Millions of Americans may soon see a fresh wave of relief checks—this time tied to booming tariff revenue. A new plan introduced by Senator Josh Hawley could send $600 “income sharing” checks directly to workers and families. But before you start counting your dollars, there are two big requirements you will need to meet. Let us walk through what is going on, what you may qualify for, and when it could happen.
What is the new $600 stimulus check plan about?
This is not your typical stimulus check. Instead of coming from COVID-related emergency funds, this proposal is all about sharing the country’s recent surge in tariff revenue.
In June alone, the U.S. collected nearly $27 billion in tariff revenue, compared to just $4 billion during the same month last year. Senator Hawley believes that since Americans are paying more due to higher tariffs, they should get something back.
He introduced the American Rebate Worker Act, which would:
- Send $600 rebate checks to eligible American workers and children
- Allow families of four to receive up to $2,400
- Adjust the amount upward if the government collects more in tariffs than expected in 2025
In his press release, Hawley said:
“Americans deserve a tax rebate after four years of Biden policies that have devastated families’ savings and livelihoods.
What are the two requirements to get the $600 check?
Just like the stimulus payments from 2020, you need to meet two main eligibility conditions to qualify for the rebate:
- Income level
Single filers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) up to $75,000
Married couples filing jointly with an AGI up to $150,000
Payments begin to phase out above those thresholds
- Tax filing status
You must have filed a federal tax return
The rebate amount would be based on your latest tax return information
If you met these two criteria in the past, there is a good chance you will qualify again—assuming Congress approves the plan.
How is this different from the DOGE dividend idea?
If you have heard talk about a $5,000 DOGE check, that is something different.
The DOGE check—named after the Department of Government Efficiency—is still just an idea, not an active plan. It came from a post by James Fishback, an investment firm CEO, who called for a “DOGE Dividend” based on the money the government saves through cost-cutting.
Here is how they differ:
- The $600 rebate is from tariff revenue and part of an actual bill
- The DOGE check is based on government savings and has not moved forward in Congress
- President Trump has backed both ideas, but only the $600 check is tied to a proposed law right now
How much could you actually receive?
The minimum amount is $600 per worker and child. That means:
- A single parent with two kids could get $1,800
- A married couple with two children could get $2,400
- If tariff revenue keeps rising, future payments could be even larger
Several government estimates say the U.S. could bring in over $150 billion in tariff revenue in 2025 alone.
Has the bill passed yet?
Not yet. The American Rebate Worker Act still needs to be approved by Congress before the checks go out. But support is building, especially with President Trump hinting that the idea is on the table.
He recently said,
“We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate.”
For now, all eyes are on Washington to see whether this proposal turns into actual dollars in your pocket.
When could the checks go out?
There is no exact date yet. If Congress moves quickly, payments could potentially start sometime in 2025—depending on how the legislation progresses.
So if you are feeling the pinch right now, this plan might not bring instant relief—but it could be coming in the near future.
