--- title: Who Qualifies for a $1,400 Stimulus Check? Eligibility Rules Explained description: The third stimulus check is coming, and most Americans will get $1,400. But what are the stimulus check eligibility rules this time? authors: - name: Julia Glum role: Managing Editor url: https://money.com/author/julia-glum/ bio: Julia Glum joined Money in 2018 and specializes in covering financial trends that affect everyday Americans' wallets. She also writes Dollar Scholar, a weekly newsletter that teaches young adults how to navigate the messy world of money. education: University of Florida at_money_since: 2018 articles: 453 covers: - Economy and Politics - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology also_seen_in: - Newsweek - International Business Times - CBS News - Good Morning America - WUSA9 - Pix 11 - The New York Times - Mashable - The Washington Post - CNBC - Politico social: - https://x.com/superjulia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-glum published: '2021-03-10T19:21:00.000Z' modified: '2024-01-10T13:29:23.000Z' section: Economy and Politics tags: - News - SMM21 - stimulus checks word_count: 684 canonical: https://money.com/third-stimulus-check-eligibility/ type: NewsArticle source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Photo collage of a man's back with multiple stimulus checks in the background](https://img.money.com/2021/03/News-2021-Who-Will-Get-Third-Stimulus-Check.jpg) *UPDATE: The American Rescue Plan became law on Thursday, earlier than expected. Stimulus payments will start being direct deposited in people's bank accounts "as early as this weekend," according to [White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki](https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1370093159573753868).* * * * The $1,400 stimulus checks are coming. The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Joe Biden's [$1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package](https://money.com/stimulus-package-2021-checks-unemployment/) 220 to 211 on Wednesday, following the Senate's lead to all but cement a third round of direct payments to millions of Americans. Though it still needs Biden's signature, the legislation provides for stimulus checks in the amount of $1,400 per person. The president is expected to approve the bill on [Friday](https://twitter.com/Yamiche/status/1369721094035410949), and the IRS is ready to distribute most of the aid in the next few weeks. This is a long time coming, and the details of who makes the cutoff for receiving an Economic Impact Payment have changed several times. Here's what you need to know about eligibility. ## Who gets a third stimulus check? Who doesn't? If you're an American citizen or what's officially called a "resident alien," you're probably eligible for the third stimulus payment. This includes incarcerated people and those living abroad, but not taxpayers above a certain income level. (More on that later.) In addition, the [American Rescue Plan](https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr1319/BILLS-117hr1319eh.pdf) says people will receive "$1,400 multiplied by the number of dependents of the taxpayer for such taxable year." Unlike with the first and second round of payments, there's no age limit for the third stimulus check. College students and adult dependents qualify for the payments, but most won't receive the deposits themselves. Dependent stimulus checks will be sent to the taxpayer who claims them on their returns. Basically, anyone who's *not* a nonresident alien or someone else's dependent is eligible to get the direct payment. Deceased people and those without valid Social Security numbers for employment didn't qualify for previous EIPs, either. ## Income limits for the third stimulus check This was a hot topic of debate in Congress, but the income thresholds were ultimately left unchanged for the third stimulus. If you're a single taxpayer with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less, you'll get the full amount of $1,400. Ditto if you're a head of household with an AGI of $112,500 or less. If you're married filing jointly with an AGI of $150,000 or less, you'll get $2,800. Over those amounts, the checks decrease, eventually hitting zero. There are different caps this time around; the third stimulus check phases out faster than previous ones did. People who earn over $80,000, married couples who earn over $160,000 and heads of households who earn over $120,000 will not receive any money, [according to *The New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/06/business/stimulus-check-plan-details). The IRS will use income tax data to calculate how big your stimulus check will be. If you've filed your 2020 return already, it'll take your AGI from that. Otherwise, it'll default to the information on your 2019 return. ## I think I'm eligible. What do I need to do to get a stimulus check? Nothing. The first two rounds were issued automatically, and the third will be, as well. The fastest way to get your stimulus check is via direct deposit. Without that information, the IRS will mail you either a debit card or paper check. (Unfortunately, there's no way for you to choose or change the delivery method.) You can [track your money](https://money.com/can-you-track-stimulus-check-coronavirus/) using the IRS [Get My Payment](https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment) tool. If you believe you qualify for the third stimulus check but don't receive one — or you believe it's in the wrong amount — there are options. Either the IRS will send you the money you deserve after you file your 2020 taxes or you'll be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 return, [according to *The Wall Street Journal*](https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-are-the-stimulus-checks-coming-and-who-will-get-one-11615216538). ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://money.com/third-stimulus-check-eligibility/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://money.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Economy and Politics", "item": "https://money.com/economy-and-politics/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stimulus Check", "item": "https://money.com/stimulus-check/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who Qualifies for a $1,400 Stimulus Check? 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