3 Programs Offer Eligible Americans Up to $8,700 in Stimulus Checks

Stimulus checks are not new in the United States. They have been used for years to support families and boost the economy, especially during hard times like the COVID-19 pandemic. While the big pandemic relief payments are over, some stimulus check programs are still available in 2025—and you or your family might qualify for one of them.

Let’s take a look at three active stimulus payment programs in the US that could give eligible households between $781 and $8,700.

1. Family First Pilot Program – Sacramento, California

This local program in Sacramento, CA, offers up to $8,700 over one year to help at-risk families and prevent Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement.

Key Requirements:

You must live in one of these ZIP codes: 95815, 95821, or 95823
You must be caring for a Black, African American, American Indian or Native child aged 0–5
Your household income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level (that’s $62,400 for a family of four)
You must not be receiving any other guaranteed income from similar programs

Applications closed in October 2024, and payments began shortly after. So if you applied, you should already be receiving monthly payments.

2. Unclaimed 2021 Tax Refunds – IRS Reminder

Did you work or earn income in 2021 but never filed your federal tax return? You could be missing out on an average of $781, and in some cases more.

Important Info:

The IRS says 1.1 million Americans haven’t claimed their 2021 tax refund
Deadline to file is April 15, 2025
You’ll need your W-2, 1099, or 1098 forms from 2021
You can file Form 1040 with help from free tax filing tools or IRS assistance centers

If you don’t claim your money by the deadline, it goes to the U.S. Treasury and cannot be claimed later. Even if you earned very little, you may still qualify, especially if taxes were withheld from your paycheck.