The House passed the nearly $2 trillion relief package which includes the amounts qualifying Americans can expect to receive in a third stimulus payment. Mid-March is still the anticipated deadline for the IRS to cut checks, so CivicScience pulsed Americans on their thoughts and plans for the incoming cash.
In a survey of more than 2,500 U.S. adults, 74% believe the government should be sending stimulus payments to qualifying Americans. This is in line with previous sentiment tracked at each stimulus opportunity.Â
The majority of Americans surveyed believe the third relief check should be $1,200 or more, which, for individuals making under $75K and married couples making a combined $150K or less, is almost a guarantee. Taxpayers within the above income brackets are set to receive $1,400 (to complete the $2K originally proposed by President Biden).
However, the more money a household brings in each year, the more likely they are to be of the opinion that the checks should be less. Thirty percent of households making more than $150K say the relief checks should be under $1,200.
As previously reported by CivicScience, political beliefs have a major impact on where Americans choose to draw lines. Almost half of all conservatives surveyed said the government should not provide stimulus money. But among all the conservatives who do support stimulus checks, a majority still believe $1,200 or more should be provided from the government.
Once again, paying down debt and bills is the most popular way Americans say they will spend their money when checks arrive. This time around, more people say they will either invest or save the money rather than put it toward purchasing necessities.
As the coronavirus relief package approaches approval in the Senate and a signature from the president, many Americans are looking forward to really feeling that relief and creating stability in their personal finances.Â