Name: It's over: $2,000 second stimulus check won't replace $600 payment. What next?
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It's over: $2,000 second stimulus check won't replace $600 payment. What next?

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FollowThe Senate didn't vote to increase the size of the payment to $2,000. Will there be another chance soon? Here's what to know.Jessica DolcourtEditorial Director / CNET Money, How-To &amp; Performance OptimizationJessica Dolcourt leads the CNET Money, How-To, and Performance teams. A California native who grew up in Silicon Valley, she's passionate about connecting people with the highest standard of advice to help them reach their goals.4 min readThe for a isn't happening -- at least not before the new session of Congress is sworn in Sunday. Despite last-ditch efforts by President Donald Trump, House Democrats and a few outspoken Republicans to push through a change that would've , the Senate didn't pick up a vote on either of two bills that might've given the higher rate a chance. Neither bill was expected to garner enough support from both chambers to override the $600 cap.So where does that leave your today, and what does it mean for a , which President-elect Joe Biden has already said he supports?As with , it's complicated. We'll do our best to break down the biggest takeaways you should know about and why the next three weeks could hold the key to yet another stimulus bill, one with a that's larger than the current $600 per person ceiling.Since the that includes the won't be altered, the IRS and US Treasury will through , and . Here's . Importantly, the bill , after which no more payments will be sent. Instead, you'll have to claim a .There's clearly support for a $2,000 check from all corners of the government, but as usual, politics are heavily involved. The results of a&nbsp;&nbsp;will determine which party controls the Senate, and a variety of important committees. That's expected to set the pace for more stimulus aid in 2021.&nbsp;Second stimulus checks: Everything you need to knowIf Republicans win one of the two contested seats, they'll maintain Senate dominance, and they're forecast to reel in spending and stymie Biden's agenda to pass a much larger stimulus bill. If Democrats win both seats, then they'll win the Senate by a razor-thin margin, increasing the chances of pushing through objectives like a larger check, more&nbsp;&nbsp;and funding for&nbsp;.A larger stimulus check amount has been picking up support on the Republican side, with Sens. David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler -- who are both on the ballot in the Georgia runoff election -- reversing their previous positions and now tweeting their&nbsp;&nbsp;for $2,000 checks.The House of Representatives passed &nbsp;(PDF) on Dec. 28 to authorize a $2,000 for every , but it hasn't been picked up for a&nbsp;.&nbsp;Many in Washington see the current&nbsp; as a precursor to a larger relief package in 2021 that would expand and include provisions that Republicans and Democrats agreed to leave out this round to pass the critical deal."This bill is just the first step, a down payment, in addressing the crisis -- crises, more than one -- that we're in," Biden , emphasizing that . Again, whether there'll be a larger bill or a smaller one, and if it happens quickly or slowly, could hinge on the&nbsp;.There's a theoretical chance that the new Congress could bring up a bill to increase the to $2,000, during Trump's final days in office -- with the IRS and US Treasury making the adjustments after the fact.&nbsp;That's unlikely for several reasons:A has had wide bipartisan support ever since the CARES Act passed. Over the last several months, everyone from Trump and&nbsp;&nbsp;to members of Congress,&nbsp;&nbsp;and everyday people have advocated for another direct payment.Trump has previously&nbsp;&nbsp;"more money than they're talking about" in stimulus checks, as large as $1,200 or $2,000 per person. Aides reportedly convinced him at the time that making such demands would jeopardize a stimulus bill, , and the White House offer was officially extended at $600 tops.Though many favor a $1,200 direct payment in theory, a second, smaller stimulus check has helped keep costs below the $1 trillion cutoff that Republican lawmakers have in the past said they'd support.&nbsp;Stimulus checks aren't cheap. The IRS said this summer that it had spent&nbsp;, and on Dec. 15, Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican involved in crafting the bipartisan stimulus proposal,&nbsp;&nbsp;if the checks were once again included for $1,200 per person. Republicans reportedly bridled at the cost.For more information about stimulus checks, here's , &nbsp;and how .Get the So Money by CNET newsletterSign up for our weekly money newsletter written by Editor at Large Farnoosh Torabi and receive a free copy of So Money Secrets, a selection of the best money advice from Farnoosh’s podcast interviews.

FollowThe Senate didn't vote to increase the size of the payment to $2,000. Will there be another chance soon? Here's what to know.Jessica DolcourtEditorial Director / CNET Money, How-To &amp; Performance OptimizationJessica Dolcourt leads the CNET Money, How-To, and Performance teams. A California native who grew up in Silicon Valley, she's passionate about connecting people with the highest standard of advice to help them reach their goals.4 min readThe for a isn't happening -- at least not before the new session of Congress is sworn in Sunday. Despite last-ditch efforts by President...

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Jessica Dolcourt

CNET, formerly Computer Network, is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on technology and consumer electronics globally. Founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition in 2008.

It's over: $2,000 second stimulus check won't replace $600 payment. What next?

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