How To: Accept The Restrictive Stimulus Check Guidelines

Just kidding, you don’t.

By Sammi DiVito

We are living in a time plagued by economic turmoil and uncertainty, and residents of the United States—a country that prides itself on its free market and privately-held wealth—are unequipped for the challenge of an impending recession. In a survey conducted in January 2020, only 41% of Americans reported being able to cover a $1,000 emergency with money from their savings. 

The rapid spread of COVID-19 is by all means an emergency. Despite the immense health risks it poses, millions of Americans have been left out of a job as business operations have been forced to shut down nationwide. People’s livelihoods are being threatened, millions are scrambling to collect unemployment, and the government, amidst all the chaos, has stepped forward to offer a remedy—to those who qualify. 

In March, Trump proposed what seemed like a straightforward solution—tax-free stimulus checks of $1,200 (or higher depending on the number of children in the household), deposited into bank accounts or delivered via mail to the doorsteps of struggling citizens. However, it soon became apparent that these “recovery rebates,” while being helpful to the large portion of the population that qualified, still excluded many Americans.

To qualify for a check, a person’s gross income must net below $99,000—or $136,500 if they’re the head of the household. They must have filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019, and they must not be claimed as a dependent over the age of 16. This means that many college students, despite the circumstances of their financial situations, are being left empty-handed. 

And it’s okay to feel stiffed. Many 19 to 24 year olds nationwide (an age when you can be claimed as a dependent but have legal rights over yourself) are full-time students and working to cover the climbing costs of rent and living expenses. They are the backbone of the service sector and are therefore at risk of being disproportionately affected by layoffs. That leaves financially vulnerable young adults to fend for themselves, pray that their parents can help them, or try to find new jobs in the only places they can with limited levels of experience and education: high-risk industries that have them coming in contact with potentially infected individuals. 

There are tax benefits that come with claiming someone as a dependent, which would explain why many families claim their children as dependents for as long as they are allowed. However, not all young adults are fully financially responsible for themselves. Many parents pay for insurance and bills that part-time, minimum wage work can simply not be stretched to cover. 

So does that mean that these college students should not qualify for a stimulus check? Is it just another tell-tale sign of “greedy millennials” who think they are owed something?

No. And they shouldn’t feel ashamed for thinking that they are deserving of the aid. The odds are stacked against them in terms of both the time they have to support themselves financially and the jobs they are able to do. Unemployment is expected to reach almost 30% by the time the dust settles, and these students will be left scrambling for whatever positions remain. The average 20 year old does not have an excess of savings tucked away to withstand such economic turmoil, and a $1,200 check would be a much-welcomed form of relief in this time of uncertainty. 

While there’s not much that students can do to change the stimulus check qualifications, there is hope that future relief packages will be more inclusive. For now, be upset. Don’t be complacent. Vote for politicians who will take these demands into consideration. And remember, change takes time.