Many Americans started off the new year with $600 more, waking up to a second stimulus payment.
The payments are part of a $900 billion aid package passed by Congress in December.
President Trump signed the stimulus bill on December 27, but he pushed to increase the payments to $2,000.
Senate Republicans blocked his request again Friday afternoon.
This round is half the payment Americans received in April.
For expecting mother Claire Hamilton, the money will go toward supporting her growing family.
“Hours were cut with work so that would be really helpful to get this supplement income that I would have gotten,” Hamilton said. “We'll need that buffer with another kid on the way."
For others, the money will help pay the bills.
“I needed it for the actual rent, utilities, and the wifi because [my daughter] is taking online classes, we are all taking online classes,” Grover Beach resident Romina Mendez said.
According to the IRS, eligible families will receive an additional $600 per child.
One man visiting Pismo Beach used the $1,200 in the first round of stimulus checks in the spring to up his shoe game, but this time, he plans to put the money back into the community.
“I grew up in a small town where it was all mom and pop shops, so we are always supporting those and putting money back into them is a solid thing to do as well,” Riverside resident Connor Sullivan said.
If your adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, you will receive an adjusted payment.
Those making more than $99,000 will not receive anything.
For couples, income thresholds are doubled.
However, many hard-working Americans say something is better than nothing.
“I know [lawmakers] were talking about $2,000, which would have been nice, but anything extra is helpful. You have to be grateful for what you can get,” Grover Beach resident Isaac Sarmiento said. "I have been pretty lucky to sustain a pretty normal lifestyle, but I know there are people who need it a lot more than others."
The payment amounts will be based on 2019 incomes, according to the IRS.
Social Security recipients, those who uploaded their banking information to the IRS portal for the first round of payments, and those who filed their 2019 tax returns will receive their money automatically, according to officials.
Click here to find out if you are eligible for the second round of stimulus payments and the status of your payment.
