As the stimulus checks of $800 came into more prominence starting March 27, 2025, it becomes necessary to distinguish verified information from rampant rumors. Now, there are no federal programs instituted to issue a universal $800 stimulus payment. Some possible current initiatives from the states and federal level may offer some compensatory measures for those eligible.
State Relief Measures
Some states have been able to roll out their forms of relief for their residents while there is no national $800 stimulus check.
Colorado- TABOR Refunds
Colorado residents filing state tax returns for 2023 until April 15, 2024, would receive a tax refund under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). These refunds are supposed to be sent out approximately between March and June 2025. For more information, refer to the Colorado Department of Revenue.
California- Family First Economic Support Pilot
The Family First Economic Support Pilot in Sacramento, California, allows families that qualify to receive monthly payments of $725 over the course of 12 months. Eligible applicants need to reside in certain zip codes, have children aged 0 to 5, and meet income thresholds that are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Although the deadline for application was October 2024, and payments are ongoing, it may be best to check for the latest information on the Sacramento County Program Website.
Federal Stimulus Payments That Aren’t Claimed
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has estimated that 1.1 million unclaimed stimulus payments from the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, worth a maximum of $1,400 per individual, belong to Americans.
However, eligible taxpayers must file their 2021 tax returns by April 15, 2025, and claim the money. The IRS began rolling out these payments in December 2024 and expects most recipients to receive the funds by late January 2025. To verify your eligibility and payment status, use the IRS’s “Get My Payment” tool.
How to Check Your Eligibility
To confirm whether you qualify for any stimulus or relief payments, review IRS guidelines on the IRS website for eligibility criteria for these federal stimulus payments and those for your state programs. The Department of Revenue or tax authority websites of your state will have information on specific state relief programs.
Ensure you have filed the appropriate tax returns so that any relevant returns determining eligibility for potential payments are submitted on time. For updates on the financial aid program, please check back regularly with government communication channels and reliable news outlets.
Avoiding scams and misinformation
Misinformation and potential scams concerning stimulus payments should be kept at bay as well. Always verify such information from sources using authentic government sites and trusted news outlets to know the reality. Especially when it comes to personal data, avoid any sharing with unauthorized sources claiming to provide stimulus payment. Suspicious activities should be reported as potential scams to the concerned authorities to save others from it.
Conclusion
Although the idea of an $800 stimulus check has been widely discussed, there is no currently operating federal program giving it. But there might be a slate of initiatives plus perhaps some unclaimed federal money for financial assistance to those who qualify.
Knowing those can be very serious tasks as it is important to be informed by official channels and made aware of eligibility criteria, which are essential steps in accessing whatever help might be available.