11 direct payments between $250 and $1,050 going out in early 2023 – do you need to apply?

HOUSEHOLDS in several states are getting relief payments in 2023 as all of us continue to grapple with high inflation.

Five locations are planning to issue payments beginning in January.

The payments specifically aim to help low-income households, parents, artists, young adults and seniors.

1. Alexandria, Virginia – $500

To cope with escalating costs, the city of Alexandria is spending $3million on a program called “ARISE”, which will provide $500 a month for people struggling financially. 

To qualify, residents must register for a lottery that will determine whether or not they’re eligible. 

Applicants must also be living at or below the medium income average of the city, which is $71,150 a year for a family of four. 

The program will provide the funds to 175 randomly selected recipients, who’ll receive these monthly payments for 24 months. 

Applications closed in November, and payments start in January.

2. Cook County, Illinois – $500

Similarly, residents in Cook County, Illinois, could previously participate in a lottery that would provide them with $500 payments over a two-year period. 

Payments started going out in December.

According to Toni Preckwinkle, the president of the Cook County Board, the program is the largest guaranteed income pilot in the country at $42million.

There will be 3,250 individuals participating over a two-year period in the pilot program.

This program is planned to be an ongoing event, with the funds coming from the county’s cannabis revenue.

3. Evanston, Illinois – $500

The city of Evanston has also launched a Guaranteed Pilot Program this year, providing 150 residents with $500 payments for a period of 12 months. 

Residents were randomly selected but had to meet some requirements.

For instance, they must be at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty line and fall under three categories: being between the ages 18 to 24, over the age of 64 or an undocumented member of the community. 

Lottery winners will receive their money on a prepaid debit card. 

“I believe that typically, people can be trusted to spend the money in ways that are most consistent with their needs,” said Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanstown, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

“Therefore, it is often the case that people experiencing acute need can best be helped with direct cash transfers.”

4. New York – $1,000

New York will continue to support artists within the new year, devising a program that’ll help fund their work for a year and a half. 

The program is by the Creatives Rebuild New York, which has a budget of $43.2million for artists in the state. 

Starting November 17, artists began receiving payments of $1,000 a month, which will last for 18 months. 

The initiative was formed to help artists affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which heavily impacted the city’s economy. 

Recipients were selected at random from over 22,000 applications. 

5. Madison, Wisconsin – $500

Additionally, low-income households across Madison, Wisconsin, have started receiving $500 monthly payments. 

Participating households will complete surveys for the program to see whether it was successful or not.

To qualify, people must be residents of Madison, have at least one child and have a household income less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

6. California – $1,050

Residents of California will get cash from the Middle Class Tax Refund program.

More than 25million in the state have already benefited from the initiative, which gives residents $1,050 payments to help with inflation.

While $7.5million has already been distributed, some people are set to get their payment in January.

Californians who changed their bank information after filing a 2020 tax return will get a debit card mailed to them between December 17 and January 14.

All debit cards with the direct payments are expected to be mailed by January 14.

7. Colorado – $750

Individual filers in Colorado will receive a tax rebate of $750, while joint filers will receive $1,500.

The Colorado Cash Back program has already allowed many Coloradans to get tax rebates.

Those who filed for an extension and submitted their tax returns by October 17 can expect refunds by January 31.

8. Idaho – $300

If you live in Idaho and filed your 2020 and 2021 taxes, you may qualify for a tax rebate of either 10 percent of the tax amount on your 2020 income or $300.

You will receive the greater amount.

Joint filers will get $600.

Tax rebates have been going out in Idaho since September and will continue through the early months of the new year.

To be eligible, taxpayers must file the required tax returns by December 31, 2022.

9. Pennsylvania – $650

Pennsylvanians can plan to receive rebates on property taxes and if they paid rent in 2021.

Rebates will range from $650 to $975 depending on if you are eligible for supplemental rebates.

Additionally, homeowners can make no more than $35,000 a year to qualify, while renters who make under $15,000 are eligible.

10. South Carolina – $800

In South Carolina, lawmakers approved a $1billion tax rebate earlier this year.

An initial round of rebates of $800 went out in mid-October.

Residents of South Carolina who file their 2021 tax returns by February 15 will see the second batch of rebates in March 2023.  

11. New Mexico ($250)

New Mexico has issued two tax rebates divided into three separate payments.

Tax rebates can be received only if residents file their 2021 income tax return by May 2023.

The first payment is $250 for single filers with adjusted gross incomes less than $75,000.

Joint filers can expect rebates of $500 if their adjusted gross income is less than $150,000. 

These are the four deadlines this month to claim direct payments between $300 and $1,658.

Plus, see if you’re eligible for a surprise bonus worth $600.