Individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria can qualify for a second check. These include: US citizens or permanent residents with a Social Security number, having filed their 2019 or 2020 tax returns, and meeting income limits. Joint filers with adjusted gross incomes up to $150,000 and single filers earning less than $75,000 are eligible for the full amount. Payments decrease gradually for incomes above these thresholds, with those earning over $87,000 (single) or $174,000 (joint) ineligible. Additionally, individuals who did not receive the full amount in the first round due to changes in their circumstances, or who claimed dependents who they expected to be eligible for the first check but were not, may also qualify for a second payment.
Income Thresholds for Second Stimulus Check
The qualifications for receiving the Second Stimulus Check are determined by your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for the 2019 tax year (or 2018 if you haven’t yet filed for 2019). Individuals who exceed specific income thresholds will not receive the full amount or will not be eligible to receive the check.
- Single filers with AGIs of $75,000 or less receive the full $600.
- Single filers with AGIs between $75,001 and $87,000 receive a reduced amount of the stimulus check.
- Single filers with AGIs of $87,001 and above do not qualify for the stimulus check.
- Married couples filing jointly with AGIs of $150,000 or less receive the full $1,200.
- Married couples filing jointly with AGIs between $150,001 and $174,000 receive a reduced amount of the stimulus check.
- Married couples filing jointly with AGIs of $174,001 and above do not qualify for the stimulus check.
- Head of household filers with AGIs of $112,500 or less receive the full $600.
- Head of household filers with AGIs between $112,501 and $137,000 receive a reduced amount of the stimulus check.
- Head of household filers with AGIs of $137,001 and above do not qualify for the stimulus check.
It is imperative to note that the AGI used to determine if you qualify for the stimulus check is what is listed on your tax return. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is not the same as Gross Income. The IRS provides a helpful worksheet to calculate AGI. You can find the 2019 AGI worksheet here.
| Filing Status | AGI | Full Stimulus Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $75,000 or less | $600 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $150,000 or less | $1,200 |
| Head of Household | $112,500 or less | $600 |
**Who Qualifies for Second Stimulus Check?**
**Dependents and Tax Filing Status**
To receive the second stimulus check, you must meet certain income requirements and have a valid Social Security number. The amount of your check will vary based on your income and tax filing status.
**Dependents**
A dependent is a person who meets all of the following requirements:
* Must be your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, stepsibling, parent, grandparent, or other qualifying relative
* Must live with you for more than half the year
* Must depend on you for over half of their financial support
* Cannot file their own tax return (except for certain children)
If you have dependents, you can claim the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents on your tax return. This will increase the amount of your stimulus check.
**Tax Filing Status**
Your tax filing status also affects your eligibility for a stimulus check. The following filing statuses are eligible for a stimulus check:
* Single
* Married filing jointly
* Married filing separately
* Head of household
* Qualifying widow(er)
If you file your taxes using the married filing separately status, you will receive half of the stimulus amount that you would receive if you filed jointly.
**Income Requirements**
The maximum amount of your stimulus check will be $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples filing jointly. However, your check amount may be reduced if your income exceeds certain limits. The following table shows the income limits for the second stimulus check:
| Filing Status | Income Limit |
|—|—|
| Single | $75,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $150,000 |
| Married filing separately | $75,000 |
| Head of household | $112,500 |
| Qualifying widow(er) | $75,000 |
If your income exceeds the limit for your filing status, your stimulus check will be reduced by $5 for every $100 of income over the limit.
**How to Claim Your Stimulus Check**
You do not need to do anything to claim your stimulus check. The IRS will automatically send you your check based on the information you provided on your 2019 tax return. If you have not yet filed your 2019 tax return, you can use the IRS online tool to provide your information and claim your check.
Social Security and Railroad Retirement Benefits
Social Security and Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits are two different programs that provide income to retired workers. Social Security is a federal program that provides benefits to workers who have paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes. RR benefits are a federal program that provides benefits to retired railroad workers and their families. Both Social Security and RR benefits are subject to income taxes.
- Social Security benefits are based on your earnings over your lifetime. The amount of your benefit will depend on factors such as your age at retirement, your average earnings, and the number of years you worked.
- RR benefits are based on your earnings as a railroad worker. The amount of your benefit will depend on factors such as your age at retirement, your average earnings, and the number of years you worked as a railroad worker.
If you are receiving Social Security benefits and you are also eligible for RR benefits, you may be able to receive a second check from the RR Board. In order to be eligible for a second check, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be receiving Social Security benefits.
- You must have worked as a railroad worker for at least 10 years.
- You must have earned at least $1,500 in railroad earnings in each of the last 5 years before you retired.
If you meet these requirements, you can apply for a second check from the RR Board. The amount of your second check will depend on your earnings as a railroad worker and your age at retirement.
Non-Resident and Resident Aliens
Non-resident aliens are not eligible for the second stimulus check. Resident aliens, however, may be eligible if they meet the following requirements:
- You must have a valid Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
- You must have filed a 2019 tax return or you must have filed a 2018 tax return and claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit on it.
- You must not be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
The amount of your stimulus check will be based on your 2019 tax return (or your 2018 tax return if you have not yet filed your 2019 tax return). If you are eligible for the full amount of the stimulus check, you will receive $1,200. If you are married and filing jointly, you will receive $2,400. If you have children, you will receive an additional $500 per child.
If you are a resident alien and you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the stimulus check, you may still be eligible for other forms of economic relief. For more information, please visit the IRS website.
| Status | Eligibility | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident alien | Not eligible | $0 |
| Resident alien who meets the eligibility requirements | Eligible | $1,200 (plus $500 per child) |
| Resident alien who does not meet the eligibility requirements | Not eligible | $0 |
Thanks for hanging out with us! We know this check stuff can be a little confusing, but hopefully, we’ve cleared things up for you. If you’re still scratching your head, feel free to drop by again later. We’ll be here, pouring over the fine print and keeping you in the loop.