Stimulus Checks: Essential Tips for Confused Parents in Various Situations

Stimulus checks are received by US taxpayers to help them have spending money in times of crisis. Now that there is a pandemic, and many were laid off from work, stimulus checks could help people drive sales at retailers and manufacturers by spending the money they have received. 

Different people get varied amounts of stimulus checks. The essential determining factor about the amount that you will receive will be based on your adjusted gross income (AGI). Here are essential tips for confused parents about stimulus checks based on their family situations. 

New babies

Parents who had new babies in 2018 and 2019 could get $500. The Treasury Department has not yet confirmed rules about parents who had babies in 2020. 

Children ages one through 16

Each child from ages one through 16 could get $500. 

See also: Children Silently Cause the Transmission of the Coronavirus than Adults, Study Proves

Children ages 17 and 18

Usually, children aged 17 and 18 are not entitled to get stimulus payments. However, you get $500 if your child's tax credit appears on your taxes. If your child turned 17 in 2020, you get the payment if you file a 2019 tax return now. However, some shared that since their children are 17 or 18 now, but were16 in 2018, they receive the check without filing for a 2019 return. 

Dependent children aged 18+ 

You get a $0 stimulus check if your child is listed as dependent on your taxes. 

(Photo : unsplash/Sharon McCutcheon)
Stimulus checks help taxpayers have spending money in times of crisis.

Children ages 18+ who are not listed as a dependent

Your child is eligible for $1,200 if he is not dependent on taxes. 

See also: 7 Easy Steps on How to Adopt a Child

Children aged 18+ and have stopped as dependents

Kids this age who were your dependents in 2019 will not get a stimulus this year. At the end of 2020, they could file their taxes and get their payments at that time. 

Which parents could get the stimulus check? 

The parent who claimed their child below 17 as dependent in 2019 income taxes gets the payment. If both parents claimed the child as their dependent, they should refer to tax laws for resolution. If none of the parents took the child as dependents, it is time to sign up for them. 

Parents with a disabled adult child

Many people reported that their disabled adult child who lives with them still receives the maximum SSI amount. They also receive either full or partial food stamps.

See also: Children with Special Needs: Getting to Know the 13 Categories of Disabilities

In some states, the highest they could get is $780. In California, the maximum SSI they get is $910. A child aged over 21 could get a maximum food stamp of $200. Alaska and Hawaii provide higher amounts.

Social security benefits for parents with disabled adult children

Children who became disabled before they reached age 22 are offered a special kind of benefit. They get the benefit if one of their parents died, retired, or became disabled.