We have some good news for all Americans reading this! As of May 2025, over 8 million people in America will see a boost in their payments that the government will provide for low-income families, retirees, and other vulnerable groups.
While each state will have different criteria, these checks come right in time when the nation bears the burden of inflation, which has been a major issue over the last couple of months. Other reasons for these schemes also include support for maintaining household stability, especially among older adults with fixed earnings.
More than eight million Americans are set to benefit from this relief measure. However, each program has specific eligibility requirements and benefit amounts, so it’s important to stay informed about what’s available in your state.
Here’s a breakdown of some active programs in May 2025.
As per the sources, California first introduced the Sacramento Family First scheme, where residents are designated zip codes in Sacramento, Fresno, San Bernardino, or Los Angeles. To be eligible under this scheme, citizens must meet the income limits and live within the states mentioned in the scheme.
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Second, Colorado has named their scheme the TABOR Refund, which is for the average taxpayer who filed a 2024 state return. These will automatically receive a refund check: $800 for individuals or $1,600 for joint filers. No other extra application is needed. Payments under this particular scheme will be distributed till June 2025.
Third, the state of Alaska has introduced the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). People who have lived in the state for at least one year and have not spent more than 180 days outside the state are eligible for a $1,702 dividend. The fund is backed by the State’s oil reserves and is paid once a year.
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Fourth, the beautiful state of Pennsylvania has also come up with the property tax/rent rebate, which is for seniors above 65, widows, widowers over 50, or people with disabilities over 18. These citizens will get up to $800, provided their income threshold falls between $35,000 and $35,000 for homeowners and $15,000 and $15,000 for renters. Applications are accepted both online and by mail.
Other states, like Georgia, are distributing payments up to $500, following a proposal by Governor Brian Kemp. Meanwhile, thousands of South Carolina residents are in line to receive approximately $500 from a $950 million surplus fund.
Consequently, do not worry if your state hasn’t been mentioned above; other local programs are offering financial help, such as tax refunds, utility subsidies, or one-time payments.
The best thing to do is to visit the state’s official department or the website and seek help to review potential automatic refunds. Sadly, many refunds remain unclaimed because the average American, unaware of them, for instance, aged and naive, isn’t aware of them. There are many other rules around these extra checks. Make sure to file your taxes on time and keep up with the rules.
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A quick financial boost could uncover valuable financial support when it’s needed most, especially in times when America’s economy (hello inflation, we are talking about you) has been the most volatile.
Since 2022 and the post-COVID era, the economy of one of the most powerful countries has been rapidly changing. This shift has happened due to business and job disruptions during the pandemic, followed by global chaos.
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Hence, to reduce the financial strain, this upcoming scheme could be a way to get extra income, which might make a big difference for households navigating the pressures of rising expenses.
Also, just to make it clear, these payments have nothing to do with Social Security benefits that older adults usually claim, as many might get confused, and it is a different set of schemes created altogether.
