Even as more Americans face the financial burden of skyrocketing inflation, the federal government’s stimulus aid programs have come to an end. However, for select workers in Oregon, some respite will be provided before the summer months begin to heat up the weather.
According to KOIN, a CBS station, Democrats in the Oregon state House of Representatives and the state Senate have passed a one-time $600 stimulus payment to low-income workers and households with people who worked during the first year of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the state Senate.
People who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit on their 2020 personal income tax returns or who filed an amended 2020 personal income tax return by April 15, 2020 will be considered eligible Oregonians.
It is predicted that approximately 250,000 residents of the state will be eligible. The payment is intended to assist families in dealing with the growing expenditures they have been experiencing as a result of inflation linked to both the COVID-19 Pandemic and, more recently, the Russian war in Ukraine.
Housing, groceries, medication, and fuel are among the many areas where prices have risen across the board.
According to Senator Kathleen Taylor (D-Portland), “Low-wage workers are a key element of our economy, and they are also the most vulnerable to the growing costs of everyday essentials.”
It makes a significant difference in the lives of individuals and working families to receive cash payments. They can assist with the payment of a utility bill, the purchase of vital medications, or the purchase of necessities such as diapers and groceries.
Payments in cash help alleviate stress by providing families with some assistance in overcoming the problems they confront on a daily basis.”
Oregon isn’t the only state considering providing financial assistance to residents; California is also considering providing another round of Golden State Stimulus checks, assuming there is sufficient surplus in the state budget to cover the cost of doing so.
A one-time stimulus payment to low-income households has also been authorized in Massachusetts, with individuals who are qualified to receive a $500 payment this month expecting to do so.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently delivering certain federal cash to Americans, but only through their tax filings for the year 2021. In the current financial climate, according to CNBC, the average monthly payment is around $3,473.
North Korea claims to have conducted a further test of a component of its “reconnaissance satellite.”
Price increases are being demanded by the government in response to growing concerns over the Russian conflict, which has caused another spike in costs that were already on the rise.
Already-high food costs are anticipated to rise even further as a result of the battle, and gasoline prices have already increased, with California consumers paying more than $5.00 per gallon in some areas.