Stimulus update: Why are some people only getting half of their stimulus payments?

While millions of Americans have received a stimulus check courtesy of the American Rescue Plan, some couples are reporting that their checks fall short of what they were promised.

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The $1,400 economic impact payments were to be sent to individuals making $75,000 or less (adjusted gross income) and couples making $150,000 or less. An additional $1,400 payment would be sent for each dependent claimed on income tax forms.

While some 90 million people received payments last week, a growing number have been complaining that the checks they received represent only half what they were told to expect.

Complaints about the partial payments have led to the creation of a Facebook group called “Half Stimulus Missing/Received Status” that has 6,400 members as of Monday morning.

Some in the Facebook group say they have checked the status of the payments using the “Get My Payment” tool and are finding that the other half of their payments are pending under the other spouse’s social security number. Some are also reporting that they are getting notices that say the rest of the payment should be deposited Wednesday (March 24).

According to the group, both couples and individual tax filers are experiencing the problem.

On Monday morning, some in the group reported that they had received a status update showing that funds would be deposited into their accounts on Wednesday or Friday. Others say they have had no luck in getting the status of their payments.

According to the IRS, the reason a filer would get their direct payment in two parts is linked to a tax return that includes an injured spouse claim.

“Married taxpayers who file jointly whose tax return includes an injured spouse claim may get their EIP3 (the third stimulus payment) as two separate payments,” a spokeswoman for the IRS said on Monday.

“In most cases, the second payment will be delivered as directed by the tax return. In a few instances, one payment may come as a direct deposit and the other mailed.

“The second payment may come the same week or within weeks of the first payment. Both taxpayers on the tax return should check Get My Payment separately using their own Social Security number to see the status of both payments,” she said.

The IRS has not directly addressed the issue of partial payments on its website, but has urged some to watch the IRS website for new information.

On the website, the agency added that “Additional batches of payments will be sent in the coming weeks by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card.”

Cox Media Group