During August, some U.S. residents may receive payments through state programs, although this is not a new nationwide round of stimulus checks. Alaska and New Jersey have benefits that provide payments to certain residents and taxpayers who meet specific requirements.
The programs have different eligibility rules. Therefore, before assuming that a payment is available, residents should review the conditions in their state and check the status of the benefit through official channels.
Alaska: payments of up to $1,000
In Alaska, one of the programs that provides payments is the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). In August 2026, the state scheduled a distribution for certain applications for 2025 and previous years that were listed as “Eligible-Not Paid” as of August 12. Those payments were scheduled for August 20.
The 2025 dividend is worth $1,000. However, receiving the payment depends on having submitted a valid application and meeting the program’s eligibility requirements.
Applicants can check the status of their benefit directly through the Permanent Fund Dividend portal.
New Jersey: another benefit with payments in August
In New Jersey, the program works differently. Stay NJ provides property tax relief for certain homeowners who are 65 or older and meet income and residency requirements.
In 2026, two distributions were scheduled for the benefit corresponding to the 2024 tax year: one in August and another in November. Some residents may receive payments of up to $1,750, although the final amount depends on each beneficiary’s circumstances.
The program is not a federal stimulus check and is not automatically available to every state resident. Factors such as property taxes, income, and participation in other state programs can affect the amount a person receives.
The average payment reported for the second distribution in 2026 was $645.58, although this does not mean every beneficiary will receive the same amount.
There is no new federal stimulus check in August
An important point is to distinguish these state benefits from claims about supposed federal payments circulating online.
Currently, there is no fourth nationwide round of Economic Impact Payments approved for August 2026. Posts claiming that the federal government will issue $2,000 checks or automatic deposits to all Americans do not correspond to a newly approved federal program.
For this reason, any message requesting money, a fee, or banking information to supposedly activate a stimulus check should be treated with caution. Legitimate programs have specific eligibility requirements and official websites where beneficiaries can verify their status.
How to find out if you qualify for a payment
The safest way to determine whether you qualify is to check the official website for the relevant program and verify your application status. In Alaska, this can be done through the Permanent Fund Dividend system. New Jersey residents can review information about Stay NJ through the state’s Division of Taxation.
The key is not to confuse state programs with a supposed new federal stimulus payment. Payments are available to certain residents in August, but there is no nationwide stimulus check approved for all Americans.