If you are one of the more than 9 million Californians who qualify for the California Stimulus Check Payment and want to know when your payment will arrive, we can help. In this post, we will explain what the Golden State Stimulus Check I and II are about, including eligibility requirements, how much you are likely to get, and when dates for when the checks will be mailed.
Table of Contents:
- About California Golden State Stimulus Check
- Golden State Stimulus Number 1 Eligibility
- Golden State Stimulus Number 2 Eligibility
- Stimulus Check 2 Calculator
- California Stimulus Check Date
- California Stimulus Check FAQs
About California Golden State Stimulus Check
In February 2021, California lawmakers approved Governor Newsom’s Golden State Stimulus program to send $600 payments to about 5.7 million of California’s lowest-income workers, with extra help for undocumented workers who file taxes.
This became known as Golden State Stimulus I.
In May 2021, Governor Newsom proposed sending the stimulus payments to California’s middle class, too.
California lawmakers approved the plan in late June 2021.
Under the expansion, taxpayers earning as much as $75,000 a year qualify.
Under the Golden State Stimulus II (GSS II) program:
Eligible Californians will receive a payment of $600, and an extra $500 if they claimed at least one dependent on their 2020 taxes, bringing the total maximum amount to $1,100.
However, some recipients of the first Golden State Stimulus (GSS I) payment may also qualify for an additional payment of $500 if they previously claimed a dependent.
Families with at least one dependent get a $500 boost, which increases to $1,000 if they are undocumented and file taxes.
According to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, two out of every three Californians are eligible for a share of $12 billion in Golden State Stimulus payments.
Here’s who is eligible for Golden State Stimulus I and Golden State Stimulus II.
Golden State Stimulus Number 1 Eligibility
To be eligible for the Golden State Stimulus I (GSS I), you must meet the following criteria:
- Have filed your 2020 taxes
- Be either:
– A California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) recipient
– An ITIN filer who made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI) - Be a California resident on the date payment is issued
- Be 18 years or older as of the last date of the tax year
- Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent
Here are the qualifications for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
To qualify for CalEITC, you must:
- Have taxable earned income up to $30,000
- Not use “married/RDP filing separately” if married or RDP
- Live in California for more than half the year
- Meet all other qualifications
If you don’t qualify for GSS I, you may qualify for GSS II (see below for details)
Golden State Stimulus Number 2 Eligibility
Here’s what you should know about the Golden State Stimulus II program:
First, to be eligible, you must have filed your 2020 taxes.
Next, you must have a California adjusted gross income of $1 to $75,000.
However, adults without kids who received a check from the first Golden State Stimulus program will not receive another check.
Third, you have to be a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year and also a state resident on the date the payment is issued.
Lastly, you cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
How much will I get from Golden State Stimulus II?
Parents who have a Social Security number and who got money from the first round of Golden State Stimulus will get another $500.
Undocumented parents who have an ITIN number, which means they were left out of federal stimulus programs, get $1,000.
Adults earning between $30,000 and $75,000 will get $600 if they do not have children and $1,100 if they do.
Again, people without kids who received a check from the first Golden State Stimulus program will not receive another check.
California Stimulus Check 2 Calculator
If you are still not sure how much you are likely to recieve, there is a calculator you can use.
To determine how much you are likely to receive in the second stimulus check payment, use the GSS II estimator provided by the California Franchise Tax Board.
For the calculator, click here.
California Stimulus Check Date
The state tax agency started sending out payments via direct deposit between September 1, 2021, and October 15, 2021.
Taxpayers that don’t have direct deposit set up with the state will receive a paper check.
All paper checks will be sent out based on the last three digits of a filer’s ZIP code on the tax return.
Physical Check Mailing Timeline
Last 3 digits of Your ZIP code |
Mailing timeframes |
001-065 |
10/04/2021 through 10/22/2021 |
066-221 |
10/18/2021 through 11/05/2021 |
222-302 |
11/1/2021 through 11/19/2021 |
303-543 |
11/15/2021 through 12/03/2021 |
544-709 |
11/29/2021 through 12/17/2021 |
710-998 |
12/13/2021 through 12/31/2021 |
The California Franchise Tax Board will send payments based on a filer’s 2020 tax return. In order to receive a check, a tax return must be filed, regardless if a person is required or not to submit one. To receive a check, the state tax authority must receive a return by 15 October 2021.
California Stimulus Check FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Golden State Stimulus check.
Can the California Stimulus Check be Garnished?
According to the Franchise Tax Board, the state’s stimulus payment is not subject to garnishment for child support or spousal support.
Additionally, it cannot be taken to offset debts owed to state agencies.
Do SSI recipients Qualify for California Stimulus Check #1?
Yes, there is a $600 payment for those who already receive state benefits through programs like CalWORKs.
Additionally, recipients of SSI/SSP and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) are also eligible.
However, recipients of other disability benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance, were not eligible.
Payments for those enrolled in CalWORKs were expected by mid-April, 2021.
SSI/SSP recipients should have received paper checks in the mail between May 24 and June 21, 2021.
The check will be mailed to whatever address they had on file in March 2021.
Will there be Golden State Stimulus 2 for SSI recipients?
It depends. Adults without kids who received a check from the first Golden State Stimulus program will not receive another check.
However, if you receive SSI benefits and have dependents, you may be eligible for Golden State Stimulus payment number 2.
Golden State Stimulus Check Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
The state of California will provide the Golden Status Stimulus payment to families and people who qualify.
There is Golden State Stimulus I and Golden State Stimulus II.
The Golden State Stimulus II (GSS II) payments are different from the Golden State Stimulus I payments.
Adults without kids who received a check from the first Golden State Stimulus program will not receive another check.
To receive your payment, file your 2020 tax returns by October 15, 2021.
Questions?
We hope this post on Golden State Stimulus Check was helpful.
If you have further questions about the Golden State Stimulus, CalFresh, or California EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about CalFresh and CalFresh EBT, including:
Restaurants that Take CalFresh in California
How to Apply for California P-EBT
California P-EBT Extension for 2020/2021
CalFresh Account Login Help
How much will I get in CalFresh in 2021?