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Get Your Second Stimulus Check
On December 27, 2020, the government approved a second round of stimulus checks worth up to $600 for eligible individuals ($1,200 for eligible married couples). People with eligible dependents under the age of 17 will receive $600 for each dependent. Families where only one spouse has a Social Security Number are now eligible! Learn more about eligibility below.
We are monitoring details as they are released. This page will be updated as the Treasury Department and IRS release more information.
If you received your first stimulus check, you should receive your second check automatically.
If you received your first stimulus check directly into your bank account, you should receive your second check in the same account. If you received the first check as a paper check or debit card in the mail, you should receive it as either a paper check or debit card in January. The debit card, called the Economic Impact Payment Card, will be sent in a white envelope that prominently displays the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal. Do not throw this envelope away!
You should be able to track your first and second payments on the IRS website using the Get My Payment portal.
If you used a paid tax preparer for your taxes and you've checked Get My Payment and the status of your second check shows a direct deposit going to an account you don't recognize, the IRS advises that you should keep checking your bank account - the IRS misdirected some payments to temporary accounts that preparers set up when filing 2019 returns. Read more details here.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t end up receiving your second check by the end of January 2021, file your 2020 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to claim any missing amount.
Illinois banks that can cash your second stimulus check for free include Bank of America, First Midwest, Fifth Third, Huntington, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and U.S. Bank.
Who is eligible for Round 2 stimulus checks?
U.S. citizens or resident aliens who:
- Have a valid Social Security Number,
- Cannot be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and
- Have an adjusted gross income* under:
- $75,000 for individuals
- $112,500 for individuals filing as head of household
- $150,000 for married couples filing joint tax returns and surviving spouses
- Taxpayers will receive a reduced payment if their adjusted gross income is higher. The amount of the reduced payment will be based upon the taxpayer’s specific adjusted gross income. More details will be provided soon.
- You do not need to have any income to be eligible.
*Adjusted gross income is a number found on your tax return (Line 8b of the 2019 1040 tax form). It is the money you receive (wages, child support, interest, etc.) minus some specific costs, like student loan interest or alimony.
If one spouse does not have a Social Security Number, but the other spouse has a valid Social Security Number, that spouse is now eligible for both Round 1 and Round 2 stimulus checks. They can claim this amount and the amount for any dependents under 17 who have a valid Social Security Number by filing their 2020 taxes and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit. Check our Tax Help page for more resources on filing taxes.
Those who do not make enough money to file a tax return are also eligible. This includes people receiving Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), survivors benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits, or Railroad Retirement benefits.
Still haven’t received your first stimulus check?
You may still be eligible. Learn more about eligibility on our website. You can still receive the first stimulus check by filing your 2020 taxes and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive any amount owed for you, your spouse, and dependent children under age 17. Check our Tax Help page for more resources on filing taxes.
Didn’t file taxes or register for the first stimulus check using the IRS non-filers tool?
You are still eligible if you meet the eligibility requirements above. To receive the first and second stimulus checks, file your 2020 taxes and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. You may claim the stimulus amount for yourself, your spouse, and dependents under age 17, as long as each of you has a work-eligible Social Security Number.
You will receive your stimulus check faster if you have a bank account for direct deposit. Learn more about low-cost, safe bank accounts on our Banking Help page. Use your new bank account number when you file taxes to request a direct deposit into your account.
Learn more about free resources to help you file your taxes on our Tax Help page.
Moved or changed your bank account information?
We are waiting for more information from the IRS, but here’s what we know now. If your bank account has changed, the bank will return the money and the IRS will issue a paper check to your last known address. If you have moved, make sure you set up mail forwarding with the United States Postal Service so you can receive any mailed check at your current address: https://www.usa.gov/post-office
Learn more about free resources to help you file your taxes on our Tax Help page. Entering a bank account when you file taxes will help you receive your stimulus check faster. Learn more on our Banking Help page.
