In recent years, stimulus checks have provided significant relief to many Americans during the pandemic. Although federal government disbursements have ceased, some state and local governments continue to provide financial support to their residents. Tacoma, Washington, is one of the latest cities to offer this additional aid. Here’s everything you need to know.
This one-time payment aims to assist low-income residents struggling with rising living costs such as housing, food, gasoline, and other essentials.
To qualify for this $500 check, you must meet several criteria. First, you must be at least 18 years old. Additionally, you must have resided in Tacoma for at least 12 consecutive months.
Requeriments to receive the $500 Stimulus Checks
Your household income must also be equal to or less than 60% of the area’s median income. Lastly, you must have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you meet these requirements, this payment can be a considerable help. To receive the payment, you will need to complete an application form that will soon be available on the city’s website.
Once you obtain the form, print it, sign it, and mail it before July 1, 2025. It’s crucial to submit the application on time, as late submissions will not be accepted.
When filling out the application form, you will need to provide several personal details: your full name, current mailing address, phone number, email address (if available), and date of birth. You will also need to attach certain documents that prove you meet the criteria.
These documents may include a copy of a valid government-issued ID and proof that you have lived in Tacoma for at least 12 consecutive months, such as utility bills or bank statements.
Once your application is approved, you will receive the one-time $500 payment by mail, either as a check or through direct deposit. Typically, the money arrives within 2 to 3 weeks after approval.
Eligibility for the Tacoma Stimulus Program
According to United Way of Pierce County (UWPC), the eligibility requirements for Tacoma’s stimulus check program are as follows:
- Primary caregiver: You must be the primary caregiver of children under 17 years old or up to 21 years if they have special needs.
- Zip codes: You must reside in one of these Tacoma zip codes: 98444, 98445, 98405, 98408, 98409, 98418, or 98404.
- Head of household: You must be the sole head of a household with children meeting the age requirements.
- One application per household: Only one application per household is allowed.
- Income limit: Your income must be between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level.
The $500 stimulus check program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and is expected to reach 8,000 households, helping many families and individuals in need. Like many cities in the U.S., Tacoma has been severely impacted by the pandemic and inflation.
The Guaranteed Income (GI) program in Tacoma originated from economic studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The Growing Resilience in Tacoma (GRIT) program was designed to explore the impact of direct cash payments in reducing poverty in the Tacoma community. GRIT has received over 2,000 applications so far, aiming to provide financial stability to local families over the next year, with a possible extension of another month.
This program targets families whose incomes are slightly above the threshold for traditional public assistance but are not high enough to cover basic needs. The Tacoma stimulus check program focuses on changing narratives about poverty and who “deserves” support. GRIT not only works on distributing stimulus checks but also advocates for guaranteed income laws at the state level in Washington.
Stimulus Checks after COVID-19
From April 2024 to June 2025, United Way of Pierce County, the operator of the program, will distribute stimulus checks to 175 residents in Tacoma. The aim is to use the data from this project to demonstrate that poverty is driven more by systemic issues than by individual failures. Guaranteed income programs gained traction during the pandemic, sparking debates over universal basic income, which provides a consistent cash benefit to everyone, regardless of their income, addressing some limitations of traditional welfare programs.
Once the stimulus checks have been fully distributed, the researchers and administrators of the program hope to understand how this approach to guaranteed income impacts households in Tacoma. These insights could help refine current programs or even pave the way for similar initiatives across the United States. Hopefully, the program will be successful and continue to help more people.
