With the economy picking up slightly post-pandemic, some states have decided to put a full stop to the running stimulus check. West Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming, and Kansas all joined in to discontinue issuing economic aid payments to their residents, hence closing the curtains on state-level stimulus initiatives.
The four states that have discontinued their stimulus check programs
The four U.S States below have permanently put an end to their stimulus check programs for varying reasons;
- Kansas
- West Virginia
- Idaho
- Wyoming
The reasoning behind the decision
State governments have provided different explanations as to why they are ending their stimulus check programs. Some believe the economy has recovered sufficiently enough to end the payments. Other states may be facing stringent budgetary conditions and have resolved to allocate the funds to other sectors.
How it affects residents
This move is sure to have an effect upon residents within those four states. For some individuals and families that have learned to count on these payments in their lives, making ends meet just got even more difficult.
How other states have varied in their approach
While West Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming, and Kansas have decided to conclude their stimulus check programs, other states have chosen different paths. Other states, such as Alaska and California, still provide their citizens with some form of economic aid.
- Alaska $3,200 Payments: The biggest-ever Permanent Fund Dividend payment of $3,284 for each qualified recipient was issued to Alaska residents in 2022. This was augmented by a $650 energy relief payment.
- California $1,050 Rebate: California Residents to Get up to $1,050 in One-Time Payment as Middle-Class Tax Refund Program Qualified taxpayers in this state can claim a one-time tax credit worth up to $3,600. In addition, there is a ‘young child tax credit’ of $1,083.
- Colorado’s $750 Rebate Payments: Colorado has refunded $750 to individual tax filers and $1,500 for joint filers as tax rebates. Anyone filing their state tax returns by June 30 should have received their rebate by September 30.
The future of state-level stimulus initiatives
With the economy continuing to boom, it will be interesting to note whether other states are going to end their stimulus check programs, taking cues from West Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming, and Kansas. Or maybe new state-level initiatives will crop up that help residents who are still battling economic hardships.
Overall, the decision of West Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming, and Kansas not to go ahead with the stimulus check program makes concrete an important turn in political reality for state-level economic assistance. Much as the development may bite residents hard, one has to look out for different ways embraced by other states and the likelihood of new initiatives in response to other changes in economic fortunes.
