If you were in charge, and cash payments were going to be doled out, what criteria would you use to determine who gets it and who doesn't?

Retired veterans, least they deserve.

Everyone, rich or poor.

The problem is that no matter where you draw the line – whether it is $100K or $500K or $1 million, there will always be someone who is just below the line (or just above the line) and won’t get what the person next door, who might have an income that is $100 different will get.

I don’t have a problem with giving a little dollop to the 1% as long as the 99% get theirs.

Remember in 2008, Bush sent out $300 checks to everyone under a certain income level? Problem was that I was making more than the level, and I ended up with $0. That seemed unfair and illogical back then.

See this article

Got a social security number? You get a check.

Putting restrictions on it canoe figured out and be done by adding two lines to the Form 1040 next year.

I’d say anyone making less than $100k/yr, but they need a note from their employer stating they missed time/pay due to the Covid-19 virus…whether personally or because the company closed.

Or some sort of health system that would be for all to benefit from.
Just throwing a ball up.

I wouldn’t have a problem not getting in. Certainly everyone is impacted to a greater or lesser extent but I think working people and families should be the most entitled. I don’t have a problem at all with them drawing a line at a certain point.

As economic stimulus, it should probably be done sooner rather than later so perhaps basing it on last year’s tax return would make sense.

As @rebbel points out, it might be more beneficial to invest in something like upgrading the healthcare system or better paid permanent sick leave than a one time give away.

Speed is of the essence here. Humans can’t be involved in anyway. Either by providing documentation, or verifying documentation.

Just send out the cash ASAP if you have a social security card and a address on file. And then once you have a month then you can switch over to beefing up unemployment insurance and food stamps.

My sisters kid just moved out last month and she works at a bowling alley. A bowling alley that is no longer open. She was in tears the other day since she can’t pay rent now. And even if they send out a thousand that just kicks the can for a few weeks.

I don’t give a fuck if some millionaires get a thousand if it keeps her from moving back home.

I would pull unpaid information from utilities, housing, etc. cross reference with names of who filed unemployment claims.
Second wave from head of household requests.

Babies three days old have a social security number.

@Patty_Melt Actually they don’t have a Social Security number until the parents register for one (unless something has changed.)

I had to fill out the form the day after my daughter was born.
Everyone is required to have one. That was nearly twenty years ago.

Here’s the link:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10023.pdf

Looks like you can apply when you sign up for their birth certificate but it is not required. I knew this because my grandchildren didn’t have them right away.

Okay, that explains it. My bills were covered through VA at another hospital.
I see they do have listed a variety of reasons that babies do have to have a number. So, I see it as still not being a viable go to for this question.

@Patty_Melt Yup. I get that.

The promise to distribute money was one made in panic and blatantly irresponsible. It is a knee-jerk reaction, and one further indication of what is to be surmised regarding our President’s judgement.

Interesting. Guess who suggested it first.

It doesn’t matter. There will be no guessing as to who promised it, and who will be held accountable by those who feel themselves aggrieved when the fight begins over who is paid what.

It would be : Better that someone who doesn’t need it gets it than that someone who needs it does not get it. After all, that money originates from us and not from the government.