CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief

July 24, 2020 R46467

CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient
Characteristics: In Brief
July 24, 2020
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R46467

CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief

n response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136) provided direct payments1 to
I individuals and families. The maximum amount of these payments—sometimes referred to as
“stimulus checks” or “stimulus payments”—is $1,200 per eligible individual ($2,400 for married
taxpayers filing a joint tax return) and $500 per eligible child. The payment amounts are reduced
$5 for each $100 that a taxpayer’s income exceeds the phaseout threshold. These thresholds are
(1) $150,000, if filing as married filing jointly; (2) $112,500, if filing as head of household; and
(3) $75,000, for single filers.
As an example, for a married couple with two eligible children, making the household eligible for
a maximum stimulus payment of up to $3,400, the payment would be reduced if the couple’s
income were over $150,000 and completely phased out if their income is more than $218,000.
For a single individual with one eligible child (i.e., files as a head of household), the payment is
reduced if income is over $112,500 and completely phased out if income exceeds $146,500. For a
single individual with no children, the payment is reduced if income is over $75,000 and
completely phased out if income exceeds $99,000. Note that the income and other eligibility data
used to calculate these payments are general y based on 2019 information, or if unavailable, 2018
information.
This report provides summary statistics on how recipients used their stimulus payments, follow ed
by characteristics of recipients. The estimates in this report were obtained from the Census
Bureau’s new Household Pulse Survey.2 Updates of the Pulse Survey are released weekly. The
results presented below are from the most recent Week 11 survey update, which covers July 9,
2020, to July 14, 2020.3
For more information on the Household Pulse Survey, see CRS In Focus IF11594, New Census
Bureau Products Track COVID-19’s Effects, by Jennifer D. Wil iams. For a summary of the
COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on employment and household income using the Pulse Survey, see
CRS Insight IN11457, COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Household Employment and Income, by
Gene Falk. For more information on the direct payments, see CRS Report R46415, CARES Act
(P.L. 116-136) Direct Payments: Resources and Experts, coordinated by Margot L. Crandal -
Hollick.
Survey Estimates
The Pulse Survey is intended to be a representative sample of 249.1 mil ion American
households. The survey for July 9 to July 14 (Week 11) estimates that 211.3 mil ion households
(84.8%) have already received or expect to receive a stimulus payment, 35.5 mil ion (14.2%)
have not received or do not expect to receive a stimulus payment, and 2.31 mil ion (0.9%) did not
respond. These are estimates of the stimulus payment recipients (and expected recipients) overal ,
not estimates of who received a stimulus payment in that particular week. As with al estimates
obtained from a survey that is based on a sample of the population of interest, the estimates can
differ from the true summary statistics that would be computed if the entire population were

1 In the law, the payments are referred to as “2020 recovery rebates.”” T he Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refers to the
payments issued in 2020 as economic impact payments (EIPs).
2 United States Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey: Measuring Social and Economic Impacts during the COVID-
19 Pandem ic, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey.html.
3 A copy of the survey used from June 11 through July 14 (Week 11) may be found at https://www2.census.gov/
programs-surveys/demo/technical-documentation/hhp/2020_COVID-19_Household_Pulse_Survey-Week-of-
6_11_2020_English.pdf.
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surveyed. The technical documentation that accompanies the survey discusses the steps taken to
address the accuracy of the survey results.4
Stimulus Payment Use
Table 1 provides estimates of the types of goods and services recipients used (or expected they
would use) their stimulus checks for. These purposes are not mutual y exclusive, meaning
recipients could have used their payment for multiple purposes. This table il ustrates, for
example, that 70% of households reported spending a portion of their stimulus payment on food,
while 2.7% of households reported spending a portion of their stimulus payment on recreational
goods.
Table 1. Estimates of Stimulus Payment Use or Expected Use
Stimulus Payment Use
Response
Usage Rate
Food: groceries, eating out, take out
147,873,360
70.0%
Utilities and telecommunications: natural gas,
electricity, cable, internet, cel phone
112,031,134
53.0%
Household supplies or personal care products
109,554,700
51.8%
Rent
61,122,424
28.9%
Vehicle payments: scheduled or monthly
54,203,300
25.6%
Mortgage: scheduled or monthly
52,728,740
24.9%
Paying down credit card, student loans, or other
debts
49,691,147
23.5%
Clothing: clothing, accessories, shoes
38,539,666
18.2%
Savings or investments
29,144,718
13.8%
Household items: TV, electronics, furniture, appliances
14,146,362
6.7%
Other
11,935,561
5.6%
Charitable donations or giving to family members
10,456,404
4.9%
Recreational goods: sports and fitness equipment,
bicycles, toys, games
5,681,344
2.7%
Did not report
436,306
0.2%
Totala
211,338,876

Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Items do not sum to the total because the question al owed for multiple categories to be marked.
Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older who received a stimulus payment and were asked
“What did, or wil , you and your household spend the ‘stimulus payment’ on? Select al that apply.”
a. Total number of respondents who already received or expect to receive a stimulus payment.

4 United States Census Bureau, Source of the Data and Accuracy of the Estimates for the 2020 Household Pulse
Survey, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/demo/technical-documentation/hhp/Source-and-Accuracy-
Statement -July-9-July-14.pdf.
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Financial Resources Used to Meet Spending Needs in the Last
Seven Days
Table 2 provides estimates of the types of financial resources recipients (and nonrecipients) used
to meet their previous week’s spending needs. Available resources are not mutual y exclusive,
meaning recipients (and nonrecipients) could have had access to multiple financial resources to
meet their previous week’s spending needs. This table il ustrates, for example, that 69.7% of
stimulus recipients met some portion of their spending needs using regular income sources,
compared to 71.9% of nonrecipients. Among stimulus recipients, 22.6% reported meeting some
portion of their spending needs using their stimulus payment.
Table 2. Estimates of Financial Resources Used to Meet Spending Needs in the Last
Seven Days
Stimulus Recipients
Nonrecipients
Resource Used
Response
Usage Rate
Response
Usage Rate
Regular income sources
like those used before
147,343,264
69.7%
25,540,335
71.9%
the pandemic
Credit cards or loans
54,463,450
25.8%
6,604,933
18.6%
Money from savings or
50,376,719
23.8%
7,548,601
21.3%
sel ing assets
Stimulus payment
47,740,940
22.6%
508,114a
1.4%
Unemployment
insurance (UI) benefit
31,818,866
15.1%
1,909,574
5.4%
payments
Borrowing from friends
or family
25,782,605
12.2%
4,546,420
12.8%
Money saved from
deferred or forgiven
payments (to meet
9,590,432
4.5%
1,488,995
4.2%
spending needs)
Did not report
3,201,543
1.5%
724,528
2.0%
Totalb
211,338,876

35,520,192

Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Items do not sum to total because the question al owed for multiple categories to be marked. Survey
respondents are adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “Thinking about your experience in the last 7
days, which of the fol owing did you use to meet your spending needs? Select al that apply.”
a. Presumably the positive response rate among nonrecipients is due to reporting error on the part of the
individual answering the survey.
b. Total number of stimulus recipients is the number of respondents who already received or expect to
receive a stimulus payment. Total number of nonrecipients is the total number of respondents who did not
receive or do not expect to receive a stimulus payment.
Household Income Level
Table 3 provides estimates of the household income level of stimulus payment recipients, as wel
as estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and nonresponders) by
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income level (the first three columns). This table il ustrates, for example, that households with
less than $25,000 of income represent an estimated 14.2% of al households, and 14.6% of al
stimulus payment recipient households, with 87.1% of households in this income group receiving
the stimulus payment.
Table 3. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Household
Income Level
Percentage of
Percentage of
Households
All
by Household
Households
Income Level
Households
That
That
Percentage
That Received
Received a
Received a
Household
All
of All
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
Income Level
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
Less than $25,000
35,332,289
14.2%
30,773,112
14.6%
87.1%
$25,000-$34,999
26,802,457
10.8% 24,990,263
11.8%
93.2%
$35,000-$49,999
27,962,797
11.2% 26,067,884
12.3%
93.2%
$50,000-$74,999
38,774,009
15.6% 36,185,495
17.1%
93.3%
$75,000-$99,999
28,285,867
11.4% 26,315,108
12.5%
93.0%
$100,000-$149,999
30,532,645
12.3% 26,643,279
12.6%
87.3%
$150,000-$199,999
13,100,943
5.3%
9,780,316
4.6%
74.7%
$200,000 and above
14,748,335
5.9%
4,285,223
2.0%
29.1%
Did not report
33,631,575
13.5%
26,298,197
12.4%
78.2%
Total
249,170,917
100.0%
211,338,877
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “In 2019 what was your total
household income before taxes? Select only one answer.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.
Household Size
Table 4 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by household size,
as wel as estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and
nonresponders) by size (the first three columns). This table il ustrates, for example, that
households composed of one person make up 7.9% of al households, and 7.6% of al stimulus
payment recipient households, with 82.2% of households in this size group receiving the stimulus
payment.
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Table 4. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Household Size
Percentage of
Percentage of
Households
All
by Household
Households
Households
Size That
Percentage of
That Received
That Received
Received a
All
All
a Stimulus
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Household size
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
1 person
19,645,749
7.9%
16,151,237
7.6%
82.2%
2 people
74,872,999
30.0%
63,012,366
29.8%
84.2%
3 people
47,391,960
19.0%
40,810,072
19.3%
86.1%
4 people
47,188,636
18.9%
39,960,738
18.9%
84.7%
5 people
26,544,953
10.7%
22,285,155
10.5%
84.0%
6 people
13,331,609
5.4%
11,480,185
5.4%
86.1%
7 or more people
20,195,010
8.1%
17,639,123
8.3%
87.3%
Total
249,170,916
100.0%
211,338,876
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “How many total people—
adults and children—currently live in your household, including yourself? Please enter a number.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.
Presence of Children Under 18 Years Old
Table 5 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by whether a child
under 18 years old was present in the household as wel as estimates of the distribution of al
households (recipients, nonrecipients, and nonresponders) by presence of children under 18 years
old (the first three columns). This table il ustrates, for example, that households with at least one
child under 18 years old make up 39.4% of al households, and 39.7% of al stimulus payment
recipient households, with 85.5% of households with children under 18 years old receiving the
stimulus payment.
Table 5. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients
by Presence of Children Under 18 Years Old
Percentage of
Percentage of
Households
All
by Presence
Households
of Children
Households
That
That
Presence of
Percentage of
That Received
Received a
Received a
children under
All
All
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
18 years old
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
Children
98,155,716
39.4%
83,916,154
39.7%
85.5%
No children
151,015,200
60.6%
127,422,723
60.3%
84.4%
Total
249,170,916
100.0%
211,338,877
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
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Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “How many people under 18
years-old currently live in your household? Please enter a number.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.
Hispanic Origin and Race
Table 6 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by Hispanic origin
and race, as wel as estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and
nonresponders) by Hispanic origin and race (the first three columns). For the purposes of these
estimates, the Hispanic origin and race of the household reflects the Hispanic origin and race of
the adult (aged 18 and older) in the household who responded to the survey. This table il ustrates,
for example, that Hispanic households (of any race) make up 16.9% of al households, and 16.4%
of al stimulus payment recipient households, with 82.5% of Hispanic households receiving the
stimulus payment.
Table 6. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Hispanic Origin
and Race
Percentage of
Percentage of
Households
All
by Hispanic
Households
Origin and
Households
That
Race That
Hispanic
Percentage of
That Received
Received a
Received a
Origin and
All
All
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
Race
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
Hispanic (any
race)
42,094,505
16.9%
34,733,719
16.4%
82.5%
White alone,
not Hispanic
156,021,220
62.6%
132,849,407
62.9%
85.1%
Black alone, not
29,051,400
11.7%
25,774,956
12.2%
88.7%
Hispanic
Asian alone, not
Hispanic
11,677,306
4.7%
9,028,531
4.3%
77.3%
Two or more
races + other
races, not
10,326,484
4.1%
8,952,262
4.2%
86.7%
Hispanic
Total
249,170,915
100.0%
211,338,875
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “Are you of Hispanic, Latino,
or Spanish origin?” and “What is your race? Please select al that apply.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.
Education
Table 7 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by education level
as wel as estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and
nonresponders) by education level (the first three columns). For the purposes of these estimates,
the education level of the household reflects the education level of the adult (aged 18 and older)
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in the household who responded to the survey. This table il ustrates, for example, that households
with less than a high school education make up 9.0% of al households, and 8.5% of al stimulus
payment recipient households, with 79.8% of households with less than a high school education
receiving the stimulus payment.
Table 7. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Education Level
Percentage of
Percentage of
All
Households
Households
by Education
Households
That
Level That
Percentage
That Received
Received a
Received a
All
of All
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
Education Level
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
Less than high
school
22,542,105
9.0%
17,988,049
8.5%
79.8%
High school or
75,080,406
30.1%
67,061,819
31.7%
89.3%
GED
Some
col ege/associate’s
75,921,633
30.5%
66,873,001
31.6%
88.1%
degree
Bachelor’s degree
75,626,773
30.4%
59,416,007
28.1%
78.6%
or higher
Total
49,170,917
100.0%
211,338,876
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “What is the highest degree or
level of school you have completed? Select only one answer.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.
Health Status
Table 8 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by health status as
wel as estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and
nonresponders) by health status (the first three columns). For the purposes of these estimates, the
health status of the household reflects the health status of the adult (aged 18 and older) in the
household who responded to the survey. This table il ustrates, for example, that households with
excel ent health status make up 15.1% of al households, and 13.7% of al stimulus payment
recipient households, with 76.6% of households with excel ent health status receiving the
stimulus payment.
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Table 8. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Health Status
Percentage of
Percentage of
All
Households
Households
by Health
Households
That
Status That
Percentage of
That Received
Received a
Received a
All
All
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
Health status
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
Excel ent
37,730,647
15.1%
28,915,963
13.7%
76.6%
Very good
72,557,427
29.1%
61,054,439
28.9%
84.1%
Good
71,663,806
28.8%
63,406,519
30.0%
88.5%
Fair
35,107,276
14.1%
31,910,598
15.1%
90.9%
Poor
9,964,479
4.0%
8,878,678
4.2%
89.1%
Did not report
22,147,281
8.9%
17,172,680
8.1%
77.5%
Total
249,170,916
100.0%
211,338,877
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “Would you say your health in
general is excel ent, very good, good, fair, or poor? Select only one answer.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.
Age
Table 9 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by age, as wel as
estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and nonresponders) by
age (the first three columns). For the purposes of these estimates, the age of the household reflects
the age of the adult (18 years or older) in the household who responded to the survey. This table
il ustrates, for example, that 18-24 year olds make up 9.0% of al households, and 7.9% of al
stimulus payment recipient households, with 73.8% of 18-24 year-old households receiving the
stimulus payment.
Table 9. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Age
Percentage of
All
Percentage of
Households
Households
Households
That
by Age That
Percentage of
That Received
Received a
Received a
All
All
a Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
Age
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
18-24
22,542,371
9.0%
16,625,159
7.9%
73.8%
25-39
68,881,514
27.6%
61,978,701
29.3%
90.0%
40-54
61,742,504
24.8%
51,481,350
24.4%
83.4%
55-64
43,502,776
17.5%
36,756,096
17.4%
84.5%
65 and over
52,501,752
21.1%
44,497,571
21.1%
84.8%
Total
249,170,917
100.0%
211,338,877
100.0%
84.8%
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Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “Age of the adult in the
household who responded to the survey.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.

Gender
Table 10 provides estimates of the distribution of stimulus payment recipients by gender as wel
as estimates of the distribution of al households (recipients, nonrecipients, and nonresponders) by
gender (the first three columns). For the purposes of these estimates, the gender of the household
reflects the gender status of the adult (18 years or older) in the household who responded to the
survey. This table il ustrates, for example, that male households make up 48.4% of al households,
and 47.7% of al stimulus payment recipient households, with 83.6% of male households
receiving the stimulus payment.
Table 10. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Gender
Percentage of
Percentage of
All
Households
Households
Households
by Gender
That
That
That
Percentage of
Received a
Received a
Received a
All
All
Stimulus
Stimulus
Stimulus
Gender
Households
Households
Paymenta
Payment
Payment
Male
120,531,610
48.4%
100,737,644
47.7%
83.6%
Female
128,639,306
52.6%
110,601,232
52.3%
86.0%
Total
249,170,916
100%
211,338,876
100.0%
84.8%
Source: CRS tabulations of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey for the week of July 9-14.
Notes: Survey respondents were adults aged 18 years and older and were asked “Are you ... [male/female]
Select only one answer.”
a. Includes households that responded that they plan to receive a stimulus payment.

Author Information

Mark P. Keightley

Specialist in Economics

Congressional Research Service

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CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief

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