I received hundreds of messages from readers when the stimulus checks went out this spring that they had received the money for themselves but not the $500 for their dependents under the age of 17. Well, that is being fixed and here is what happened.
Why Some Americans Will Get Additional Stimulus Money Soon
For Americans that were not obligated to file a tax return, they had to fill out the Non-Filer’s tool I had mentioned back in April and May. This way, they could update with their payment information and check on the status of the stimulus payment.
People Who Used the Non-Filer’s Tool Before May 17 With Qualifying Children
Link: IRS FAQ (Q53)
The problem happened due to a glitch in the IRS system and for all individuals with qualifying dependents (under the age of 17) that used the Non-Filer’s tool before May 17, 2020, those payments did not include the $500 for each dependent.
I know this was a big deal, just based on the amount of readers that messaged me to see if I could understand why they received a check or direct deposit but they did not receive the $500 for each qualifying child.
Good News! If you received your stimulus money by direct deposit, you should have already seen that increase of $500 per child as of August 5. If not yet, you should get it soon.
If you received your stimulus payment by check or bank card, be on the lookout for another check coming next week! Those checks are scheduled to be mailed today so look for it coming soon!
This is a good thing that this is being handled automatically, even if it did take a few months to get it sorted. If you filed on May 17 or after, you will have already received the money. This is only for the filers who used the Non-Filer’s tool before May 17 with dependents.
