- Congress passed a new $1.9 trillion
COVID-19 relief bill on Wednesday. - Americans who give birth at any point in 2021 are eligible to receive additional stimulus money.
- President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation on Friday.
Americans who give birth in 2021 will be eligible for an additional $1,400 stimulus check as a part of the new COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the relief legislation.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the "American Rescue Plan" COVID-19 bill on Friday after the House passed it on Wednesday.
As part of the relief bill, any American earning up to $75,000 annually is eligible to receive a $1,400 stimulus check and couples making up to $150,000 will receive the full $1,400 per person, including children.
The payments are capped at $160,000 for couples, meaning joint-filers earning more than that don't qualify for a check.
As with the previous stimulus packages, the new relief bill includes a provision that allows any person who gives birth in 2021 to receive an additional $1,400 check for the baby. Once the baby is born, the parents can receive the additional $1,400 after filing their tax return in 2022, the Democratic aide said. They are also eligible for a smaller amount if they earn just below $160,000.
Parents will also qualify for an expanded child tax credit as a result of the legislation. For children aged 5 and below, parents can get $3,600 for each one. They can also receive $3,000 for kids aged 6 to 17. Democrats are aiming to provide families to receive the amount in a lump sum at tax time or monthly checks distributed through the IRS.
Though GOP legislators decried the bill for a lack of bipartisanship in its drafting, recent polling shows the legislation is popular with Americans across the political spectrum.