Is There a Stimulus Check for Washington in 2024?

If you’re facing financial hardship due to job loss or illness and are finding it difficult to make ends meet, a stimulus check from the state of Washington may provide temporary help. However, there are other resources available for low-income Americans, such as food stamps, rental assistance, healthcare programs, Social Security, and more.

If you need tax relief, we also recommend claiming tax credits. Read on to learn more about how these tax credits work, who can claim, and how much relief you can get.

Is There a Stimulus Check in 2024 for Washington?

There are no new stimulus checks for Washington residents in 2024. Other than the three Economic Impact Payments that were issued during the coronavirus pandemic, President Biden or Congress have no plans to issue a fourth round of stimulus payments.

Most of the relief measures that were introduced through the American Rescue Plan and the CARES Act have long since expired. However, if you haven’t filed your federal tax returns for the last three (3) years, you have until April 15, 2025, to file them to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.

Washington Stimulus Check 2024

If you need some relief in Vancouver, WA, or in any other part of the state, we recommend claiming state-level tax credits.

Washington does not impose a personal income tax at the state level. Therefore, it doesn’t have a state-level Child Tax Credit (CTC) or Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) that can be claimed as part of a taxpayer’s state income tax return.  However, you can still claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It’s the only state without a personal income tax with a state-level EITC.  The state’s version is known as the Working Families Tax Rebate (WFTR).

How do Washington Stimulus Checks Work?

Tax credits can reduce your tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis. While they’re not low-income or senior stimulus programs in the traditional sense, they can still provide relief to qualifying taxpayers and help you get a larger refund.

Tax credits can be refundable or non-refundable. A non-refundable credit can reduce your tax bill to zero, but no further. If there are tax credits left over after this is done, you won’t get an additional tax refund for the surplus credit amount. With a refundable credit, you’ll get a check for any surplus tax credits once your taxes are reduced to zero.

Who Is Eligible for Washington’s Stimulus Checks?

Washington’s Earned Income Tax Credit is called the Working Families Tax Credit. Families and individuals are eligible for this credit if they meet these eligibility requirements:

• Must have lived in Washington for at least 183 days in 2023.
• Must have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
• Must be between the ages of 25 and 65 or have qualifying children.
• Must have filed a federal tax return for 2023.
• Must be eligible to claim the federal EITC or meet the eligibility requirements for EITC but are unable to claim because they’re filing with an ITIN.

How Much Do You Receive and When

The Washington Working Families Tax Credit is fully refundable and is calculated as a flat rate based on income level and household size. The minimum amount of credit you can get is $50, regardless of how many qualifying children you have.

Here’s the maximum credit you can get based on different income levels and filing status:

• $315: No qualifying children, single ($17,640 income threshold) or married filing jointly ($24,210 income threshold)
• $625: One qualifying child, single ($46,560 income threshold) or married filing jointly ($53,120 income threshold)
• $940: Two qualifying children, single ($52,918 income threshold) or married filing jointly ($59,478 income threshold)
• $1,255: Three qualifying children, single ($56,838 income threshold) or married filing jointly ($63,398 income threshold)

How To Track the Status of Your Washington Stimulus Checks

The Washington state Working Families Tax Credit is one of the very few refundable tax credits where you get a separate direct payment, in the form of a check or a direct deposit to your bank account.  You may also receive the payment in the form of a prepaid debit card.  

Washington taxpayers can get their tax refund through direct deposit, prepaid debit card, or paper check. It may take the Washington Department of Revenue up to 90 days to process your application and receive the credit. You can check the status of your application and refund online.

How To Apply for Washington’s Stimulus Checks

You can claim the Washington EITC when you file your tax return. You’ll need the following when applying for the credit:

• A copy of your federal income tax return.
• Your mailing and residential address.
• Your ITIN or Social Security Number.
• Dates of birth for you, spouse, and qualifying children.
• Bank account number and routing number.
• Your driver’s license or ID number.

There are several ways to file your tax returns. You can use MyDOR, an online tax filing system, download a PDF application and mail it, or apply with the help of a tax preparer.

“You can apply for the Washington Working Families Tax Credit via a separate application, which is sent to the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR),” advises Brad Reichert, founder and managing director of Reichert Asset Management LLC.

“Most Washington residents apply for this tax credit at the same time they file their federal income tax returns. You may file online for free on the state’s DOR website, you can mail your paper application in for free, or you can apply using tax preparation software,” says Reichert.  

Apply for Financial Assistance in Washington

With no new stimulus checks coming for Washington residents this year, we recommend checking your eligibility for the state’s Working Families Tax Credit to get a larger refund.

If you’re facing financial hardship, the federal government also has a number of resources and programs to help with housing, food, healthcare, and more. Use the Benefit Finder tool to find programs for which you may qualify.

Visit our California stimulus checks, Idaho stimulus checks, and Alaska stimulus checks pages for information about programs you can apply for in those states.