4th stimulus check update 2023 — Americans may be eligible to get up to $1,700 in direct payments – see if you qualify

Calculating your South Carolina rebate

The state has set an estimated payment of $700, but the amount received could vary after the state reviews all eligible tax returns.

You can calculate your rebate amount by the following steps:

1. Look at your 2021 Individual Income Tax return (SC1040) and see if you have a balance on line 10. If you don’t, you will not receive a rebate. If line 10 is $1 or more, continue
2. Add your refundable credits found on lines 21 and 22. Now subtract those credits, if any, from line 15:​
   ​​line 15 – (line 21 +​ line 22)​​
3. I​f the amount you​ calculated is less than the rebate cap, you will receive that amount If it is greater than or equal to the cap, you will receive the cap amount

Austin will increase E-bike rebates this month

Austin is planning to hike the current rebates for individuals and groups who purchase E-bikes, according to a memo from city officials.

The maximum rebate total for single E-bike purchases would increase from $600 to $1300 with combined rebates from Austin Energy (AE) and The Austin Transportation Department (ATD)

While group, multi-bike purchases would not be eligible for the ATD rebate, the maximum rebate would increase from $400 to $800 per unit.

In addition to E-bikes, most electric two-wheel vehicles, like mopeds and motorcycles, will also qualify.

City officials may adjust the specifics of the rebate expansion based on community feedback, the memo stated.

Boise announces property tax rebate

Boise, Idaho will be providing certain homeowners with a property tax rebate next year, the city announced last month.

Citizens who already qualified for the statewide Circuit Breaker Program and rebate will be eligible for the Property Tax Rebate Program.

Applicants must own a home less than $1.2million in value, which is 150 percent of the median assessed value for Ada County.

Applications opened on December 1 2022 and conclude on May 1, 2023.

More UBI programs, part three

A total of 175 Rochester, New York, residents will get $500 in monthly cash for a year.

To qualify income must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

The program is set to launch at some point in early 2023 and it's unclear if there will be an application process.

A city spokesperson told The U.S. Sun that it does not have an update to share about the pilot at this time.

More UBI programs around the country

Chelsea Eats in Massachusetts will benefit 600 to 700 participants.

The amount of money received depends on household size.

For example, solo households are in line for $200, households of two can get $300 and households of three or more are due $400.

If selected, participants should receive their first prepaid debit card with the payment by the end of the month, Tom Ambrosino, Chelsea City manager, previously told The U.S. Sun.

Over 4,000 apply for $500 monthly rebates

Known as ARISE, the universal basic income pilot in Alexandria, Virginia is offering $500 per month for two years to needy residents.

In a January newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson noted that the city received a total of 4,149 applications.

Of those, 170 have been randomly selected to participate.

Wilson is hoping that the payments will help “alleviate poverty.”

Payments are slated to begin going out in January.

Fort Wayne’s $51million relief plan, continued

The city will also provide money for parks and streetscapes:

• Brewer Park: $2million
• Packard Park: $1.8million
• Franke Park phase one: $5million
• Streetscape improvements along Pontiac Street: $1.7million

Fort Wayne’s $51million relief plan

The Indiana town, Fort Wayne, has finally decided how to spend its $51million from the American Rescue Plan.

Nearly $2million is allocated to community grocery stores in southeast Fort Wayne.

This will help the stores offer nutritious food and fresh produce at more affordable prices and aid with job and skills training.

Front-line employees receive bonus

Augusta, Georgia is rewarding city employees who worked jobs during the pandemic and were put at the highest risk of contracting coronavirus.

Under the plan, the money depends on the number of hours worked and the job category, according to a report from the Kennebec Journal (KJ). 

For example, the majority of full-time city workers qualify for $500 bonuses, while part-timers are set to get $250.

But if you happen to work in the line of public safety, custodial, dispatch, or rubbish collection, you could be eligible for another $500.

Full-time workers in one of those groups would receive a total of $1,000, while part-timers can get $500. 

Montana governor proposes tax cut, credits

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte announced a plan to use the state’s $1billion budget surplus to fund a bevy of tax cuts and credits.

The Governor’s Budget for Montana Families would cut the top income tax rate from 6.5 percent to 5.9 percent, as well as introduce a $1200 tax credit for children under six and a $5,000 adoption credit.

The proposal also includes $500 million in property tax relief.

“I fundamentally believe hardworking Montanans should keep more of what they earn. And with inflation at a high not seen in 40 years, providing Montanans with tax relief is all the more important,” said Gianforte. 

The proposal will be formally introduced to the Montana state legislature when it re-convenes in early January.

What is FAFSA?

Federal Student Aid is a part of the US Department of Education and FAFSA is a free application to college students to help determine if they qualify for federally funded financial aid as well as other loans and grants.

If students are awarded federal aid, it is then based on the FAFSA form and includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, and federal student loans.

The FAFSA form is also used to determine eligibility for state grants and institutional grants from colleges and universities.

Where these grants and scholarships differ from student loans is that they do not need to be repaid – unless you don’t meet specified requirements.

Students can start applying for FAFSA

The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has officially opened for the 2023-2024 school year.

The sooner you file the better, but the deadline isn’t until June 30, 2024.

The applications are typically chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis so filling them out sooner rather than later can be crucial.

Some states also have their own deadlines in place, so it’s best to start sooner rather than later.

Guaranteed Income for Trans People in San Fran

The Guaranteed Income for Trans People program will send $1,200 monthly direct payments to qualifying applicants.

The program will last 18 months and is run in partnership with the city government, the Lyon-Martin Community Health Services, and a nonprofit called Transgender District.

To qualify, you must identify as either transgender, non-binary, intersex, or gender nonconforming.

Applicants must also be at least 18 years old, reside in San Franciso, and earn less than $600 per month.

Those who meet the qualifications can apply online for the monthly payment.

Tons of cash for grabs in Alaska

In June, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed a bill into law that allows Alaskans to pocket $3,200.

Citizens were to get a $650 energy relief payment and another $2,550 as part of the state’s Permanent Fund dividend.

The Permanent Fund dividend pays an amount of the state’s oil wealth to residents each year.

Both payments went out as a lump sum on September 20, according to the state.

New Hampshire offers energy rebate

Around $104million is available to millions of New Hampshire families in the form of energy rebates and fuel assistance.

Around $70million will go into home energy rebate programs and $34million will go to the state’s fuel assistance program.

The fuel assistance program opened earlier this week and already 22,000 have applied, that’s 6,000 more than last year.

Fuel benefits range from $304 to $3,024, depending on household income and energy costs, according to the state.

The average payment is $1,342.04, and the payments will not hinder any public assistance someone is receiving.

Used electric vehicles qualify for rebate

If you’re looking to save some extra cash by purchasing a used vehicle, you’re in luck as you can still get a credit worth up to $4,000.

Similar to the new vehicle credits, there are limits on used EVs. They are:

• Income requirements: Consumers qualify if their modified adjusted gross income is less than $150,000 for married couples or $75,000 for single filers
• Vehicle price: The sale price can’t exceed $25,000
• Sale qualifications: Buyers only get the credit if it’s the first sale of the used vehicle. They can also only get the credit once every three years
• Vehicle qualifications: The car model must be at least two years old

San Antonio helps with electric bills

San Antonio residents who were plagued with sky-high electric bills will get a little bit of relief through a rebate. 

Customers will get back approximately 13 percent of their July electric bills, coming to an average of about $29 per household.

There are special options available to those receiving the rebate as well.

In fact, residents can choose if they want to keep the rebate for themselves or pass it to low-income residents who need help paying their bills.

They could also opt to send the rebate to be held for city funding to increase weatherization efforts in Texas.

Universal Basic Income in Houston

Eligible Houston, Texas residents were able to claim for cash under the city’s pilot program which will give $375 a month for one year.

Houston residents experiencing economic hardship qualify for the program.

The full list of requirements are as follows: 

• Must be a resident of Houston
• Must be at least 18 years old at the time of application
• Must have a household income at or below the federal poverty level

A total of 110 people will be chosen through a selection process.

The application window closed on May 25.

Guaranteed income program offers two years of payments

The Cook County Promise program will pay 3,250 eligible families $500 a month in no-strings-attached direct income for two years.

The county will choose the recipients from a lottery this month.

Over 184,000 residents applied before the October deadline, according to Cook County officials.

Those selected should have begun receiving the funds in December.

Massachusetts rebate disappoints several residents

A rebate in Massachusetts is not what many residents expected. 

Some are getting as little as $9 back, while others get as much as $20,000.

The rebates are equal to 13 percent of a resident’s 2021 state income tax liability, with an average rebate sitting at $529, reports Mass Live.

However, households that are part of the bottom 20 percent of earners will get an average credit of just $9, while the middle 20 percent will get about $208.

Households with incomes of $1million or more could see a credit of more than $22,000.

Florida City offering ‘gold’ energy rebates

Tallahassee, Florida is encouraging property owners to switch to natural gas appliances with rebates of up to $2,000.

The push for natural gas is meant to reduce the city’s demand for electricity. 

Applicants can get a total of 10 rebates to install new gas furnaces, water heaters, pool heaters as well as a host of other gas-powered appliances.

The city will even provide the gas from the street at no extra charge.

To see if they qualify, residents can fill out either the residential or commercial rebate applications.

Tax refunds expected to decline in 2023

Many Americans were pleasantly surprised to receive a larger tax refund this year due to state surpluses.

In addition, temporary programs like federal stimulus checks and the Child Tax Credit program increased the average tax return by nearly 14 percent, according to the IRS.

Taxpayers were able to claim the fourth federal stimulus checks if they didn’t receive them in 2021.

Families also could claim a third check for children born in 2021.

Colorado benefiting taxpayers with rebate

Colorado residents who filed their 2021 tax returns by June 30 were in line to get a physical check for $750 by September 30.

Joint filers received $1,500 from the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights Amendment.

Governor Jared Polis created a bill in May to get cash to residents even sooner, sending them out by late August.

However, if taxpayers waited to file by the October 17 deadline, they will receive these refunds by January 31, 2023.

$15,000 rebates for going green

The Inflation Reduction Act tweaked an existing law offering rebates worth up to $7,500 to individuals who buy new “clean” vehicles like electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The credit will be available through 2032, but it comes with strict income requirements.

Married couples don’t qualify for the new-vehicle credit if their modified adjusted gross income on a joint tax return exceeds $300,000. The limit is $150,000 for single tax filers.

Individuals don’t qualify for the tax break if their van, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck costs more than $80,000. There’s a $55,000 price limit for other vehicles.

New hope for a stimulus check

A New Year's Eve tweet from President Joe Biden has sparked hope for a new stimulus check.

Biden recapped the accomplishments his administration has made throughout the year and offered predictions for 2023.

"We’ve got more work to do," the president tweeted. "I look forward to more progress in the new year."

Although he didn't elaborate, many Twitter users speculated he was talking about the expanded Child Tax Credit, which gave families a $3,600 credit for every child younger than six and $3,000 for any kids between the ages of six and 17.

The initiative expired at the end of 2021, and there's been a strong push to bring it back permanently.