

Arkansas

• The situation in Arkansas is still extremely fluid, with the Arkansas state government now engaged in a court fight with its own citizens over the termination of federal unemployment benefits worth $300 per week. Any discussion of a fourth check will most likely have to wait until that fight is settled.

California

• As of yet, California is the only state that has issued a stimulus check from its own funds in the form of the Golden State Stimulus, owing to the state’s tax structure, which has resulted in a budget surplus. Residents earning between 30,000 and 75,000 dollars per year are eligible for 500 and 600 dollars, respectively, as well as 500 dollars for families with dependent children.

Colorado

• Between March 15, 2020, and October 24, 2020, those who received at least one unemployment benefit will get $375. Those with higher salaries who get more than $500 per week in work benefits, however, will be ineligible.

Maryland

• All state and municipal taxes on unemployment benefits have been abolished, and the law also included stimulus payments of $500 for families and $300 for individuals who applied for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

New York

• There is a 2.1 billion dollar fund in New York for illegal employees who were unable to get financial assistance under the federal stimulus. You must be a resident of the state and have earned less than 26,208 dollars in 2020 to be eligible.