A recent Facebook post has gone viral, spreading a false claim that the U.S. government has approved a $1,000 stimulus payment for every U.S. resident.
The post includes a video with a narrator stating, “In a shocking, unprecedented move, a no-strings-attached $1,000 stimulus has been rushed through prior to the incoming term in an effort to kickstart the economy immediately. Every U.S. resident qualifies, no exceptions.”
This claim, however, is entirely false, and the video is misleading. Let’s take a closer look at the facts and why this claim should be ignored.
The Truth: No $1,000 Stimulus Payment Approved
Despite the claims made in the video, there has been no such approval for a $1,000 stimulus payment for all U.S. residents. Federal lawmakers have not passed any new legislation providing for a stimulus check of this amount, and no credible news outlets have reported on such a development.
Additionally, neither the U.S. Treasury Department nor the IRS has made any official statements regarding a new stimulus payment of $1,000.
No New Stimulus Payments Since March 2021
The last round of federal stimulus payments came in March 2021, under the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden.
This relief package included direct payments of $1,400 for individuals and $2,800 for married couples, but no new stimulus checks have been issued since then.
Before that, the U.S. government provided two rounds of payments during the Trump administration.
The first round of stimulus checks came in March 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, with individuals receiving $1,200 if they earned less than $75,000 annually. The second round, worth $600 per individual, was sent out in December 2020.
The Facebook Post Links to a Non-Government Website
The post that sparked this misinformation links to a website that is not affiliated with the U.S. government. On this site, users are encouraged to enter personal information to “win a $1,000 stimulus.”
This is a clear indication that the website is not offering a legitimate government payment but is likely attempting to gather personal information for other purposes.
Stimulus payments from the federal government are not “won” in any way. They are distributed based on eligibility criteria set by the IRS and Treasury Department. As of now, there is no program offering a $1,000 payment for all U.S. residents, and such claims should be disregarded.
The History of Stimulus Payments in the U.S.
The U.S. government has provided several rounds of direct relief payments to help Americans cope with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These payments were designed to provide financial relief to individuals who were impacted by job losses, business closures, and other disruptions caused by the pandemic.
However, these payments were not given to all U.S. residents, and the amounts varied depending on income and filing status.
The March 2021 relief package marked the final stimulus payment related to the pandemic, and there have been no new stimulus programs approved since then.
What to Watch Out For?
While the video in question may sound convincing, it’s important to be cautious about misinformation online.
Scams and false claims about government payments are common, especially when economic relief programs are in the news. Always verify the information from official government sources like the IRS or Treasury Department websites.
If you come across claims about new stimulus payments, it’s essential to check reliable sources. Be wary of websites asking for personal information, as they may be scams designed to collect data or install malicious software.
Conclusion
The viral claim that every U.S. resident is eligible for a $1,000 stimulus payment is false. There has been no new legislation or announcement from the government regarding such payments.
It is important to rely on trusted sources like the IRS or government officials for accurate information and avoid falling for scams.
For now, the best approach is to ignore videos and posts making unsupported claims about government payouts, and always verify such information with credible sources before taking any action.
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