Congressional Research Service R46467.1 (CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief)
Summary
CRS report R46467, CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief, dated July 24, 2020. It presents estimates from the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey on how households used or expect to use CARES Act stimulus payments and on the characteristics of recipients. For July 9 to July 14 (Week 11), the survey estimates that 211.3 million households (84.8%) have received or expect to receive a stimulus payment and 35.5 million (14.2%) have not or do not expect to. The report's tables break down payment use, financial resources used to meet spending needs in the last seven days, and recipients by household income, household size, presence of children under 18 years old, Hispanic origin and race, education, health status, age and gender.
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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
Contents
Survey Estimates ............................................................................................................ 1
Stimulus Payment Use................................................................................................ 2
Financial Resources Used to Meet Spending Needs in the Last Seven Days ........................ 3
Household Income Level ............................................................................................ 3
Household Size ......................................................................................................... 4
Presence of Children Under 18 Years Old ...................................................................... 5
Hispanic Origin and Race ........................................................................................... 6
Education ................................................................................................................. 6
Health Status ............................................................................................................ 7
Age ......................................................................................................................... 8
Gender..................................................................................................................... 9
Tables
Table 1. Estimates of Stimulus Payment Use or Expected Use................................................ 2
Table 2. Estimates of Financial Resources Used to Meet Spending Needs in the Last
Seven Days ................................................................................................................. 3
Table 3. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Household Income
Level .......................................................................................................................... 4
Table 4. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Household Size ................. 5
Table 5. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Presence of Children
Under 18 Years Old ...................................................................................................... 5
Table 6. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Hispanic Origin and
Race........................................................................................................................... 6
Table 7. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Education Level ................ 7
Table 8. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Health Status..................... 8
Table 9. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Age.................................. 8
Table 10. Estimated Distribution of Stimulus Payment Recipients by Gender ........................... 9
Contacts
Author Information ......................................................................................................... 9
CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
n response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid,
I Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136) provided direct payments 1 to
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 generally 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. Williams. 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. Crandall-
Hollick.
Survey Estimates
The Pulse Survey is intended to be a representative sample of 249.1 million American
households. The survey for July 9 to July 14 (Week 11) estimates that 211.3 million households
(84.8%) have already received or expect to receive a stimulus payment, 35.5 million (14.2%)
have not received or do not expect to receive a stimulus payment, and 2.31 million (0.9%) did not
respond. These are estimates of the stimulus payment recipients (and expected recipients) overall,
not estimates of who received a stimulus payment in that particular week. As with all 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 Pandemic, 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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CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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 mutually exclusive, meaning
recipients could have used their payment for multiple purposes. This table illustrates, 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,
112,031,134 53.0%
electricity, cable, internet, cellphone
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
49,691,147 23.5%
debts
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,
5,681,344 2.7%
bicycles, toys, games
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 allowed 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 will, you and your household spend the ‘stimulus payment’ on? Select all 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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CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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 mutually exclusive,
meaning recipients (and nonrecipients) could have had access to multiple financial resources to
meet their previous week’s spending needs. This table illustrates, 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%
selling assets
Stimulus payment 47,740,940 22.6% 508,114 a 1.4%
Unemployment
insurance (UI) benefit 31,818,866 15.1% 1,909,574 5.4%
payments
Borrowing from friends
25,782,605 12.2% 4,546,420 12.8%
or family
Money saved from
deferred or forgiven
9,590,432 4.5% 1,488,995 4.2%
payments (to meet
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 allowed 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 following did you use to meet your spending needs? Select all 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 well
as estimates of the distribution of all households (recipients, nonrecipients, and nonresponders) by
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CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
income level (the first three columns). This table illustrates, for example, that households with
less than $25,000 of income represent an estimated 14.2% of all households, and 14.6% of all
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 well as estimates of the distribution of all households (recipients, nonrecipients, and
nonresponders) by size (the first three columns). This table illustrates, for example, that
households composed of one person make up 7.9% of all households, and 7.6% of all stimulus
payment recipient households, with 82.2% of households in this size group receiving the stimulus
payment.
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CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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 well as estimates of the distribution of all
households (recipients, nonrecipients, and nonresponders) by presence of children under 18 years
old (the first three columns). This table illustrates, for example, that households with at least one
child under 18 years old make up 39.4% of all households, and 39.7% of all 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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CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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 well as estimates of the distribution of all 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 illustrates,
for example, that Hispanic households (of any race) make up 16.9% of all households, and 16.4%
of all 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
42,094,505 16.9% 34,733,719 16.4% 82.5%
race)
White alone,
156,021,220 62.6% 132,849,407 62.9% 85.1%
not Hispanic
Black alone, not
29,051,400 11.7% 25,774,956 12.2% 88.7%
Hispanic
Asian alone, not
11,677,306 4.7% 9,028,531 4.3% 77.3%
Hispanic
Two or more
races + other
10,326,484 4.1% 8,952,262 4.2% 86.7%
races, not
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 all 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 well as estimates of the distribution of all 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)
Congressional Research Service 6
CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
in the household who responded to the survey. This table illustrates, for example, that households
with less than a high school education make up 9.0% of all households, and 8.5% of all 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
22,542,105 9.0% 17,988,049 8.5% 79.8%
school
High school or
75,080,406 30.1% 67,061,819 31.7% 89.3%
GED
Some
college/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
well as estimates of the distribution of all 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 illustrates, for example, that households with
excellent health status make up 15.1% of all households, and 13.7% of all stimulus payment
recipient households, with 76.6% of households with excellent health status receiving the
stimulus payment.
Congressional Research Service 7
CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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
Excellent 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 excellent, 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 well as
estimates of the distribution of all 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
illustrates, for example, that 18-24 year olds make up 9.0% of all households, and 7.9% of all
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%
Congressional Research Service 8
CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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 well
as estimates of the distribution of all 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 illustrates, for example, that male households make up 48.4% of all households,
and 47.7% of all 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 stimu lus payment.
Author Information
Mark P. Keightley
Specialist in Economics
Congressional Research Service 9
CARES Act Payments Use and Recipient Characteristics: In Brief
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