Why There's No 4th Stimulus Check Coming: What States Are Doing Instead

After the third round of pandemic relief payments has been spent, many Americans have wondered whether Congress might authorize additional direct assistance. The reality: a 4th stimulus check at the federal level is unlikely to happen. However, the situation is more nuanced than a simple “no”—several states have taken independent action to fill the gap with their own relief initiatives.

Federal stimulus payments and other pandemic aid programs have proven effective at reducing housing and food insecurity. Without them, the economic recovery following the 2020 recession would likely be moving at an even slower pace than the gradual progress observed over recent years. Nevertheless, while some Congressional members have previously advocated for additional support, meaningful federal-level discussions about issuing another round of checks have effectively stalled.

Understanding the End of Federal Stimulus Payments

The shift away from direct payments represents a change in how Washington is addressing ongoing economic challenges. Rather than approving additional cash infusions, lawmakers have pivoted toward alternative support mechanisms. The Child Tax Credit expansion, for instance, has provided monthly payments to eligible families—a recurring income stream that mirrors what some Democratic legislators had originally proposed as an alternative to one-time payments.

The political landscape has also shifted. With Congressional Republicans and Democrats at odds over budget resolutions, debt ceiling decisions, and infrastructure spending priorities, legislative momentum for new stimulus packages has diminished. The narrow balance of power in both chambers has made it difficult to pass even routine budget measures without coming dangerously close to deadline crises.

States Step In With Their Own Relief Programs

Recognizing the continued financial strain on residents, multiple states have designed and implemented their own stimulus initiatives:

California announced the Golden Gate Stimulus program in July, providing payments to 5.7 million residents. Those earning between $30,000 and $75,000 annually received one-time payments of $600, with an additional $500 available for households with dependents. Distribution began in September.

New York launched a separate program in April offering one-time payments of up to $15,000 specifically for undocumented immigrants unable to work during the pandemic. The state has indicated that funding for this program is nearly depleted.

New Mexico distributed one-time payments of $750 to over 4,000 low-income households that hadn’t received federal stimulus assistance. These payments were processed in early August, and the application period has since closed.

Maryland authorized payments of up to $500 for qualifying taxpayers, with processing completed in February 2021.

Colorado took a different approach, automatically distributing $375 to all individuals who had received unemployment benefits between March and October 2020.

Beyond direct cash payments, other states have targeted assistance toward specific groups. Teachers in Georgia and Florida received bonus payments in 2021, while Minnesota distributed checks to grocery store workers and medical center staff. Some of these initiatives were funded through state budget surpluses, while others utilized remaining federal pandemic aid allocations.

What Congress is Doing Now Instead

Discussion about a 4th stimulus check on Capitol Hill has largely faded since mid-2021. In late March of that year, over 20 Democratic senators sent a letter to President Biden requesting additional aid, with particular emphasis on recurring payments rather than one-time checks. A separate group of more than 60 House Democrats similarly urged the President to consider another relief package targeting lower-income households and dependents.

However, the conditions that might have made another stimulus package viable have shifted. The expanded Child Tax Credit now provides ongoing monthly support to parents and caregivers, addressing some of the income security concerns that had motivated calls for recurring direct payments. With the economy showing signs of recovery and targeted monthly payments already flowing to millions of households, the political appetite for additional broad-based stimulus payments has evaporated.

Instead, Congressional focus has remained divided among competing priorities: adopting formal budgets, navigating debt ceiling discussions, and determining spending allocations for infrastructure and social programs. In a closely divided legislature, these disagreements have already created multiple brinks-manship moments. A 4th stimulus check, while symbolically appealing, has simply fallen off the legislative agenda as other concerns take precedence.

The combination of state-level initiatives, expanded tax credits, and Congressional preoccupation with other fiscal matters means that Americans seeking additional direct pandemic relief will likely find their best options through state programs rather than federal action.