Fact Check: Is the $600 Stimulus Payment Real?

Recently, many Americans have been confused about a rumored $600 stimulus payment, which is said to be part of a new government plan to use money collected from tariffs.

This idea was introduced several months ago, but so far, progress has stalled and no new financial help has been approved for 2025.
 

What’s Happening in Congress?

The proposal for a $600 stimulus check has been sent to the Senate Finance Committee, but it hasn’t moved forward. No other lawmakers have signed on to support it, especially not the leaders in the Republican Party.

Financial expert Michael Ryan told Newsweek that he doesn’t think the bill will pass, mostly because it lacks support from important committee leaders.
 

What Have Elon Musk and Donald Trump Said?

The discussion about new stimulus payments got more attention when Elon Musk suggested a plan for payments as high as $5,000, which would also be paid for with tariff money. However, Musk’s idea never officially made it to Congress.

Former President Donald Trump also spoke about the possibility of handing out payments to Americans.

In a recent interview, he said he’s considering giving "a distribution to the people," mentioning possible payments of $1,000 to $2,000. Trump’s idea is based on the fact that the government is collecting a lot more money from tariffs this year.
 

What About Tariff Revenues and Legal Issues?

According to the Treasury Department, tariff revenue went up from around $9 billion in January to over $31 billion in September. This extra money is seen as a possible source for future stimulus checks.

However, there are legal concerns. A federal court decided that Trump may have overstepped his powers by increasing some tariffs.

The Supreme Court is set to review this issue soon, and its decision will affect whether the extra tariff money can be used for stimulus payments.
 

Are New Stimulus Checks Coming?

Right now, Congress hasn’t approved any new stimulus checks. If the bill eventually passes, American adults and their dependent children could get payments worth up to $2,400 for a family.

But for now, political disagreements mean that there is no new aid yet, and millions of households are still waiting for updates.

-

Read next: Social Security Beneficiaries to Receive Early SSI Payment on Friday, October 31, 2025