Stimulus Checks Lose Momentum: Three States Still Paying Them Out

While the federal stimulus checks might be a relic of yesteryear in most of the country, there are still three states sending out direct payments to residents within the month.

The federal government sent its last wave of stimulus payments more than two years ago, but depending on which state you live in, you might be able to qualify for more cash. Here's how residents of Alabama, Arizona and Virginia can benefit.

Alabama

In Alabama, up to $300 is being sent to taxpayers.

The specific payment is $150 for those who file their taxes alone and $300 for couples filing jointly. To get the payments, you had to file a state income tax return for 2021 on or before October 17, 2022.

Keep in mind that certain Alabamans, including those who didn't file a return or are considered a dependent for another taxpayer in 2021, were not eligible for the tax rebates.

Checks will go out beginning November 30, meaning Alabamans have a little more than a month to wait for the money to hit their accounts. Those who opted for direct deposit tax refunds will have the rebates go straight to their account, while others will get the money by check.

Altogether, the rebates cost Alabama $393 million, with the funds coming fully from a $2.8 billion surplus in the Education Trust Fund. Alabama opted to give its residents the money back as a way to offset grocery taxes paid throughout the year.

"Thanks to the work of the Alabama Legislature, we continue making these wise investments while paying down debts, adding to our savings and returning the working people of Alabama's money back to them through tax rebate," Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement.

Arizona

Arizona is offering extra cash payments to residents as well.

Taxpayers with dependents will earn their tax refunds by November 15, but the exact amount depends on how many dependents you have.

For children under 17 years old, the amount was set at $250 per dependent, with a limit of $750 for three dependents. For dependents over the age of 18, the payment is $100 each.

The payments are meant to help Arizona residents deal with inflation, which has hovered at nearly 4 percent. Around 750,000 Arizona taxpayers qualify for the cash after filing their returns in 2021.

Governor Katie Hobbs signed the $17.8 billion budget allocating roughly $260 million to go toward residents with dependents who filed state income taxes for 2019, 2020 or 2021.

All rebates will be sent out automatically, either by direct deposit or by paper check to your listed address.

Virginia

Meanwhile, in Virginia, anyone with a tax liability in 2022 will get their money by November 30.

A tax liability is any money owed to the state after deducting tax credits. Single filers are set to earn $200 in refunds, while joint taxpayers will see an extra $400.

Payments are scheduled to go out over the next three weeks, according to Governor Glenn Youngkin.

"We're excited to announce that tax rebates will begin to be distributed in the coming days," Youngkin said in a statement. "As Virginians continue to face inflation and high prices as a direct result of policies out of Washington, D.C., these rebates are an important step going into the holiday season to help Virginians keep more of their hard-earned money for gas, groceries and essentials."

Youngkin's administration has provided Virginians more than $5 billion in tax relief, he added.

"We remain committed to lowering the cost of living for working families and veterans across Virginia. It's their money, not the government's," Youngkin said.

To see if you're eligible, you can check the Virginia tax website. Those who already filed taxes do not have to do anything extra to secure the payments.