New $350 checks to be sent to millions of Americans in September
New $350 checks will be sent to millions of Americans this month. Eligible individuals will receive direct payments in September.
- New $350 checks will be sent to millions of Americans next month.
- Eligible individuals will receive direct payments in September.
- Checks will be given to eligible residents who benefit from Medicaid and other assistance.
Millions of eligible Americans in Georgia will receive direct payments of $350 as early as next week. The checks will be given to state residents who benefit from Medicaid, subsidized children’s health insurance, food stamps or cash assistance, according to Gov. Brian Kemp.
Governor Kemp said on August 15 that he will spend up to $1.2 billion in federal Covid-19 aid in payments of $350 each to more than three million Georgians who benefit from some aid, reported The Sun.
When will checks be mailed in Georgia?
Although they did not indicate a specific day, Katie Byrd, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office, said that the payments will begin to be sent in September. The measure comes on top of Kemp’s proposals to spend $2 billion in state surplus, split between property tax refunds and a second round of income tax refunds, if voters elect him to a second term in office on November over Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams.
Those separate plans would require legislative approval next year. The announcement of Georgia’s new checks will put money in the hands of less wealthy Georgians in the months before nationally-watched elections in a hotly contested swing state.
More payments on the way?
However, Kemp appears to be betting that handing over cash now will outweigh the promise of future improvements. Under Georgia state law, he alone controls how billions in federal Covid-19 aid is spent, meaning he can dole out money even as he criticizes Democratic President Joe Biden and Abrams for inflation.
The governor again said his reason for handing out cash was to help people pressured by higher prices, even though economists agree such spending worsens inflation by pumping more cash into the economy to drive up the prices of goods and services.
Help for the most vulnerable
“This assistance will help some of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens cope with the continuing negative economic impact of the Covid-19 public health emergency and the highest inflation in 40 years caused by the disastrous policies implemented by the Biden administration,” Kemp’s office said in a statement.
Kemp cited the same reason for repeated suspensions of state gasoline and diesel taxes since March, a move that has cost the state more than $800 million in foregone tax revenue. Abrams has asked Kemp to guarantee a suspension of fuel taxes through the end of the year.
Georgia ends food stamp hike
While Kemp is boosting incomes for the poorest Georgians now, he ended a monthly increase of at least $95 in food stamp benefits in late May when Georgia’s Covid-19 state of emergency ended. His administration has also fallen behind in distributing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money intended to prevent evictions.
“The reality is that Brian Kemp refuses to expand Medicaid, has cut food assistance amid rising prices, and has failed to fully implement federal rental assistance, leaving too many Georgians evicted,” Abrams spokesman said. Alex Floyd, in a statement. “Now, in the middle of a re-election campaign, he is taking money to stage more political stunts. Kemp’s PR stunt is too much little and too late.» Filed Under: New Check Georgia