No federal stimulus payment is currently being distributed to all households
There is no active federal stimulus payment program sending money to everyone right now. The last broad stimulus payment—the third Economic Impact Payment—ended in 2021. Since then, Congress has not passed legislation creating a new universal payment program.
What exists now are targeted programs: tax credits you claim on your return, state-level payments in a handful of states, and settlement payments tied to specific lawsuits or government errors. None of these are automatic payments to all Americans. Each has its own rules about who receives money and how.
If you have seen posts or ads claiming a new stimulus payment is coming or that you can "check your status," those are almost always scams. Legitimate government payments do not require you to click a link, enter personal information on a website, or pay a fee to receive them.
Key Takeaways
- No federal stimulus payment program currently sends money to all households; the last one ended in 2021.
- Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are available when you file your return, but they are not stimulus payments and require you to meet income and work requirements.
- A few states have run one-time payments funded by state budget surpluses, but these are not federal programs and have already ended in most cases.
- Settlement payments exist for specific groups—people harmed by government errors, data breaches, or lawsuits—and you typically receive notice by mail if you are may be able to access.
- Scams claiming a new stimulus payment is available or asking you to verify your status are common; the real government does not contact you this way.
How to tell the difference between real payments and scams
Real government payments come to you; you do not have to search for them or click a link to claim them. If you are owed money from a settlement or a tax credit, you will receive official mail from the agency involved—the IRS, your state revenue department, or a court-appointed claims administrator. The envelope will have a real government address on it.
Scams work the opposite way. They find you through email, text, social media, or ads and ask you to "verify your information," "check your status," or "confirm your account" by clicking a link. They may promise money is waiting or that you have unclaimed funds. None of this is how the government works.
If you see an ad or message about a stimulus payment, do not click any link in it. Instead, go directly to the official website: IRS.gov for federal tax matters, your state's revenue or tax department website for state payments, or settlement.org to search for legitimate settlements you may be part of. Type the web address yourself rather than clicking a link sent to you.
Tax credits that work like payments
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) are the closest thing to ongoing stimulus-like payments. Both are claimed when you file your tax return. If you are owed more in credits than you owe in taxes, the IRS sends you the difference as a refund.
The EITC is for working people with low to moderate income. The amount depends on your income, filing status, and whether you have children. The CTC gives you up to $2,000 per child under 17 if your income is below certain thresholds. In 2021 and 2022, the CTC was temporarily expanded, but it returned to the standard amount in 2023.
To receive these credits, you must file a tax return even if you do not normally have to. You can file for free through the IRS Free File program or through a community tax preparation site. The IRS website has a tool to see whether you may be owed the EITC.
State payments that have already ended
Between 2021 and 2023, several states ran one-time payment programs funded by budget surpluses. California, Colorado, Georgia, and a few others sent checks to residents. These programs are no longer active. If you missed a state payment window, there is no way to claim it retroactively.
Some states periodically announce new programs when they have surplus revenue, but these are not predictable and do not happen every year. The best way to learn about a state payment if one is announced is through your state's official tax or revenue department website, not through social media or email.
Settlement payments and how to find them
Settlement payments are real money owed to specific groups of people because of a lawsuit, a data breach, or a government error. Examples include settlements from companies that overcharged customers, data breaches that exposed personal information, or government agencies that wrongly denied benefits.
If you are part of a settlement, you will typically receive a notice by mail explaining what happened, whether you are included, and how to claim your share. You do not have to search for settlements or pay anyone to help you find them. The claims administrator—the company handling the settlement—contacts may be able to access people directly.
If you want to search for settlements you may be part of, settlement.org is a free database run by the National Association of Settlement Administrators. You can search by your name or by company name. Be cautious of websites that charge a fee to help you claim a settlement; legitimate settlements do not require you to pay to receive your money.
What to do if you see a stimulus payment scam
If you receive an email, text, or call claiming you have a stimulus payment waiting or asking you to verify your information, report it. Forward phishing emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. Report text messages to your phone carrier by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM). Report ads on social media by using the platform's built-in reporting tool.
If you have already clicked a link or entered information, change your passwords when ready—especially for email and banking accounts. Monitor your credit report for signs of fraud. You can check your credit for free once a year at annualcreditreport.com, the only official site for free credit reports.
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportidentitytheft.ftc.gov. Keep the report number; you may need it if fraudulent accounts are opened in your name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a stimulus payment coming in 2024 or 2025?
Congress would have to pass new legislation to create a stimulus payment program. As of now, no such bill has been passed. If one were passed, the IRS would announce it on IRS.gov, and you would hear about it through major news outlets, not through ads or unsolicited messages.
Can I get money from a stimulus payment I missed?
If you did not receive a stimulus payment from 2020 or 2021, you may still be able to claim it on your tax return. The IRS allows you to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your return for up to three years after the payment was issued. File a return or amend a past return to claim it.
What if I got a stimulus payment by mistake?
Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report it. Do not spend the money. The IRS will eventually ask for it back, and if you have already spent it, you may owe it as a debt. It is easier to return it voluntarily than to deal with collection later.
Are there any programs that send regular monthly payments?
No federal program sends stimulus payments monthly. Some states have tested may provide income pilots—small programs that send monthly payments to selected residents—but these are temporary and limited to specific cities or groups. These are not stimulus payments and are not widely available.
How do I know if I am part of a settlement?
Search settlement.org by your name or the company involved. If you are part of a settlement, the claims administrator will also send you a notice by mail. Do not rely on email or phone calls to learn about settlements; scammers use these methods to trick people into giving up personal information.