Residents of this one state can expect a new check coming their way soon. With cost-of-living becoming an increasing concern for families across the nation, states are taking matters into their own hands in order to provide financial relief for their residents. One of the easiest ways to do this is by sending once-off stimulus payments to eligible individuals in order to alleviate financial strain immediately while a long-term solution is planned for by local governments.
Stimulus payments played a role during COVID-19
From a federal level, the last time widespread stimulus payments were sent across the nation was during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby the Biden Administration sent three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) to eligible citizens in order to assist with the unexpected financial crisis which occurred for many families during the pandemic, where unemployment rates were at an all-time high not seen since the Great Depression.
If you did not claim the third and final EIP, which amounted to for eligible citizens $1,400, this past tax season was your last chance to claim the EIP. Since then, no more stimulus payment programs have been verified by the federal government, however, rumors have circulated of both a $2,000 and $5,000 stimulus payment from the Trump Administration since. States have, meanwhile, carried on with their own stimulus payment policies.
This state is sending checks worth nearly $2,000
New York state is notorious for having some of the highest cost-of-living expenses in the country. In particular, it has been noted that the state is becoming increasingly more difficult to raise children in due to the additional financial burden. To address this, it has recently been announced by Governor Kathy Hochul that the state will be sending once-off ‘baby bonus’ stimulus payments for new families.
These new ‘Birth Allowance for Beginning Year’, otherwise known as BABY checks, are specifically intended for families who are already on social support programs. The checks are for these families to help cover the high upfront costs associated with having a newborn baby. In order to qualify to receive the benefit, you need to ensure that the following criteria has been met:
- You live in New York State
- You must be enrolled in public assistance programs
- You must have welcomed a new child during the 2025–2026 fiscal year
Governor Kathy Hochul’s official website describes how the checks form part of the state’s plan in prioritizing the needs of families, especially those which are low-income:
“We are prioritizing maternal and infant health, because every family deserves a stress-free start. We have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to support kids, parents and families — making New York the best place on Earth to raise a family,” said Gov. Hochul in a statement
Payment dates will vary depending on when you decide to claim your benefit.
More payments coming from this one state
While New York continues to expand their once-off financial initiatives, other states are set to soon send out states form programs which have been long established in their history. On such state is Alaska, which will see residents receive their $1,702 check payment from the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). These payments are sent out every year to ensure that the state’s approximate 600,000 residents can share in the state’s mineral and oil resource profits.
Payments began to be distributed in June and will continue into August. With limited qualifying criteria in order to be part of the initiative, this program is an example to other states of how social assistance policies with low barrier-to-entry can have great effect. While many programs focus on the needs of low-income individual persons, expanding programs to include more residents can go a long way, particularly with regards to building trust between governments and citizens.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of stimulus checks, tax reliefs, tax rebates, tax credits, and other payments is based on the official sources listed in the article. All payment amounts and dates, as well as eligibility requirements, are subject to change by the governing institutions. Always consult the official source we provide to stay up to date and obtain information for your decision-making.
