California residents are getting another stimulus check between the amount of $600 and $1,100 beginning Oct. 6, 2021, as the state has released the next round of payments from its Golden State Stimulus II program.
This will be the third stimulus check release from the California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB), which has set aside $480 million for at least two-thirds of local families. The first two payments were rolled out in August and September on top of the federal government's stimulus payments and child tax credit payments.
About two million Californians can receive this payment through direct deposit or through physical checks sent by post. Those who have opted for physical checks could expect their payment based on the distribution schedule per ZIP code. The rollout will take place every two weeks until all residents have their payments.
Who Qualifies for the Golden State Stimulus II?
According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, two out of three California residents are eligible to get $600 from the Golden State Stimulus II program. The standard amount of the stimulus check is $600 for families earning less than $75,000 a year. They could be eligible as well if they are a tax resident for at least six months in 2020.
Round 2 of Golden State Stimulus checks start to go out this week!
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 27, 2021
2 out of 3 Californians are eligible for $600 or more -- we’re putting money directly back into the pockets of those that need it most. pic.twitter.com/G0ZIzVtagD
However, some families could receive an additional $500 if they have adult dependents or they are undocumented families if they declared these in their tax returns.
Newsom signed the Golden State Stimulus II order as a way to help low-income Californians. He said that it was important for the state government to address "the inequities laid bare by the pandemic" and help those who faced the greatest hardships during this period.
Earlier, California also distributed stimulus check payments for residents who make less than $30,000 a year as they were not eligible for the federal stimulus benefit. Most of the recipients from this batch were immigrants.
California has the capacity to provide stimulus check payments for its residents because of its huge budget surplus in the previous year. While it is one of America's most populous states, its unemployment rate is also lower than the average rate for the whole country.
California residents may verify if they have received the money through their MyFTB account, or they may phone CFTB for inquiries at 800-852-5711 for those in the U.S. or 916-845-6500 for residents currently abroad.
Other Stimulus Check Payments Across the States
But it's not just California distributing its state-mandated stimulus check. Florida has also doled out $1,000 for its teachers and first responders for their sacrifices during the pandemic. New Mexico has also given away $750 in emergency assistance funds to over 4,000 households.
Tennessee gave a one-time $500 to $1,000 extra payment to teachers and then raised their wages by two percent. On the other hand, Texas left it up to the school districts to distribute stimulus checks as there is no state mandate. Some used the money for retention bonuses or pay increases.
