Five direct payment deadlines in December with one-time checks ranging from $200 to $1,500 – how to get a holiday boost

RELIEF is on the move for millions of Americans claiming one-time direct payments this December.

Even though the pandemic may be over, help is still needed as millions of Americans struggle with high inflation.

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States across the country are offering direct payments in the form of rebates, tax credits, or other creative incentives to give money back to their residents.

States like Florida and Massachusetts have all offered help this year – some even because of budget surpluses.

Florida gave its residents $1.1 billion in relief in the form of tax exemptions that exempted certain items.

Massachusetts offered energy rebates and other incentives for home appliances.

Below are five states that provide assistance to residents and their timelines.

1. Alabama – up to $200

Millions of eligible Alabama residents can receive $200 in rebates as an incentive to upgrade their homes.

Alabama Power is a utility company with nearly 1.4 million customers in the state and offers a maximum rebate of $200 to customers who purchase new “smart” thermostats.

Plus, programmable thermostats are a great way to save money as they can help regulate the temperature, which reduces costs.

Many HVAC specialists recommend one with WiFi connectivity.

Once connected, the thermostat will learn what temperature you prefer and then observe the weather forecast and can set your home to your preferred off-peak temperature.

EnergyStar says you can save about eight percent on an estimated average monthly bill of $121.

You can also control them with your smartphone.

The company has an application portal and an explainer website.

The deadline for purchasing the thermostat and completing the application is December 1st.

2. Chicago Resiliency Fund 2.0 – $500

Up to 25,000 eligible Chicago residents will receive a one-time relief payment of $500.

The $14.68 million comes from Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Family and Support Services and is intended for struggling residents who may not have qualified or received state aid payments in 2020.

To be eligible, you must live in Chicago and be at least 18 years old.

Income requirements are based on taxes filed in 2019 and must include a dependent at least 17 years of age or older.

Income must be 300 percent of the federal poverty line, which is based on household size.

• Single household: $40,770
• Household of two: $54,930
• Household of three: $69,090
• Household of four: $83,250
• Household of five: $97,410
• Household of six: $111,570
• Household of seven: $125,730
• Household of eight: $139,890

An additional $4,720 is to be added for each person over the age of eight.

The residents also have to apply online and are then selected by drawing lots.

Only one application per household will be accepted.

The application was opened on October 31st and ends on December 9th.

However, a second application for undocumented migrants and domestic workers will be made at the end of December.

3. Idaho – up to $1,500

Boise, Idaho is another state offering one-time assistance payments.

On December 1, homeowners who are already eligible for the statewide Circuit Breaker property tax program can apply for the Boise property tax refund program.

The program offers eligible residents discounts from $250 to $1,500 for a home and up to an acre of land.

To be eligible, applicants must have earned less than $32,000 in annual income, be 65 years of age or older, be a former prisoner of war, or be legally blind or disabled.

Those who own RVs also qualify.

In addition, applicants must have net worth of less than $800,000.

That Washington Examiner reports that 1,200 Boise residents are likely to qualify.

Property Tax Refund Program applications will open on December 1, 2022 and will remain open through May 1, 2023.

4. Hawaii – $1,200

Thousands of Hawaii residents are said to have received a one-time tax refund back in August.

Hawaii Internal Revenue Service said the refunds began in the last week of August but would be issued in phases.

Those who receive paper checks will have to wait longer for the checks to arrive due to paper shortages.

Residents earning less than $100,000 a year get a $300 rebate, while workers earning between $100,000 and $200,000 queue for $100.

Those who have not filed an income tax return can still do so, but must do so by December 31st.

5. San Francisco, California – $1,200

Of the five states that offer relief, it is a Universal Basic Income (UBI) program, meaning participants receive monthly payments.

The program is called Guaranteed Income for Transgender People (GIFT) and provides monthly direct payments of $1,200.

To be eligible, you must identify as either transgender, non-binary, intersex, or gender non-conforming.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and live in San Francisco.

Also, they must be earning less than $600 per month at the time of their application.

Anyone who qualifies can apply online by transmitting personal data such as first name, telephone number and e-mail address.

Just note that you need a list of supporting documents that can be found online.

A total of 55 people will be selected to participate and the application deadline is Thursday 15 December.