Second stimulus check: 6 important facts to understand about another payment

What’s happening with a second stimulus check? We’ll tell you.

Angela Lang/CNET

It’s an uncertain time. Early voting for the upcoming election is underway in some states, with the presidential debates to follow. Health experts warn the COVID-19 pandemic may intensify during flu season. Washington is grappling with the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a potential government shutdown. 

With so much going on, it’s easy to lose track of the latest developments in Washington to pass a coronavirus relief bill with a second stimulus check. To streamline the process, we’ve identified the six most important facts to know right now. 

Keep reading to learn the key information to understand about another direct payment for qualified recipients. We update this story regularly.

Washington continues to talk about the need for more direct payments.

Angela Lang/CNET 1. A new stimulus check is wanted, but hasn’t arrived

The second stimulus check has strong bipartisan support, but is not a done deal. Talks have now been on hold for over a month. Another payment will only happen if a bill passes Congress or is funded through an executive order, the latter of which President Donald Trump hinted at in early September.

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell will testify before three congressional committees this week in a last-ditch effort to promote more stimulus aid ahead of the election. The lack of stimulus intervention, which includes another direct payment, “will start to show up in economic activity. It’ll also show up in things like evictions and foreclosures and things that will scar and damage the economy,” Powell said, according to The Hill. 

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2. The IRS could send out a second check faster than first time

It took the IRS and Treasury Department about two and a half weeks to send the first round of stimulus payments to eligible recipients. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he could send them much faster this time, once a deal is inked.

“I could get out 50 million payments really quickly,” and start making payments a week after a bill is signed, Mnuchin said in August.

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3. Qualifications could shift in your favor

While we think a second stimulus check would largely follow the same guidelines as the first, eligibility requirements are subject to change. It might even benefit your family, if a new stimulus bill redefines who counts as a qualifying dependent.

Other notes on eligibility:

Less than a quarter of eligible recipients received their payment as a check in the mail.

Sarah Tew/CNET 4. You can estimate the amount of your check right now

If you’re still waiting for your first payment or are looking for an estimate for how much a second check could include, you can use our stimulus check calculator to get an idea for how much you, your family and your dependents could expect to receive, especially if qualifications shift with another stimulus check. Our calculator tool doesn’t retain your personal details in any way. 

5. How the IRS sends your stimulus money matters

To get economic relief money out as quickly as possible to eligible Americans, the IRS and the Treasury Department took several approaches that included direct deposit, physical checks and prepaid EIP cards. According to the most recent numbers from the Treasury Department (in June), this is how the nearly 160 million payments break down:

With the IRS continuing to urge people to set up direct deposit to receive payments straight to their bank account, that number could be even higher. It’s expected you’ll receive your money fastest with direct deposit, followed by the check and then the EIP card. The IRS automatically picks the payment method, but is likely to reopen its portal to register for direct deposit if you haven’t already.

6. The fine print can get complicated quickly

When and if a second stimulus check does arrive, the details will require some unraveling. While some situations are straightforward, other complications about you and your dependents could make it unclear if you’re eligible, the size of a check you should expect and when it’s coming. Fringe cases abound. 

For example:

There’s much more to know about other government payments during the pandemic. Here’s what you need to know about a possible interest check from the IRS, the $300 federal unemployment benefit and the administration’s payroll tax cut.