Skip to main content

This post may contain affiliate links which may compensate us based on your interaction. Please read the disclosures for more information.

The COVID-19 emergency is coming to an official end, which means another stimulus check is less likely. 

Image source: Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic changed people’s lives forever, so it’s not surprising it resulted in the country officially entering a state of emergency. However, despite the fact that COVID-19 has not been eradicated, life has largely returned to normal for most people.

As the threat of the pandemic waned, the country remained officially in that state of emergency. However, that will soon end. President Joe Biden recently announced that the national and public health emergency declaration would be extended one more time until May 11, 2023 but would terminate after that.

This important announcement could affect the likelihood that you will get another stimulus check deposited into your bank account.

An end to the state of emergency likely means no more COVID-related stimulus payments

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit full force in the United States, this prompted bipartisan action to offer financial help to the public during lockdowns. In fact, both the first and second stimulus checks were supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

After Biden took office, however, Republicans largely stopped supporting the idea of more financial relief. In fact, the third stimulus check was passed by Democrats only with no support from lawmakers on the right at all.

Control of Congress has shifted since Biden took office, so it is no longer possible for a fourth check to be authorized without support from both Republicans and Democrats. As a result, it is very unlikely that the federal government would send out another payment unless the pandemic once again presented a grave threat as it did initially.

With the president indicating the emergency declaration is coming to an end, this is a clear signal that experts do not expect the pandemic to ramp up and cause further lockdowns. If COVID-19 is no longer an emergency after May, Congress will have no incentive at all to come together to try to send out a fourth check.

Does this mean stimulus checks are entirely off the table?

Pandemic-related stimulus payments will almost assuredly not be coming once COVID-19 is no longer considered an emergency, but there is still a slim chance that stimulus money could be sent for other reasons.

Stimulus relief has been authorized during recessions in the past, so if economic conditions worsen, it’s possible a bipartisan bill could be passed to provide more financial help. This would not be a COVID-19 related payment, though, but would instead be designed to help jumpstart a poor economy if lawmakers believe this extra bit of help is necessary to keep the economy afloat.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2024

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our expert loves this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR until 2024, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our expert even uses it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 Read More 

Leave a Reply