The chances of a fourth stimulus check in the same vein as the prior three are almost zero. However, there appears to be a chance that funding will be provided for at least one specific demographic - seniors - in the form of a new $1,400 stimulus check.
Part of the reason is that Social Security benefits will get a record-high cost-of-living boost in 2022. When you include the impact of record inflation, as well as rising prices eating into household budgets to balance the Social Security increase, the necessity for lawmakers to support seniors becomes clear.
Senior citizens are also a significant voting bloc. And the fact that we're only talking about one specific group of people may make some lawmakers more willing to pass more funds along these lines.
In fact, there is a strong effort to get seniors this new check.
Of course, this differs from the three previous direct payments to Americans, which were distributed broadly. People of all ages, income levels, and demographics are welcome. Meanwhile, the Senior Citizens League has officially requested that Congress earmark stimulus funds particularly for Social Security recipients.
Recently, the league wrote a letter to members of Congress along similar lines.
"We believe that a special stimulus for Social Security recipients could help defray the higher costs some would face," the group's letter read. "If next year's COLA bumps them into a higher tax bracket, causing higher tax rates on their income and surcharges to their Medicare Part B premiums."
In September, the group launched a campaign along these lines. The group has also created an online petition. "I (and/or my spouse) want Social Security recipients to get a $1,400.00 emergency stimulus check to help them cope with this extraordinary inflationary year," it reads.
Those circumstances, above all, indicate the possibility that these checks will be issued. There's also data that suggests the checks are, at best, a long shot.
President Joe Biden has been unable to make much progress on his domestic agenda in recent weeks. Of course, Democrats control both chambers of Congress. However, the party's progressive side is at odds with the center. Biden, meanwhile, can't afford to lose a single vote.
