No new federal stimulus payments are scheduled right now

There is no active federal stimulus program sending payments to individuals. The last round of Economic Impact Payments ended in 2021. Congress would have to pass new legislation to authorize another stimulus payment, and no such bill is currently pending.

What exists now are state-level programs, tax refunds, and settlement payments — which are different things with different timelines. If you are waiting for money from the government, the first step is figuring out which of these you are actually waiting for.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal stimulus payments stopped in 2021; a new round would require Congress to pass and fund a new law.
  • Some states have sent their own payments using budget surplus money, but these are one-time and state-specific, not federal programs.
  • Tax refunds, settlement payments, and other government money are not stimulus payments and follow different timelines.
  • To track money you are actually waiting for, you need to know whether it is a tax refund, a state payment, a settlement, or something else.
  • The IRS and your state revenue department have tracking tools for refunds; settlement administrators have their own status pages.

Why stimulus payments stopped and what would restart them

The three rounds of Economic Impact Payments — in 2020, 2021, and 2021 again — were authorized by three separate laws: the CARES Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the American Rescue Plan. Each one had to pass Congress and be signed into law. Once the money was distributed, the program ended.

For another federal stimulus payment to happen, Congress would need to pass a new bill that specifically authorizes and funds it. As of now, no such bill exists in committee or on the floor. News outlets sometimes report on proposals for stimulus payments, but a proposal is not the same as a law. A bill has to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President to become law and release money.

You can track active bills in Congress through Congress.gov, which lists all pending legislation by topic. Searching for "stimulus" or "economic impact payment" will show you what is actually under consideration, if anything.

State payments that looked like stimulus but were not federal

Between 2021 and 2023, several states sent their own payments to residents using budget surplus money. California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, and others each ran one-time programs. These were not federal stimulus — they were state decisions to return money to taxpayers.

State payments have already ended. If a state is currently sending money, it is usually a tax refund (which happens every year), not a stimulus payment. The difference matters because tax refunds follow the normal tax calendar, while stimulus was a one-time event.

If you think you might be owed a state payment from 2021 or 2022 that you never received, contact your state revenue department directly. They can tell you whether the program is still accepting claims or whether the deadline has passed.

How to tell what money you are actually waiting for

If you are waiting for money from the government, it is almost certainly one of these: a tax refund, a settlement payment, a state tax credit, or unemployment back pay. Each one has a different timeline and a different place to check the status.

Tax refunds are tracked through the IRS website (irs.gov) using the "Where's My Refund" tool. You need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount. The IRS updates this tool once per day, usually overnight.

Settlement payments — from class action lawsuits, data breaches, or regulatory settlements — are tracked through the settlement administrator's website. The notice you received when the settlement was approved should list the website and a claim number.

State tax credits or refunds are tracked through your state revenue department's website. Most states have a "check refund status" tool similar to the IRS version.

Unemployment back pay is tracked through your state's unemployment insurance office, not the federal government, even though some of the money came from federal programs.

What to do if you think you missed a stimulus payment from 2020 or 2021

If you did not receive one of the three Economic Impact Payments and believe you were may have access to to it, the time to claim it has passed. The IRS allowed people to claim missed payments on their 2020 and 2021 tax returns using the Recovery Rebate Credit. That window closed when those tax years ended.

If you filed your 2020 or 2021 return and claimed the credit but never received the money, the IRS may have applied it to a debt you owed (back taxes, student loans, or child support). You can see what happened to your refund by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or checking your account transcript on irs.gov.

If you never filed a return for those years, you can still file now, but the IRS will not process it as a priority. File the return and claim the credit; if you are owed money, it will be refunded, but the timeline will be longer than a current-year return.

How to stay informed about future stimulus or emergency payments

Congress.gov is the source for any new stimulus bill. You can search by keyword and set up alerts for bills that match your search. This is more reliable than news reports, which often cover proposals that never become law.

Your state revenue department's website will announce any state-level payment program. Most states have an email list you can join to get updates about tax changes and payments.

The IRS website (irs.gov) publishes announcements about any new federal payment program. You do not have to do anything to receive a payment if you are may have access to to it — the IRS will send it automatically if you have filed a recent tax return or are on Social Security.

Be cautious of emails, texts, or calls claiming to offer stimulus money or asking you to verify information to receive a payment. The IRS does not initiate contact by email or text. Legitimate government payments are sent by mail or direct deposit to the account on file with your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be another stimulus payment in 2024 or 2025?

Not unless Congress passes a new law authorizing it. No such bill is currently pending. You can check Congress.gov to see what bills are under consideration, but a proposal is not a payment.

I got a stimulus payment in 2021 but not in 2020. Can I claim the 2020 payment now?

Only if you filed a 2020 tax return after the initial payment deadline and claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit. If you never filed a 2020 return, you can file one now and claim the credit, but the IRS will process it as a late return and the timeline will be longer.

What if I moved and never got my stimulus payment?

If the payment was sent by mail and you moved, it may have been returned to the IRS. Call 1-800-829-1040 and provide your Social Security number. The IRS can tell you whether the payment was sent and where it went. If it was returned, you can claim it on your next tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Is there a way to check if I got all three stimulus payments?

Yes. Log into your IRS account at irs.gov using your Social Security number and password. Go to "Tax Records" and look for "Economic Impact Payment Information." This shows all three payments and the dates they were sent or deposited.

Can I get a stimulus payment if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Stimulus payments were available to people with a valid Social Security number who filed a tax return. Immigration status did not disqualify you if you had an SSN. If you believe you were may have access to to a payment and did not receive it, contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.