SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For millions of people in California who are eligible to receive the $600 Golden State Stimulus, the big question has been when will it actually arrive.
ABC10's Dollars and Sense team has heard from a lot of viewers, who have been waiting nearly two months now, and wondering when they can expect their money. The good news is that payments are starting to go out for some people, but for others, it could still be another six weeks or longer.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Golden State Stimulus plan into law on Feb. 23. It included $600 payments to eligible people, including:
- CalEITC recipient
- ITIN filer
- SSI/SSP
- CAPI
- CalWORKS
The eligibility for each of the groups and the timing of payments is varied.
CalEITC
The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) is available to tax filers who earn less than $30,000 a year. In order to claim it, you will need to file a 2020 tax return.
The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) started sending out Golden State Stimulus payments to CalEITC recipients on Thursday, April 15. You will receive the payment in the same way you got your tax refund.
Here is the timing of payments from the FTB:
If you filed your tax return between January 1, 2021 and March 1, 2021:
- You will receive your stimulus payment beginning after April 15, 2021.
- If you receive a paper check, allow up to three weeks for mailing.
If you filed your tax return on or after March 2, 2021:
- Direct deposits: Allow up to 45 days
- Paper checks: Allow up to 60 days
ITIN
The Golden State Stimulus is available to people who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The IRS issues ITINs to tax filers who are not eligible for a Social Security Number.
An ITIN filer who made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI) is eligible to receive a $600 Golden State Stimulus payment. ITIN filers with income below $30,000 are also able to claim the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and receive an additional $600.
You will receive the payment in the same way you got your tax refund. The timing of payments for ITIN filers is the same as the CalEITC.
The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) started sending out Golden State Stimulus payments to ITIN filers on April 15. Here is the timing of payments from the FTB:
If you filed your tax return between January 1, 2021 and March 1, 2021:
- You will receive your stimulus payment beginning after April 15, 2021.
- If you receive a paper check, allow up to three weeks for mailing.
If you filed your tax return on or after March 2, 2021:
- Direct deposits: Allow up to 45 days
- Paper checks: Allow up to 60 days
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SSI/SSP/CAPI
The $600 Golden State Stimulus grant is available to recipients of SSI/SSP or CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants). They will automatically receive the payment in the same way they get their current payments.
On April 15, state lawmakers passed a bill (SB 86) that will allow them to work with a third-party vendor to get the payments out. According to the information given at a Senate budget hearing, the bill "clarifies authority to allow for data sharing with the federal Social Security Administration to facilitate this arrangement."
Now that lawmakers have worked through the process of how to make the payments, Sen. Nancy Skinner's office said, "It’s our understanding that it could take about 6 weeks after the legislation is signed into law." H.D. Pamer with the California Department of Finance gave a similar timeline, saying payments are expected in 6-8 weeks.
This means the $600 payments could start going out in late May or early June.
CalWORKS
CalWORKS recipients have already received the $600 Golden State Stimulus payments automatically.
"All eligible CalWORKs families have received their Golden State Grant payment," H.D. Pamer with the California Department of Finance said in an email. "The CalWORKs Golden State Grant payments were processed for all eligible CalWORKs families on March 27th and families received a voice notification on April 2nd informing the family of the payment and how to receive additional information."
Resources to help you get your stimulus payment
If you need further assistance with the Golden State Stimulus payment, the CFTB recommends calling 800-852-5711 or for those outside the U.S., 916-845-6500. You can also talk to a representative online.
File Free Federal Taxes, www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free.