Does everyone get a fourth stimulus check

Actualizado 10/08/2022 - 03:25 CDT

Inflation has dealt a hard blow to US citizens, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet as groceries and gas prices have skyrocketed this year.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine hasn't helped either and older Americans are desperate for some help from the government through a potential fourth stimulus check.

The online petition for a fourth stimulus check

A Denver restaurant owner has created an online petition on Change.org, asking the US congress to provide people with monthly stimulus checks. The petition has collected as many as three million signatures for the time being.

"Our country is still deeply struggling," reads the description.

"The recovery hasn't reached many Americans - the true unemployment rate for low-wage workers is estimated at over 20 percent and many people face large debts from last year for things like utilities, rent and child care.

"I'm calling on Congress to support families with a $2,000 payment for adults and a $1,000 payment for kids immediately, and continuing regular checks for the duration of the crisis.

"Otherwise, laid-off workers, furloughed workers, the self-employed, and workers dealing with reduced hours will struggle to pay their rent or put food on the table."

Will there be a fourth stimulus check?

A non-partisan advocacy group called Senior Citizens League has been demanding that the government issue a one-time $1,400 stimulus check for Social Security beneficiaries.

"We have received hundreds of emails from people concerned about making ends meet," Senior Citizens League's Shannon Benton told The Sun.

"The high cost of living adjustment, for many, just exacerbated their financial woes by bumping their income above program limits to qualify for Medicare savings programs and extra help."

After the original stimulus checks, some lawmakers did push for another stimulus check, but the social spending plan stalled in Congress in late 2021.

Congress has not been planning to provide beneficiaries with stimulus money. However, this could happen in the event that the US experience an even tougher financial crisis.

The US federal government responded to the coronavirus pandemic by sending out stimulus checks to help low-income and medium-income Americans, with one stimulus check of $1,200 in April 2020, another stimulus check of $600 in December 2020 and then a third stimulus check of $1,400 in March 2021. However, a fourth stimulus check it not likely to be on the way.

So, why won't there be a fourth stimulus check? Well, there are a variety of reasons and we outline the government's arguments against a fourth stimulus payment being sent out through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Inflation is one reason why there won't there be a fourth stimulus check

Rising inflation is a major concern in the USA right now, with the rate hitting 7.5% for January of 2022. When the last of the stimulus checks came out, in March of 2021, inflation was just 2.6%.

Some believe that the stimulus checks helped start the spike in inflation and, whether that's true or not, another stimulus check wouldn't help that situation.

With unemployment numbers improving, don't expect a fourth stimulus check

The stimulus checks were sent out at a time when the economy was stagnant, as a result of coronavirus restrictions. There was a need for a boost, but now the economy is recovering naturally.

The pre-coronavirus pandemic unemployment rate was 3.7% and it got all the way down to 3.8% in February 2022, so it's basically back to what it was.

This is good news in general as more and more Americans are earning an income again, which reduces the need for another stimulus check in the view of politicians.

A fourth stimulus check isn't a priority for politicians

The third explanation for the lack of a fourth stimulus check is the simple fact that politicians aren't doing anything to make it happen. Some don't think there is a need, partly because of the two reasons outlined above, while others have other priorities right now.

Even before the gas prices crisis and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, calls for a fourth stimulus check were growing quieter. Republicans were even joined by some Democrats in being against the idea of a fourth stimulus check, so there weren't many calls for one because the politicians knew it'd be impossible to pass anyway.

Will there be a 4th stimulus check update?

How do I get a 2022 stimulus check?