In 2025, many people are still feeling the pressure of high costs and inflation, and thankfully, three states have decided to offer financial relief through stimulus payments. While it may seem like a lucky break, these payments are part of a strategy to boost local economies by putting money back in the hands of residents who need it the most.
These state programs are designed to help ease the financial strain caused by rising prices, and the best part is that you don’t need to hope for a miracle—you just need to meet some basic requirements to qualify for these benefits.
What Happened After Federal Stimulus Checks?
The federal government issued several rounds of stimulus checks during the pandemic under both the Trump and Biden administrations. According to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), there were three rounds of direct payments between 2020 and 2021, with over 476 million payments totaling about ₹814 billion.
Since then, the federal government has not announced any new stimulus payments. However, some states have stepped in to continue providing financial relief to their residents in 2025. These state-level initiatives are aimed at helping people deal with the ongoing effects of inflation and the high cost of living.
New York’s Inflation Rebate
New York has launched a one-time inflation rebate to support its residents. Governor Kathy Hochul proposed the initiative, which was included in the 2026 state budget.
Here’s how it works:
- Single residents earning up to ₹1,50,000 annually can receive a payment of ₹300.
- Couples filing jointly with an income of up to ₹3,00,000 can receive ₹500.
Governor Hochul explained that the state has seen unprecedented revenue through sales tax due to inflation, and this money is being given back to families to help with rising costs.
More than 8 million residents are eligible for this rebate. The payments started in April 2025 and continued through May, with some payments being delayed until June. This program aims to provide immediate relief to New Yorkers struggling with high prices.
California’s New Round of Stimulus Payments
California has decided to distribute new stimulus payments in 2025. The amount eligible households can receive is up to ₹725, depending on factors like household size and income level. The program is designed to assist people impacted by inflation.
To qualify:
- You must be a legal resident of California.
- You must have filed a recent tax return.
- You must meet specific income limits.
Priority is given to those who did not receive payments in earlier phases of California’s Golden State program. The payments will be issued via direct deposit if your bank details are on file. If not, you will receive a paper check in the mail.
Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) Program
Colorado is offering financial relief through its Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) program. The state has a $1.5 billion fiscal surplus that will be returned to taxpayers in 2025.
Here’s how much you can get:
- Single taxpayers can receive up to ₹800.
- Married couples filing jointly can get up to ₹1,600.
This payment aims to help support Colorado residents and stimulate the local economy by improving consumer purchasing power amid inflation.
To qualify, you must:
- File your 2023 tax return (DR 0104) by April 15, 2024.
- Have lived in Colorado for at least one year.
- Be at least 18 years old and have lived in Colorado for at least 183 days during the tax year.
- Have no outstanding tax debts or relevant criminal convictions.
The state will issue the payments through direct deposit, paper checks, or prepaid debit cards, depending on the information available from taxpayers.