California inflation relief: More Middle Class Tax Refund debit cards hit mailboxes (2024)

Still waiting for your California inflation relief payment? The third round of mailed debit cards for the program, also known as the Middle Class Tax Refund, is going out the week of Nov. 20. (See below for the full timeline of payments.)The California Franchise Tax Board said it expected about 90% of direct deposits to be issued in October and 95% of all MCTR payments (direct deposit and debit cards) by the end of the year. | MORE | California's inflation relief debit cards are supposed to have chip tech. So why don't they?The Franchise Tax Board is now sharing updates on how much money has been given out through the program on the MCTR website. As of Nov. 11, more than 17.2 million California taxpayers and their dependents have benefited, according to the Franchise Tax Board. The state has issued more than 6.7 million direct deposit payments and 2.56 million debit cards worth more than $5 billion. Leer en español The inflation relief payments were promised earlier this year to help with increased gas and cost of living prices. The state Legislature and governor agreed to send Californians who file income tax in the state making less than $500,000 a year payments between $200 and $1,050 depending on income and family size.Video below: Who to call with questions on inflation relief paymentsWho is eligible for inflation relief payments? Recipients must have filed their 2020 tax return by Oct. 15, 2021, have met certain income limits (see below), were not claimed as a dependent in the 2020 tax year and were a California resident for six months or more of the 2020 tax year. You must also be a California resident on the date the payment is issued. Those who applied for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) but who did not receive it by Oct. 15, 2021, must have filed their 2020 tax return by Feb. 15, 2022. Where can I estimate my inflation relief payment amount? You can use this online tool to estimate how much money you should receive. Eligibility is based on 2020 tax filings.How to get California inflation relief checksA spokesperson for the California Franchise Tax Board said the payments will be distributed through direct deposits and mailed debit cards.| RELATED | Did you get a Middle Class Tax Refund debit card? Here's how to use it, avoid feesWho will receive a direct deposit payment and when will it arrive? Eligible Californians who received the Golden State Stimulus and who filed their tax return electronically and received their tax refund through direct deposit had payments issued to their bank accounts starting Oct. 7 through Oct. 25. The remaining will have payments deposited between Oct. 28 and Nov. 14, according to state officials. You should expect direct deposit payments to drop up to five business days from when they were issued. Who should expect to get a mailed debit card? Some people who might have thought they would get a direct deposit will actually be receiving a debit card through the mail. People will receive a debit card in the mail if they filed a paper return, had a balance due, received their Golden State Stimulus by check, received their tax refund by check, received their 2020 tax refund by direct deposit but have since changed their bank or bank account number, or received an advance payment from their tax service provider or paid tax preparer fees using their tax refund. | MORE | California inflation relief: Is your private information being sold to marketing companies?The Franchise Tax Board has released this schedule for when people will be mailed debit cardsGSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with A – E): Oct. 24, 2022, through Nov. 5, 2022GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with F – M): Nov. 6, 2022, through Nov. 19, 2022GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with N – V): Nov. 20, 2022, through Dec. 3, 2022GSS I or II check recipients (last name beginning with W – Z): Dec. 4, 2022, through Dec. 10, 2022Non-GSS recipients (last name beginning with A – K): Dec. 5, 2022, through Dec. 17, 2022. Non-GSS recipients (last name beginning with M – Z): Dec. 19, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022.The Franchise Tax Board says to allow up to two weeks from the dates above to receive the debit cards. What if I was supposed to receive a direct deposit but I changed my banking information since filing taxes? You'll receive a debit card payment through the mail from Dec. 17, 2022, through Jan. 14, 2023. How much money will I get from this refund?How much you receive will depend on your California-adjusted gross income, as well as how many dependents you have.Taxpayers receive either $350, $250 or $200 based on their income level with an additional payment of the same amount if they have at least one dependent.Tier 1: Single filers who make less than $75,000 would get $350. Joint filers with an income under $150,000 receive $700. If they have at least one dependent, they will receive an additional $350.So for example, that means a married couple earning $100,000 per year with one child gets $1,050.About 82% of the state's beneficiaries are in this income level.Tier 2: Single filers who make $75,001 to $125,000 would get $250. Joint filers with an income between $150,001 and $250,000 would receive $500. If they have at least one dependent, they will receive an additional $250.About 12% of beneficiaries are in this tier.Tier 3: Single filers who make $125,001 to $250,000 would get $200. Joint filers who make between $250,001 and $500,000 would receive $400. If they have at least one dependent, they will receive an additional $200.About 6% of beneficiaries are in this tier.What if I did not file a 2020 tax return?Most who did not file a tax return in 2020 are not eligible for the payment. But the state is also increasing assistance to these programs:Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) recipients: The SSI/SSP program is for seniors who are ages 65 or older, or blind or disabled. A budget deal that was approved increases grants by about $39 per month ($470 for the year) for individuals and $100 per month ($1,200 for the year) for couples. In all, the increases affect 1.1 million cases.CalWORKS grant recipients: CalWORKS is a program that provides cash and services to eligible families with a child or children in the home. Combined with previously announced increases, a family of three could receive as much as $194 more a month. The increases affect about 369,000 households.My only source of income is federal Social Security payments so I don’t file taxes. Do I still qualify?Seniors who do not file taxes because they only receive Social Security payments and others who don't file taxes do not qualify for the refund.However, they may still be eligible for other types of increased assistance like rent relief, and utility assistance, according to H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for California’s Department of Finance.| READ MORE | Here's why some seniors won't get payments from California's 'inflation relief' programs| READ MORE | 'I feel cheated': California seniors disappointed they're left out of state's inflation relief package| READ MORE | Some disabled Californians say they're left out of new inflation relief program, want answersWhat if I have other questions?You can call a customer service line at 1-800-542-9332. You can also chat online here.