Biden wants to increase stimulus checks to $2,000. Here’s what we know about those payments

The push for $2,000 stimulus checks is about to get stronger.

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to call for sending additional $1,400 payments to Americans following the $600 second stimulus checks that were recently deployed.

The bigger stimulus checks are aimed at helping households in need and stimulating spending that would boost both small businesses and the economy, according to an outline of Biden’s stimulus plan released ahead of a speech scheduled for Thursday night.

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Biden’s move comes after disagreements on both sides of the aisle in Congress led lawmakers to abandon efforts to pass $2,000 checks in December. Instead, they stuck with sums of $600 per person, half the amount of the first $1,200 stimulus checks.

But many lawmakers, including Biden, still think higher payments are needed.

The $600 payments included children under age 17 in families who qualified for the money. Biden wants to expand the payments to include all adult dependents.

As with the $600 payments, mixed status households, where one spouse does not have a valid Social Security number, would also be eligible under Biden’s plan. In those families, spouses and children with Social Security numbers would qualify for $600 checks.

The plan outline also said the incoming administration wants to make sure the Treasury Department has “flexibility and resources” to get checks to families who still haven’t received their first stimulus checks, as well as others in need.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.