While inflation and rising prices in the wake of the war in Ukraine strangle the finances of millions of households in the United States, IRS refunds and credit payments barely cover basic household expenses, without the hope that a new stimulus check from the federal government will be issued in 2022.
Faced with the difficulty of filling the pantry and the tank of the family vehicle, some states are giving cash to households, either in the form of property tax refunds or stimulus checks.
New Jersey is even discussing the possibility of giving $500 checks to undocumented immigrants who did not get assistance from the Excluded Workers Fund, in addition to legislators asking for $500 checks to offset gas prices.
For now, Idaho, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey and New Mexico have approved stimulus check and rebate programs.
But what about New Yorkers? Will they get any relief?
Stimulus programs in the form of tax refunds are currently being considered in New York, California, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota and Kentucky.
FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR NEW YORK FAMILIES
For now, New York is offering relief to low-income New Yorkers as part of a $64 million federally funded program aimed at helping with the cost of diapers for struggling families, food expenses for households with children and adults elderly, and provide housing and relocation assistance for survivors of domestic abuse.
But New Yorkers are still awaiting the state budget for fiscal year 2023, which could be reconciled on Thursday after a week of delay.
In her fiscal year 2023 budget plan, released earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a $1 billion property tax rebate to offset some of the financial burdens New Yorkers face as inflation rises. . The program returns tax dollars to low- and middle-income households, with low-income households and seniors receiving higher benefits.
In recent months, immigrant workers and community allies across New York City have been calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and state legislators to add an additional $3 billion to the Excluded Workers Fund and support immigrant workers. who cannot access government aid resources due to the pandemic.
Last year, the Excluded Workers Fund was launched to help immigrant workers in New York who are excluded from federal and state emergency aid, including unemployment insurance and stimulus payments.
The Excluded Workers Fund provided one-time payments of $15,000.
However, overwhelming demand depleted funds faster than expected. Two months after the $2.1 billion state fund became available, he ran out of money.
Faced with skyrocketing gasoline prices, some state governments are suspending their taxes on gasoline.
Connecticut, Georgia and Maryland have approved temporary suspension of their state gas taxes so far, according to Forbes.
Meanwhile, Ohio, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia are in the process of deciding whether to approve state tax breaks as well.
Pennsylvania and Virginia are also considering gas tax suspensions, as well as other options. Pennsylvania has proposed legislation to assist families with expenses such as child care, Forbes reported.
Kansas is currently considering offsetting the costs of recent inflation by lowering its high food tax, which Virginia is reviewing as an option.
The truth is that it will not be until Thursday when the Legislature and Governor Hochul are expected to approve the budget for fiscal year 2023, which will also be when it will be defined whether the refunds will be issued to New Yorkers, as proposed by the president.
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