Everyone’s getting a check! Yes, you too!
Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that free checks of up to $400 started being distributed to millions of New Yorkers on Friday.
Approximately 8.2 million qualifying households statewide can anticipate receiving the “inflation refund” checks over the next two months, according to officials.
The Democratic governor, currently facing re-election next year, has been promoting her inflation refund initiative for several months and, as of Friday, confirmed that checks have begun to be sent out, labeling the approach as a “one-time gesture.”
“We hear you, New Yorkers. We hear you. And if we can return some funds to you through an ‘inflation rebate,’ then it’s a sign we care for our community,” Hochul remarked, addressing a group of supporters at an Albany gym.
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The checks will be issued to individuals earning below $150,000 annually and families making under $300,000 according to their 2023 tax filings.
Eligible individuals and families can expect the following benefits based on their incomes:
- Families earning under $150,000: $400
- Families earning between $150,000 and $300,000: $300
- Individuals earning under $75,000: $200
- Individuals earning between $75,000 and $150,000: $150
Governor Hochul has presented these handouts as a way of providing a “refund” to New Yorkers following higher-than-expected sales tax income as a result of inflation spikes over recent years.
Fiscal analysts have criticized this initiative, especially as Hochul grapples with soaring state expenditures.
Expenses have surged by 21%—a staggering $45 billion—since her tenure began, with the state confronting a $34 billion structural deficit projected over the next three years.
Earlier this month, the governor took criticism for her lighthearted comment at a black church in Buffalo, advising attendees against spending their government checks on alcohol.
